Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Care for Poinsettias
How to Care for Poinsettias. The poinsettia is undoubtedly a popular plant and visually marks the Christmas season. The plant is available in a variety of colors, sizes and it's generally inexpensive to boot. For a plant that gives a lot, it requires very little in terms of care. With very little effort, this seasonal plant will reward you with...
The poinsettia is undoubtedly a popular plant and visually marks the Christmas season. The plant is available in a variety of colors, sizes and it's generally inexpensive to boot. For a plant that gives a lot, it requires very little in terms of care. With very little effort, this seasonal plant will reward you with blooms and beauty throughout the holiday season.
Water the plant when it feels dry to the touch. Allow the water to drain out of the bottom. Never allow the plant to sit in water which will cause wilting, another cause of leaf drop. Place a layer of pebbles on a tray beneath the plant to further keep the plant out of water and increase humidity. For particularly dry environments, very typical in the winter months, it may be necessary to water the plant more frequently, possibly daily. Providing a mist to the poinsettia will also help to ward off dryness.
Place the poinsettia in bright, but not direct sunlight. Give the plant at least six hours of light each day. Maintain a temperature between 65 and 75 degrees during the day. When placed in temperatures below 60 degrees, premature leaf drop will result. Avoid extreme shifts in temperature to prevent damaging the plant. To extend the bright color of poinsettia bracts, do not place the plant in temperatures above 70 degrees. Avoid placing the plant near fireplaces, near drafts or ventilation ducts.
Watch out for whitefly, a common pest for the poinsettia. Detecting whiteflies is relatively easy. When picking up a plant if white insects fly away, the plant has whiteflies. Ridding a poinsettia of the pest is relatively easy. Use an insecticidal soap to remove the insects. Do not fertilize a poinsettia while it is blooming. Fertilization, pruning and other extensive care is only required to maintain the plant into the next blooming season.
