Ask The Expert: Do You Water The Poinsettia From Oct. to Dec.? Poinsettia plants should be watered thoroughly, taking care not to drown them by ensuring adequate drainage is available. To keep poinsettias looking good throughout the holiday season, keep them between 55 and 75 degrees. Water your plant till it feels slightly moist. Ideally, poinsettias do best in temperatures ranging from 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If the uppermost layer of the soil appears moist and cool to touch, you don't need to rush for watering now. And what a rigmarole! You'd be forgiven for thinking the vibrant red colours of the plant are flower petals but in fact, these are called bracts. Poinsettia likes moist soil but not damp, so water only when the soil feels dry. All the way from the deciduous tropical forests of Mexico, people bring this bright color plant to their home for holidays. If you are keeping the poinsettia for a few months, fertilize twice a month with a 20-10-20 soluble fertilizer. Poinsettias are tropical plants that benefit from plenty of light. Because root rot disease is more prevalent at temperatures below 60 degrees F, do not put the poinsettia in a room colder than this. When in doubt, skip the water. Too much water will cause the lower leaves to droop, turn yellow and fall off the plant. Poinsettias can be planted outside, but they are very intolerant of frost. Neither do plants. Nina, you should water them normally. Then, you will be able to water the plant whenever they need - which will not only help them to develop their growth but also enhance their beauty. You can either remove the foil or punch holes in the bottom of the wrapper and set the plant on a container to catch excess water. They do not like drafts or being chilled to temperatures below 50 degrees. A long-lasting poinsettia is watered properly. Poinsettias are best at temperatures below 70 degrees but above 50 degrees. The flowering life of plants is extended by humidity, so mist plants regularly. Poinsettias are absolutely everywhere during the holidays, and for good reason! Water your poinsettia only when the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch. After the holiday season has passed, you can keep your poinsettia for the next season’s blooms. How Often Do You Water Bamboo Plants? The cupboard fun commences in September to early October. Those plasticized wrappers on the poinsettias will hold water, be sure to avoid overwatering your plants. Plants in clay pots require more water, while those in plastic pots are easily overwatered. Poinsettias form flower buds when the days are shorter than 12 hours. Ventilation is important, but keep the plant away from drafts. If you hope to enjoy your poinsettia for another holiday season, it should be cut back to about four inches in April. Much like the case with orchids, many flower enthusiasts mean well but overwater poinsettias when they only really need a little. The best way to tell whether your poinsettias need to feed or not; simply examine its soil. Because of this, you must bring poinsettias inside when temperatures drop below 50℉. Give them as much direct sunlight as possible, and … You can do this by putting your plant in a dark room or by covering it with a box to ensure it receives at least 12 hours of darkness. Bring your poinsettia back inside before fall temperatures start dropping below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you start to see color showing at the top of the bracts, you can stop hiding your poinsettias in the dark each day. Flower Shop Network is your source for finding a real local florist. By late May new growth will begin to appear. If you don’t supply 14 hours of darkness each day for six weeks, do not expect your poinsettia to bloom. We love the bright blooms of poinsettias.Every winter, they add festive cheer to holiday decorating inside and out. During the holidays, while in full bloom, they typically enjoy semi-cool, humid locations in bright, indirect light with plenty of moisture. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you … Watering the plant need some experience, that's all. Log in. Before jumping to how often you should water your plant, let's discuss some of the crucial factors that need to be reflected. As a result, the root may rot rapidly. The best way to water the plant is to move it, pot and all, to the sink and soak it thoroughly. We didn't say this was going to be glamorous! Learn how much water poinsettias need. ... Poinsettias are warm weather plants. As a rule of thumb, only water when the surface of the compost has begun to dry out. It is generally once a week depending on the climate and environment. Don't over-water your plants. However, to achieve re-blooming, poinsettias must have an 8 to 10 week period of long, dark nights. Plants will deteriorate if overwatered, causing the leaves to yellow and fall off after wilting. Without these lengths of evening darkness, poinsettias will not flower. How to water poinsettias. When fall temperatures begin to drop, bring the plant indoors. Poinsettias grow best outdoors in temperate climates, where they do not experience extreme temperatures on either side of the spectrum. Dark grey shadow = too much light; How to water a poinsettia. Poinsettias are tropical plants and love sunlight. Wait till the soil dries out completely. It's a first time so I don't expect it to bloom but if I do this again next year, do you think it will bloom? Never allow the pot to stand in water. In 1944, the plant was included in H. R. Arnold's book Poisonous Plants of Hawaii on this premise. But if you insist not to take off its shiny wrapper, then be responsible for the water to be completely drained after each watering. In a very dark corner, however, they do tend to stretch and become leggy. That is the reason why you should always look for a pot with drainage holes under it. During winter, poinsettias love bright, filtered sunlight. Poinsettias should be watered whenever the soil surface feels dry to the touch. You can realize its need by merely touching the soil, observing its color and how it weighs with the pot. Simply continue to water the poinsettia as you … This means that flowering is triggered by long dark nights in the autumn, and poinsettias require at least 8 weeks where they are kept in darkness for at least 12 hours each day. The poinsettia needs a long night and a short day. Under-watering also causes the flowers and leaves to drop off. Do not fertilize poinsettias while they are in bloom. As soon as the container has drained sufficiently, put your poinsettias back in their chosen locations, where they get plenty of sun and are protected from temperature shifts. Poinsettias have a reputation as being hard to maintain, but if you follow our top tips, they should thrive well past Christmas By Sarah Raven 22 December 2020 • 1:28pm I love in-home gardening projects in the winter when the ground is frozen, so let’s figure out how to turn a poinsettia red. You're more likely to kill a poinsettia by overwatering it than underwatering it, so don't be afraid to let it dry out before you water it. You may put the poinsettia in a closet, in a dark room, or cover it with a box. Get your Poinsettias to bloom by dark treatment of Poinsettias! If you decide to put them in the closet for the 14-16 hours of darkness that still leaves you plenty of time to water them when they come out of the closet. Continue to … If you find any, you don’t need to worry. 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