The holidays are near and often times people opt for faux poinsettias because they think they’re just going to toss them after Christmas. No need to toss them because we can tell you how to care for your poinsettia.
Did you know that poinsettias are a perennial plant? With the right amount of care you can grow them to bloom every holiday.
After the holidays are over, continue to water until after the blooms fade away. This will usually occur in February or March.
During the Springtime, the plant enters a resting season until summer. Prune your plant back to 6”-8” tall. Reduce watering - allow the plant to get completely dry between waterings.
Repot if needed sometime between July and September in light potting mix, if it appears root-bound, move it to a slightly larger. Once you see new growth, begin feeding every two weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer. You can put your poinsettia outdoors for the summer, until temperatures drop to the 50. Their ideal temperature is 65-75 degrees.
The shorter days of October provide less light which is needed for Poinsettias bloom again. Put your poinsettia in complete darkness for 12-15 hours per day 10 weeks before you want to display it for the holidays. You can cover it with a black plastic bag, or move the plant to a closet, but it needs total darkness for at least 12 hours per day – even indoor lighting will disrupt the process. During the day, remove the covering and make sure the plant gets at least 6 hours of sunlight. Water and feed as usual.
After 8-10 weeks of 12 hours per day of darkness, you will see flower buds on your poinsettia. Once you do, Display it proudly be done on lot of work! Continue watering, but stop feeding until spring.
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