Poinsettias are plants most often associated with Christmas, but you can display them indoors during any season. They are beautiful and can add color to your home. Poinsettia flowers come in pink, white, cream and red (which is the most popular). These flowers grow up to 18 inches tall, but to keep them looking stunning requires a substantial amount of attention.
Poinsettias initially are from Mexico and South America and were grown strictly for making a red dye and for medical use. The plant became famous and synonymous with Christmas in the 16th century. These holiday plants can be grown outdoors in your yard if your home is in a frost-free environment.
Poinsettias require a temperature of about 65 to 80F during the day and nothing below 60-degrees F at night to keep them healthy. The holiday flower does better in the sun, but if exposed to cold weather, the foliage will drop.
How To Care For Poinsettias
- Light and Temperature: Poinsettia plants like very bright but indirect light with ample moisture; these plants survive longer in a semi-cool and humid environment. Light is vital for growth and color retention.
- Water: It’s advisable to water the plants thoroughly every time the soil feels dry to touch. The plant doesn’t like water accumulation at its bottom. To avoid this, slit the bottom of the pot, if it’s in a basket, drain all water that might have collected.
- Fertilizer: The plant requires a well-balanced fertilizer like Peter's 20-20-20 until the plant attains its full color. Reduce application of fertilizer to ½ strength once whenever you water your plant.
- Temperature: Poinsettias like a warm room that ranges between 65-80-degree F in the day time and 60-65-degrees F at night. Avoid excess heat or cold, temperature generating appliances and fireplaces.
How To Maintain Your Poinsettia After Christmas
The holiday period is over; you want to have this beautiful flower in your garden. First, remember the plant likes a sunny environment with lots of water.
To transport from your pot into your backyard soil, remove all the branches and cut to about six inches of the pot rim. Use the same dirt from the pot container when you are transporting your plant to your backyard.
During the coming months, especially between September and November, light plays a vital role in poinsettia plant growth. It requires sufficient energy to produce flower and needs long periods of darkness at night to bloom out fully.
For the most success with your Poinsettias and any other flowers in your garden, have a reliable landscape specialist take a look at your home garden and recommend best practices.
About the Author
Meryl Diamond
While I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I have spent the last 27 years living in the Lisle and Naperville area. The first single family home my husband and I ever owned was in Green Trails, Lisle. There were two things we loved about living in Green Trails - the sense of community and all the green space. This was a dream come true for my children who always had a friend to play with or a babysitter near by. For me, it gave me a chance to get to know the neighbors whom I have built lifelong friendships with. From neighborhood garage sales to summer barbeques, we always found reason to come together.
