Can you keep a poinsettia as a houseplant?
You can keep growing them like a houseplant if you like, but in the spring once the temperatures at night are regularly above 50°F, you can place your poinsettias outside if you want. Choose a spot that gets bright, indirect light (somewhere that gets shade in the afternoon would be perfect).
Can you keep a poinsettia year round?
Poinsettias can be kept year after year, and they will bloom each year if you give them proper care. When the leaves begin to yellow or when the plant is no longer desired as an ornamental, gradually withhold water. Keep the plant somewhat on the dry side; water only enough to keep the stems from withering.
What can you do with poinsettias after Christmas?
Toss the poinsettia when you grow tired of it or it becomes unattractive. For those home gardeners who enjoy a challenge, it is possible to get the poinsettia to bloom again next season. Cut the stems back to within 4 to 6 inches of the soil in March. The poinsettia may also be repotted at this time.
Where is the best place to keep a poinsettia?
Poinsettias don’t like fluctuating temperatures and prefer a steady room temperature between 13 and 20 C. They need warmth and light so can be kept close to a radiator and away from drafts. Don’t keep them near the fire, doorways or windows.
When should I throw away my poinsettia?
Don’t throw it away if its still adding color and brightness to your home. If cared for Poinsettias can last for years and years as house plants and be placed outside during the summer months. They make wonderful green plants and are very easy to care for.
Why are all the leaves falling off my poinsettia?
Poinsettias will classically drop their leaves if they are exposed to sudden changes in temperature, drafts or overly cool or dry rooms. They also will lose leaves and wilt in response to an extreme need for water. When choosing a plant, pick a healthy, full one with no discoloration on the foliage.
How long can a potted poinsettia live?
“Home gardeners generally keep their poinsettias one or two years. If they’re really dedicated, maybe a little longer. But the life span for interior plants when you live in the North is measured in months, not years.”
What’s the best way to care for a poinsettia?
Water the plant at the base whenever the soil around the plant feels dry to the touch. Avoid overhead watering, which could cause fungal disease to form on the leaves of the plant. Prune the poinsettia. Pinch small growing shoots from poinsettias occasionally throughout the growing season to encourage the plants to flower.
How tall does a poinsettia plant grow in a year?
She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Poinsettia plants are native to Mexico, where they can grow up to 16 feet (4.9 m) tall.
When is the best time to transplant a poinsettia plant?
The optimum time for transplanting is late spring to early summer. The University of Minnesota recommends June 15 as your target date. Choose a container that is 2 to 4 inches larger than the one in which the plant was grown.
How long does it take for poinsettia leaves to turn red?
You must also create a cycle of long uninterrupted nights and short sunny days during the fall and winter to encourage the leaves to change from green to red. Do this for 9 to 10 weeks until flower bracts begin to form on the plant.
How big does a poinsettia plant need to be?
In the right climate and with the right planting location and care, these bright Christmas favorites can shoot up to 10 foot (3 m.) shrubs in rapid order. If it’s your potted holiday plant that makes you ask about planting [&poinsettia&] [&outdoors&], you have to start treating the plant well from the moment it arrives.
What’s the best way to water a poinsettia?
Water the plant regularly and ensure proper drainage. Poinsettias, like all plants, need water to grow, but they can be very sensitive to overwatering. Water the plant when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch. [6] If you bought your plant in winter, it is likely to be in a pot wrapped in foil.
When to bring a poinsettia back into the House?
Bring your poinsettia back indoors when temperatures begin to drop. By mid-fall, it will be too chilly to keep your poinsettia out during the day. Find a warm, cozy spot for the plant inside your home where it can enjoy 6-8 hours of indirect sun exposure per day.
What to do with a poinsettia in the car?
DON’T Forget to Protect the Plant in the Car. Some stores sell poinsettias in cellophane cones that will protect the plant from wind damage, but if it’s bitterly cold outside, the bracts and leaves could still suffer. Ask for a larger bag to put over the top of your plant to protect it on the trip to the car and into your home.