So, for that holiday gift exchange, you ended up with a potted poinsettia. It’s very pretty, but what do you do with it now, and…what do you know about them?
Poinsettias are native to Mexico and are a popular holiday plant because of their colorful bracts (leaves). Poinsettia flowers are actually made up of the bracts, which look like petals, and the tiny yellow flowers in the center, called cyathia.
Used for decorating during the winter holidays, they are also attractive as green plants throughout the year. Most people are interested in making their green poinsettia colorful again and ready for the holidays. This is not easy, because it requires excluding light from the plant for some time while keeping the plant healthy. The reduction in light prevents the plant from producing chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plant parts green. This changes the bracts to red, pink or white, depending on the variety. Poinsettias change color in response to the shorter days of winter.
Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension professor emeritus at the University of Vermont and author of Caring for Your Poinsettia Year-Round, created a poinsettia-care calendar based on the holidays of the year. It is formulated for inside potted plants, but can be used as a guide if you have transplanted or put the pot outside.
New Year’s Day: Fertilize if you see new growth. Continue to provide adequate light and water for prolonged bloom for several weeks. Never over- water, and be sure pot drains properly. If there is decorative paper that prevents air and light getting to the plant, remove it.
Valentine’s Day: Check the plant for signs of insects, such as white fly, and manage them if you find them. If it has become long and leggy, cut back to about five inches tall to promote more compact growth. You can also transplant it directly into your garden.
St. Patrick’s Day: Prune off faded and dried parts of the plant. Remove leaves from the soil surface, and add a little more potting soil if the roots are visible. Keep the plant in a bright, sunny window or area outside.
Poinsettia flowers are actually made up of the bracts, which look like petals, and the tiny yellow flowers in the center, called cyathia.
Memorial Day: Trim off two to three inches to promote side branching. If you continue growing your poinsettia as a potted plant, transplant into another container.
Father’s Day: Move the plant outside and place it in indirect light.
Fourth of July: Trim the plant again and move it into full sun. Continue to water and fertilize, increasing the amount to accelerate growth.
Labor Day: Make sure your plant is in a spot that gets at least six hours of direct light daily, preferably more. As new growth begins, reduce the fertilizer.
Fall equinox: Starting on or near September 21, give the plant 16 hours of uninterrupted darkness and 8 hours of bright light every day. Note that during the dark period, the plant cannot receive even the slightest bit of light at any time.
Thanksgiving: Discontinue the short day/ long night treatment. Put the plant in a sunny area that gets at least six hours of direct light.
December Holidays: Enjoy your “new” poinsettia. Start the cycle all over again after the new year.
