Buy Live Poinsettia Plants UPD
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are popular winter houseplants because they flower in mid-winter, and because their beauty is the result of bracts (persistent colored leaves) instead of flowers, their attractiveness is long-lasting. They bloom naturally under the long night conditions of winter, so it is easy for nurseries to bring them into color in time for winter holidays. The beauty of poinsettias can persist from Thanksgiving through Christmas, and sometimes even to Valentine's Day. Some gardeners are not satisfied with this long season of indoor beauty and attempt to save the plants to re-bloom the following winter. Poinsettias can be kept year after year, and they will bloom each year if you give them proper care.
buy live poinsettia plants
Keep the poinsettia plant actively growing all summer by watering and fertilizing regularly. When the top of the soil feels dry, liberally apply water to moisten the soil completely, and allow the excess to drain away. Add no more water until the top of the soil is dry again.
Figure 2. To create a bushy plant, poinsettias are "pinched back." The tip of each twig is removed (pinched) so that nodes remain. The new shoots that arise from the nodes are also pinched.
If more plants are desired, try propagating poinsettias from stem cuttings taken in place of pinchings. When the new growth is 8 to 12 inches high, cut off 4 to 6 inches for rooting (Figure 3). Leave at least two leaves on both the cuttings and the parent stem so the plant can continue to produce food. Cut in the morning, and place the cut stem in tepid water for one hour to stop the "bleeding." Treat the base of cuttings with rooting hormone to increase the chances for success. Place cuttings in a well-drained, moist rooting medium, such as a half perlite, half peat moss mix. Keep humidity high for rapid rooting. Place cuttings in bright, but not direct, light. Pot the newly rooted cuttings in a well-drained soil when the new roots are about 1/2 inch long. Care of these plants is the same as care for the parent plant.
The parent plant and all rooted cuttings will bloom at the same time. The thicker cuttings will produce larger blooms. Make as many cuttings as desired until late August, but remember, only strong stems produce strong plants.
As cool fall weather begins, take the plant inside to a south window with full sun. Poinsettias do best in full fall sun and the bracts (colored leaves below the flowers) obtain their deepest color in good light. Ventilation is important, but keep the plant away from drafts. Drafts, as well as low temperatures, waterlogged soil, and drought, can cause the lower leaves of the poinsettia to turn yellow and fall from the plant. Night temperatures of 60 to 65F and day temperatures up to 75F are recommended. If the night temperature is too high or too low, the plant is likely to flower later.
The poinsettia is known as a true short-day (or long-night) plant. This means that the plant must be in total darkness for about 14 hours out of every day for a four-week period to form flower buds. Beginning in late September or early October, make certain the poinsettia receives no artificial light after nightfall. Even brief periods of light from a single light bulb for one night may be enough to delay or interfere with flowering. If possible, keep the plant in a room without lights, in a dark closet, or under a fully light-proof cover from about 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. every day for four weeks.
Speaking of poinsettia leaves, the Poinsettias should have a plentiful amount. If you see a bunch of leaves on the surface of the soil, it could have been overwatered, underwater or exposed to cold temperatures at some point.
Sometimes, the stores will have the poinsettias wrapped in a plastic sleeve or foil on the lower part of the plant. See if you can remove this wrapping, and then check that part of the plant for mildew.
Here is what I do: I remove the plant from the foil that you typically see poinsettias sold in or a decorative container. I water the plant thoroughly in the sink and let all the water drain out. When the water is done draining out, I place the plant back in the foil.
The room temperature of my home typically stays at 70 degrees during the day. The nighttime temperature is around 65 degrees. This is a temperature range my poinsettias have enjoyed indoors. Even though poinsettias are tropical plants they have adapted well to being grown in our homes.
Members of the community are invited to purchase a poinsettia plant for the tree display in honor of a special person or in memory of a loved one who has passed. The names of both the donor and the honoree will be displayed next to the tree, which will be available for viewing beginning Saturday, Dec. 3. The tree will be maintained throughout the holiday season by the Town Parks Department.
While a plant that has dropped its leaves after limited exposure to such cold temperatures may recover, extended exposure to temperatures below 50F can kill poinsettias outright, leaving them no hope of recuperating.
If your outdoor poinsettias are in pots or planters rather than in the ground, keep an eye on the weather during cold spells and be prepared to bring them indoors if temperatures are forecast to fall below 50F.
Poinsettias, Euphorbia pulcherrima, are attractive house plants with dark green leaves and leafy red 'bracts' that surround the green-yellow flowers in December and January. They're commonly used to decorate the home at Christmas. Native to Mexico, poinsettias can be tricky to keep alive after Christmas and most are thrown away after the red bracts have faded and the festivities have ended. However, with a little care and attention it's possible to keep your poinsettia alive throughout the year and even encourage red bracts and flowers to form in time for the following Christmas.
Look after your poinsettia by keeping it in bright, indirect light, in a draught-free spot with a temperature of around 13-15C. Water sparingly, typically when the surface of the compost has started to dry out. Mist regularly to increase humidity and keep the colourful bracts looking their best for longer. After Christmas, feed monthly with a high potash liquid feed, such as a tomato feed.
Place your poinsettia in a bright, draught-free spot out of direct sunlight, ideally 13-15ºC. Keep it away from windows, where temperatures can drop significantly at night, and from doorways and open fireplaces, which can be draughty.
In April, prune your poinsettia back to about 10cm, and keep at a temperature of 13C. In early May, repot your poinsettia into a slightly larger pot with fresh, peat-free, loam-based compost, and then keep it in a draught-free spot out of direct sunlight, ensuring the temperature doesn't exceed 18ºC.
Poinsettias develop flowers and colourful bracts when day length decreases. This occurs naturally in December, but to encourage flowering by Christmas, you'll need to mimic short day length by moving your poinsettia into a dark cupboard for 12 hours each day, from November. Keep an even temperature of around 18ºC and make sure it's not exposed to artificial light during this time.
The most common problem when growing poinsettias is that the leaves wilt and drop off. This is a sign of cold conditions. Remember poinsettias are from Mexico and need to be kept at a minimum temperature of 13ºC, away from draughts (including near doors, fireplaces or single-glazed windows). Unfortunately, some poinsettias are kept in poor conditions in the shop or garden centre, and the leaves start to wilt when you get them home. Sadly there's not much you can do for your poinsettia at this stage. Always buy your poinsettia from a reputable supplier and remember to protect it from cold conditions on the journey home.
Other problems, such as grey mould, can result from over-watering. Make sure you water your poinsettia only when the surface of the compost is dry, and mist the leaves regularly to maintain humidity around the plant.
Nothing says Christmas quite like the poinsettia. Bold and beautiful, the poinsettia plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) has bright petals that contain small flowers of green and yellow at the center. Poinsettias come in a range of colors from white to orange, but are most popular in their red variety.
The poinsettia plant is native to Central America where it was used by the Aztecs for decorative and medicinal purposes. Today the poinsettia serves as a decorative element everywhere from beautiful churches to the porches of homes. In order to keep its bright and cheery appearance, the poinsettia must be given proper care.
That is why we have created a poinsettia care guide for those that want to decorate their homes this holiday season. We have even included tips on how to re-bloom your poinsettia once the holiday season has passed.
Poinsettia plants grow best during the winter months, which is why they are the most popular potted plant during the holidays. And, with good care, a poinsettia plant can maintain its beauty for much longer than the Christmas season. Since poinsettia plants are from the tropics, they prefer surroundings that simulate that type of environment. Here are some tips on how to keep your poinsettia beautiful year-round.
How often do you water a poinsettia? You should water your poinsettia whenever you feel the soil is dry or you see that some of the leaves are wilting. The key is to let the water drain out the bottom, and make sure that your poinsettia is not sitting in water. If the area you are keeping your poinsettia intends to be dry, you may find yourself watering it daily.
To maintain your poinsettia bloom, keep temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to protect them from dramatic temperature drops as this will cause their leaves to prematurely wilt. For best results, keep your poinsettia in a warm room and mist it daily. This will simulate the tropical climate that it originated from. 041b061a72