Author:
Randy Alexander
Date Of Creation:
4 April 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where they can grow up to 5 meters tall. Many people buy poinsettias for Christmas decorations and do not know how to take care of the tree when the red leaves fall off. If you live in an area with mild winters, you can plant poinsettias outdoors as perennial plants. People living in cold climates can plant poinsettias indoors year round. See step 1 below to learn more about both.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Plant poinsettias outdoors like perennials
See if the climate in your area is appropriate. If you are in an area with mild winters - 10-12 or higher - you can plant the tree straight to the ground, where it can live as a perennial and grows larger and larger each year. If you live in an area where the temperature drops deeply to freezing during winter, it's best to grow your plant indoors. Poinsettias are native to Mexico, and they need a warm climate to thrive.
Take care of the tree until spring. If you buy poinsettias in winter for decoration, keep them in pots until spring, even if you live in areas where winters are not very cold. If the pot is coated with tin foil, remove the wrap so the water can drain from the pot. The poinsettias should be left in the pot until the weather has warmed enough to plant the ground. Water the pot when the soil in the pot is starting to dry.- When spring comes around March or April, prune the tree to about 20 cm. This will stimulate the plant to begin a new growth cycle and be ready for planting.
- Continue to water and fertilize about once a month until early summer, when it is good to replant.
Prepare a planting site. Find a place where the tree can get plenty of morning sun and partial light or shade in the afternoon heat. Loosen the soil to a depth of about 30-40 cm. Apply compost to the soil if necessary. Poinsettias prefers fertile and well-drained soil.
Plant tree. Dig a hole about the size of the plant's root ball and plant it. Gently press the soil around the base of the plant. Cover the ground around the stump with organic mulch about 5-7 cm thick. The mulch will keep the soil cool and retain moisture in the soil.
Fertilize the plants. You can use a 12-12-12 or 20-20-20 mixed fertilizer from the beginning of the growing season, or use compost to fertilize the plants. If the soil is not very fertile, you may need to fertilize the plant once a month.
Water the plants throughout the growing season. Water the stump whenever you feel the dry soil around the plant. Avoid over watering, as this can cause mold to form on the leaves.
Prune. Occasionally cut off small buds that grow during the growing season to encourage flowering. You can discard the cuttings or plant new plants. Cut off old branches in late fall or early winter to stimulate healthy new shoots in the spring to come.
Plant branches. You can take branches about 20 cm long on soft tops, or cut branches about 45 cm long from the hard stem on the tree to plant new plants.
- Dip the cutting ends of each branch in root-stimulating hormone, then plug it into the pot to pour the potting soil or vermiculite mixture.
- Keep the soil moist but not wet for a few weeks while the branches are rooting.
Help the tree get through the winter. Apply new mulch around the base of the plant to keep the soil warm during the winter months. Poinsettias can weather the winter in areas where soil temperatures don't drop below 7 degrees Celsius. Dig them up and bring them indoors if you live in a climate with cold winters and the temperature drops below. 7 degrees C. Advertising
Method 2 of 2: Planting poinsettias indoors
Take care of the plant until spring. If you buy poinsettias in early winter, keep watering them throughout winter through spring.
Repot the plant in early summer. Choose a potting pot that is only slightly larger than the old one, and use a rich potting mix with a high content of organic matter. This will give the poinsettia a good start to the growing season.
Provide plenty of sunlight for the plant. Place the pot of poinsettias near a window that receives strong but indirect light in the morning. Choose windows that are free from drafts to keep plants away from cold air. Poinsettia does well in temperatures around 18 degrees Celsius and is not very resistant to extreme temperature changes.
- If summer temperatures are warm enough and never drop below 18 degrees Celsius, you can leave your plants outdoors during the growing season, choose an area with partial shade.
Water well the plants. Water the plant during the spring and growing season each time the top layer of soil is dry. Water the pot slowly and wait for the soil to absorb the water before adding more water. Stop watering when the soil is slowly absorbing water and before excess water remains on the ground.
Fertilize every month. Indoor poinsettias should be fertilized regularly with a balanced liquid fertilizer. A 12-12-12 or 20-20-20 fertilizer mix is best. Fertilize each month and stop in the fall, when the poinsettia is in full bloom.
Prune. Take off new growths on the plant from time to time during the growing season to keep the form compact and lush. You can either throw away the cuttings or plant them into new plants. Prune old branches in late fall or early winter to stimulate the plant to produce healthy new shoots in the spring to come.
Protect trees through winter. When autumn comes, it's time to bring the plants back home to avoid the frost. You also need to create a continuous short day / long night cycle during the fall and winter to stimulate the leaves to turn green to red. Do this for 9 = 10 weeks until the bracts form on the plant.
- Move the poinsettia tree into complete darkness for 14-16 hours a day in late September or early October. Cool wall cabinets are ideal, but you can put them in a large box for a period of time. Space plants need constant darkness. Any exposure to light during this time will slow the plant's color change.
- Place the plant in complete darkness during the coldest temperatures. The best times are between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. Poinsettias bloom best when the night temperature is maintained between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius.
- Every morning take the tree out of the dark and place it near a sunny window where the temperature is about 21 degrees Celsius.
Display the poinsettia tree when the leaves turn red. By December, your poinsettias will be ready to decorate again for the festive season. Place the plant in a sunny window and expose it to normal indoor light during the winter when it blooms.
Stimulate the plant to hibernate when the bracts begin to fade. When the small yellow flowers wilt between the leaf clusters in February or March, the plant enters hibernation.
- Prune the tree vigorously so that the tree is only about 20-25 cm high. This is the time to take branches for propagation.
- Reduce watering for several months until the plant starts to sprout in spring. Wait for a few centimeters of the top layer to dry completely before watering.
