Poinsettia

Poinsettia Care

Euphorbiaceae pulcherrima

What is the plant

Starting from December, the windows of flower shops attract attention with colorful leaves in bright red, green, white, and two-tone palettes, as Euphorbia pulcherrima blooms on Christmas Eve and New Year. However, one must remember that Poinsettia requires special care at home and that the milk juice it secretes is poisonous.

Euphorbia pulcherrima, also called Poinsettia, is a perennial plant native to tropical Mexico and Central America. This plant is an evergreen shrub, and in the wild, it has a height of several meters, but when grown at home, the bush height reaches only 1.5 ft (0.5 m).

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

14°C - 196°C

Hardiness zone

9a - 11b

Difficulty

Medium

Toxicity

Poisonous

How to Care for the Plant

Water
In summer, you should water the plant’s bushes abundantly and systematically, and in winter, the soil should be slightly moist. Shrubs should be systematically moistened with a sprayer with warm water during flowering.
Pruning
Prune Poinsettia twice a year. In the first days of April, during the dormant period, shorten the bush to 6 in (15 cm) from the level of the substrate, as well as after transplanting, when the young shoots begin to grow.
Fertilizer
Feed this plant twice a month in spring, summer, and autumn with mineral fertilizers. During flowering, shrubs will need fertilizer containing large amounts of potassium.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Euphorbia pulcherrima needs bright but diffused light (windows of eastern or western orientation).
Soil
It is possible to buy a ready soil mixture for deciduous plants in the garden center or to prepare it independently: two parts of the leaf earth, one part of peat, three parts of turf, and one part of sand.
Propagation
Prepare cuttings 3-4 in (7-10 cm) long in the first weeks of summer. Before planting, immerse the cuttings in warm water for a few minutes and then treat them with a solution that stimulates root growth.

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Temperature
The temperature during active growth and development should be from 65 to 77 °F (18 to 25 °С), during flowering - from 57 to 77 °F (from 14 to 16°С), and at rest - from 54 to 57 °F (from 12 to 14 °С).
Container
Choosing the pot, make sure that it is 2-2, 5 times smaller than the plant itself, and its diameter is as many times larger than the root ball.
Fun fact
Poinsettia was named after the first American Minister of Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett; he was fond of botany and admired the beauty of Poinsettia.