Care of Poinsettias
Nothing says the holidays like Poinsettias. Gertens is one of the largest growers of Poinsettias in the Twin Cities and offers a wide range of colors and styles, from the traditional red, white, and pink of natural poinsettias, to our wide variety of painted colors.
Red Glitter
A Brief History
Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first United States Ambassador to Mexico being appointed by President John Quincy Adams in the 1820's. Interested in botany, he wandered the countryside looking for new plant species. In 1828 he found a beautiful shrub with large red flowers growing next to a road. He took cuttings from the plant and brought them back to his greenhouse in South Carolina, introducing the plant to the U.S.
The Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia) is a native of Mexico, where it grows like a weed and can reach 10 feet tall. Mexican legend holds that the leaves, shaped like the star of Bethlehem, first bloomed red for a poor girl who wanted to bring a gift to the manger scene at the local church but had no money. Her cousin, who walked to the church with her, said “even the most humble gift, if given in love, would be acceptable to Jesus”. So the girl picked the weed and when she laid it at the altar it turned a beautiful bright red. And so the red flowers were called ‘Flowers of the Holy Night”. Technically they’re not flowers but what’s called bracts or modified leaves.
Traditional Red
Location and Temperature
- The poinsettia thrives on bright natural daylight. Six hours a day is ideal.
- Place near a sunny window.
- To keep those bracts bright red, temperatures should say between 65 at night and 70° F during the day.
- Don't place your plants near drafts, fluctuating air currents, excess heat and dry air from appliances, fireplaces or ventilating ducts.
- Chilling injury will occur if poinsettias are exposed to temperatures below 50° F. Frost will kill them.
Water and Fertilizer
- Poinsettias do best with moist soil conditions, not too wet, not too dry.
- Water the poinsettia thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch. Water just enough so the water barely begins to seep through the holes on the bottom of the pot. Empty the saucer so your plant isn’t sitting in water or the roots could rot.
- Don't fertilize your poinsettias when they are in bloom, however, after 6-8 weeks, a balanced, all-purpose household plant fertilizer mixed ½-strength will help maintain the rich, green foliage color and promote new growth. Repeat once more in another 6-8 weeks.
Green Envy
After the Holidays
- With just a little care the beauty of your poinsettia can last throughout the year as an attractive green foliage plant.
- At the end of April or early May, when the bracts begin to turn a muddy green, cut the plant back to about 8 inches. The amount you cut from the top will depend on the shape of the plant. The idea is to achieve a full, rounded canopy. After you cut the plant back, it will probably look rather stark, with bare branches and bluntly cut woody stems.
- But hold on, by the end of May you will see vigorous new growth as the plant develops more lush green foliage. Keep the plants near a sunny window.
- As the temperatures warm up in Summer, you can place your plants outdoors where they can bask in the sunshine. Continue to water the plants regularly during the growing period. Fertilize every 3 to 4 weeks throughout the spring, summer and fall months with a well-balanced fertilizer mixed ½-strength.
- Around mid-June you can transplant your poinsettias into larger pots, about 2" to 4" bigger than the original inner pot. Use a soil mix that incorporates a considerable amount of organic matter such as peat moss.
- You can also plant them in a well-prepared garden bed rich in organic matter and with good drainage. Your poinsettias will do best in a protected area, preferably along a south garden wall. Immediately after transplanting, be sure to water thoroughly.
Re-flowering
- The poinsettia needs a period of darkness to set buds and produce flowers. As the winter nights become longer the plants will naturally come into full bloom during November or December depending upon the variety. This can be tricky to do outside of a controlled greenhouse environment, because any stray artificial light such as that from a streetlight, pool light or household lamp could delay or halt the re-flowering of the plants.
- Starting October 1, the plants must be kept in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. This can be accomplished by moving the plants to a dark room or placing a large box over them. During this period, the plants require 6 to 8 hours of bright sunlight and night temperatures between 60° and 70° F. The temperature is critical, or the setting of the flower buds may be delayed or halted. The blooming process may also be delayed or disrupted by any stray light that may shine near the plants during the critical darkness period.
- This regimen must continue for approximately 8 to 10 weeks for the plants to develop a colorful display of blooms for the holiday season. The re-flowering process takes more than a little vigilance, perseverance and patience to be successful.
Poinsettias Are Not Poisonous
For the last one hundred years, an unsubstantiated tale has circulated that poinsettia plants are poisonous. They are not. The Society of American Florists and Ohio State University conducted a scientific investigation into the safety of the poinsettia plant and found that it is not harmful to human and animal health. Of course, the poinsettia, like all ornamental plants, is not intended for human and animal consumption.
The experts at Gertens are always available to answer your questions!