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THIS WEEKS SPECIAL ON-LINE@
Dancing Butterflies
NEW ON-LINE GARDEN PLACE MAGAZINE
SPRING EDITION 2010
FALL EDITION 09 |
POINSETTIA CARE FOR THE CONSUMER
The poinsettia, often referred to as the “Christmas Plant”, was first brought to the USA from its native land Mexico, in 1825 by the first US Ambassador Joel Robert Poinsett. Today, with the multitude of colors, sizes and shapes available, poinsettias offer abundance of holiday cheer for every décor.
Tips fro the Wise Consumer Think about the following tips while making your poinsettia selection will help you to have a plant that will last throughout the holiday season.
If you buy your poinsettia at a retail store that does not specialize in plants, the store may not have provided proper care for the plant. Resulting in a non-healthy short living holiday plant. Remember when purchasing your poinsettia to choose the one that is not wilted and appears to be carded for. Avoid the plants with foliage that is beginning to yellow or have been sleeved for more than 24 hours.
The actual flowers of the poinsettia plant are the golden yellow clusters (cyathia) in the center of the colored bracts or leaves. As you choose your plant, make sure that you choose one still has the yellow cyathia, this insures freshness and well cared for.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL When you walk out of the store with your poinsettia remember that the plant needs protection from the weather. The plant needs to be sleeved protecting it from being chilled below 50 degrees. Don’t leave your poinsettia in your cold car while you finish shopping. Chilled plants will drop their green leaves if exposed to temperatures below 50. Immediately unwrap your poinsettia when you arrive at your destination.
AT HOME Place your plant in a spot with bright natural light, but not exposed to direct sunlight. If in a sunny location make sure the plant never dries out or in an area that is exposed to cold drafts, or excessive heat from appliances, radiators or ventilation ducts. The poinsettia is absolutely not poisonous, just a urban folk lure.
The soil should be kept moist. Empty any water that drains into the container under your plant. Pierce the bottom of the pot cover or foil to allow for proper drainage. While at home the poinsettia will enjoy normal room temperature not over 75 degrees.
HOW TO REFLOWER YOUR POINSETTIA
NOW-FEBRUARY— Take care in directions above. Don’t let your plant dry out. FEBRUARY— Your poinsettia may begin to fade in color, keep near a sunny window APRIL— Mid-April cut the stems back to approximately 6” above the soil. MAY— Start fertilizing one teaspoon per gallon water 20/20/20 or 20/10/20 JUNE— Repot into a pot 2-4” larger than original container. Place outside in 1/2 day sun AUGUST— Pinch back stems again, this time leaving to three or four leaves per stem. SEPTEMBER 20th— Move indoors next to a window with bright non-direct sunlight. At 5pm each night place a cardboard box over the entire plant each and every night till 8am the next morning. The poinsettia needs sunlight during the day but will only flower when the dark night hours are more than 12 hours long each and every night. OCTOBER 30th— Should start to see color changing in leaves, continue with darkness regiment. The poinsettia should be in full bloom by early December.
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