POINSETTIA CARE
**A special note from the artist, Peggy Wells: Well, here it is, yet another New Year. We hope all of our customers and friends had a safe and happy holiday season. We thank all of you for purchasing from us in 2007 and hope you return in 2008.
We will be introducing some new items this year, including for sale some of our Air Plant Wall Gardens and Table Gardens. These are normally reserved for our shows, but we will make them available to purchase through our E-bay store in 2008. These pieces are all one of a kind and very unique. They make excellent gifts, are low maintenance and come with care instructions. Each piece is embedded with shells; driftwood, crystals, etc. They are truly “Living Art”, great for home or office, and happy indoors or outdoors.
Because they are decorated with Air Plants and living Mosses, your collection of plants will continue to grow. After Air Plants bloom they reproduce, or have “Pups”. Some Air Plants may have as many as 10 pups in their lifetime. Once the pups are large enough they may be removed from the mother plant and attached to your art piece. If you prefer, you can leave them on the mother plant where they will continue to grow, bloom and reproduce also. These are truly amazing and sophisticated plants, able to virtually survive without roots or dirt.
Well, okay, I got off the subject – on to Poinsettia Care... |
I visited my friend in Houston over the holidays and came back with her 5 Poinsettia plants. Like a lot of people, she thought her plants would be useless after the holidays. I am going to set straight that misconception, hopefully saving some Poinsettias in the process!
TIPS FOR POINSETTIA CARE:
GENERAL CARE SUGGESTIONS:
Poinsettias need indirect sunlight for 6 hours a day. Keep them out of direct sun.
Generally they like the same temperatures we do - in the range of 68-70 degrees.
Water your poinsettia when the soil feels dry to the touch.
Fertilize after the blooming season with a balanced all-purpose fertilizer (the actual flowers are the yellow centers of the plant)
Don’t place these plants near drafts, fireplaces, appliances or ventilating ducts.
Protect poinsettias from temperatures that drop below 50 degrees
Don’t over-water or allow your plant to sit in standing water. Remove that fancy Christmas paper on the pot before watering.
TIPS FOR THE SERIOUS GARDENER: For the serious gardeners out there, here are some tips for keeping poinsettias thriving to bloom for next Christmas!
By late March or early April, cut your Poinsettia back to about 8 inches in height. Continue regular watering and fertilizing. By the end of May you should see vigorous growth.
After the chance of frost has passed and night temperatures remain above 55 degrees, maintain your plant outdoors where it can enjoy spring and summer weather.
You may have to prune some during the summer to keep your plant compact and bushy. Late June or early July is good for this step, but don’t do so later than September 1.
Around June 1 you may need to transfer your plant to a larger pot. Select a container no larger than 4 inches larger than the original pot. A soil mix with a large amount of organic matter - Sphagnum Peat Moss for example - is highly recommended. In milder climates you can plant into a well-prepared garden bed. Make sure your bed is rich in organic matter and drains well.
Poinsettias are photoperiodic plants, meaning they set buds and produce flowers as the autumn nights lengthen. They naturally come into bloom during November or December, depending on the individual cultivars. During October, November and early December they require 6-8 hours of bright sunlight daily with night temperatures between 60-70 degrees. Temps outside this range could delay flowering. Continue normal watering and fertilizing. Poinsettias generally require a period of darkness to come into bloom. If you do not have a controlled greenhouse environment, you must work a bit harder to ensure your plants will bloom for Christmas. You can stimulate blooming by moving your plant to a totally dark room or by covering it overnight with a box. Carefully follow this regime for 8-10 weeks for a colorful display at Christmas time.
*NOTE:
Poinsettias are NOT poisonous, and they have been included in the list of houseplants most helpful in removing pollutants from indoor air!
So... SAVE THE POINSETTIAS, PEOPLE!
See you next tip!!
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