Poinsettia

Poinsettia Euphorbiaceae pulcherrima

What is the plant

A Poinsettia Plant, native to Mexico, is the most popular indoor flowering plant sold in the U.S. even though it is only available six weeks of the year. The colorful parts of the Poinsettia Plant are really modified leaves called bracts.

Many people mistakenly think the bracts are the flower petals of the plant. Although these bracts are quite attractive they are not part of the flowers. The real flowers are quite inconsequential and are located inside the small yellow part of the Poinsettia called a cyathia. There is a cyathia in the center of each group of bracts. Selecting the right poinsettia is the key to having a plant that stays colorful and beautiful the entire holiday season. Ideally there should be green leaves all the way to the soil line. The plant should be well balanced and not top heavy. The real flowers should be barely open, and there should be no pollen on the bracts. Whether you chose the ever popular red Poinsettia or any of the many new colors such as white, pink, salmon, yellow, marble, orange, or jingle bells, this is a wonderful holiday plant that can sit on a table, be trained as a small tree, or be placed in a frame with 20-50 other poinsettias to form a magnificent huge Poinsettia Christmas Tree. There are even hanging baskets of poinsettias available. Poinsettias, despite all rumors, are not poisonous, although the milky sap of the plant may cause minor skin irritations.

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Humidity

Normal

Lightening

Part Sun

Temperature

18°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

9a - 11b

Difficulty

Medium

Toxicity

Poisonous

Popularity
1,914 people already have this plant589 people have added this plant to their wishlists
Water
January to march: keep watering a poinsettia whenever a surface is dry. April: starting april 1, gradually decrease water, allowing a soil to get dry between waterings. Be careful that a stem does not begin to shrivel. This is a sign a plant is too stressed and is dying.

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Sunlight
They need around six hours of sunlight (and no less than four), but they also benefit from some time spent in the shade.
Soil
The ideal blend of soil for plant growth is called loam. Often referred to as topsoil or black dirt by landscape companies, loam is a mixture of sand, clay, and silt.
Fertilizer
Use a balanced fertilizer with a 10-10-10 formula.
Pruning
Trim off any dead leaves and stems.
Propagation
If you wish to keep your poinsettia through more than one season and force reblooming, follow these steps. Getting a poinsettia to rebloom is not an easy process, so don't be disheartened if you don't have success your first try. January to March: Keep watering the poinsettia whenever the surface is dry.April: Starting April 1, gradually decrease water, allowing the soil to get dry between waterings. Be careful that the stem does not begin to shrivel. This is a sign the plant is too stressed and is dying. In a week or two, when the plant has acclimated to this drying process, move it to a cool spot, such as the basement or a heated garage. You want to keep it at about 60 F.May: In mid-May, cut the stems back to about four inches and repot in a slightly larger container, with new potting soil. Water it well. Place the newly potted plant back into the brightest window you have and once again keep it at a temperature of 65 to 75 F. Continue watering whenever the surface of the soil feels dry. Watch for new growth. Once new growth appears, begin fertilizing every two weeks with a complete fertilizer. Follow fertilizer label recommendations.June: Move the poinsettia outside, pot and all. Keep it in a partially shaded location and maintain your watering and fertilizing schedule.July: In early July, pinch back each stem by about one inch. This is to encourage a stout, well-branched plant. If left unpinched, the poinsettia will grow tall and spindly.August: By mid-August, the stems should have branched and leafed out. Once again, pinch or cut the new stems, leaving three to four leaves on each shoot. Bring the plant back indoors and into your brightest window. Continue watering and fertilizing.September: Continue regular watering and fertilizing. Make sure the temperature stays above 65 F.October: Poinsettias are short-day plants, meaning their bud set is affected by the length of daylight. To rebloom, poinsettias need about 10 weeks with 12 hours or less of sunlight per day. You will have to artificially create these conditions and it's crucial that you be diligent. Beginning October 1, keep your plant in complete darkness from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Any exposure to light will delay blooming. Use an opaque box or material to block out light. Many people place their plants in a closet, but if the light gets in through the cracks or if you open and use the closet, it will affect the bud set. Move the plant back to the sunny window during the daytime and continue watering and fertilizing.November: Around the last week of November, you can stop the darkness treatment and allow the plant to remain in the window. You should see flower buds at this point.December: Stop fertilizing about December 15. Keep watering and treat your plant the way you did when you first brought it home in bloom. If all has gone well, it should be back in bloom and ready to begin the process all over again.
Temperature
Temperature is a very important factor in Poinsettia Plant care. Poinsettia Plants last longer and look better when the temperature is between 65-70 degrees during the day and around 60 degrees at night. Temperatures that are too hot or too cold damage Poinsettia Plant leaves and may cause leaf drop. Keep Poinsettia Plants away from drafty doors and windows, fireplaces, heaters, and the tops of appliances that give off heat.
Container
Use a ceramic porous pot with a good drainage.