Poinsettias

Q. How do I water and care for my Poinsettia plant once I have brought it home? Does it need light? Fertilizer?

A. Water only when soil is nearly dry to the fingertips one inch deep. Allow bottom drainage so that the plant never sits in water. A constantly moist soil will cause root rot and the plant will die. If you under-water the leaves will wilt so water promptly. Poinsettias are fairly forgiving and will bounce back quickly but brown edges on the colored bracts will remain. Never allow indoor temperatures to drop below 65§F. Give it as much indirect light as you can. Keep out of any heating duct draft or cold air from windows or doorways. Give fertilizer as Schultz or Miracle-Gro as recommended for house plants. Pinch off dead and yellow leaves and cut back dead branches.

Q. I have Poinsettias from last Christmas. They are growing very well but I can't seem to make them turn red. I keep them by a window and I hardly ever open that blind. Do you have a suggestion?

A. You are in deep trouble [11/21/01] for the Holidays. You need a video copy of the TV show I made locally a couple weeks ago on poinsettias.

The plant is a short day plant meaning it will not bloom unless it receives about 10 weeks of days no longer than 9 hours. I prefer to look at it as a long night plant meaning they need nights total darkness no tiny light near them at all for 10 weeks of 14 hours. If a lamp is nearby or if a person goes into the room and turns on a light for a minute once or if a street light reflects into the room the plant will not initiate flowers.

The red leaves we love are really modified called bracts not flowers. The tiny yellow centers which last a couple days are the actual flowers. But the leaves will not turn red or pink or cream unless grown as a long night plant!

It is best for you to try again next year or start right now for blooms in about 2/1/02. But they can be enjoyed as lovely green house plant with even an outside trip into the yard for the spring and summer.

In Mexico from where they originate they will bloom outside in the winter with a little light interruption. But they are accustomed to it and are not our greenhouse hybrids. BTW have you seen the dark purple one yet? Rare...I have seen only a picture.

Q. Why are my poinsettias losing their leaves? They are new and beautiful. I don't want to lose them yet.

A. A plant brought from a nursery or florist shop into your home will most likely drop some leaves due to the cultural changes. It is a type of shock. But if you do a couple things you may reduce this problem:

Water the plant only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Remove the outer foil or punch several holes in it to allow water to flow out into a bottom saucer. Keep this saucer empty of sitting water. Place the plant in an area with good indirect light no direct sunlight but not total shade either. The leaves need light to continue to be green. Feed the plant with dilute house plant food once every two weeks at a rate of about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per gallon water. Make sure that the plant is not sitting in a draft either from an opening door cold window or heating vent.

Remove bottom yellow leaves to prevent spread of disease. Keep away from a heat source as a candle or string of light bulbs. Plants will stay fresh longer the colored bracts stay on the plant and leaves will not yellow or brown so much if you have the plant in a room with a cool night temperature. Extreme heat in the home reduces the length of the plant's display.