The White River Valley Herald

Caring for Poinsettias Year ‘Round




People have different opinions about the poinsettia. Some consider it a holiday plant to be enjoyed during the holidays, then discarded with the Christmas tree. Others like to nurture and coddle their plants, coaxing them into bloom season after season.

I subscribe to the former way of thinking. Although it may seem a shame to discard potted holiday plants, if you prorate the cost of the plant over the long period you are able to enjoy it, the cost isn’t really much. We often spend many times the cost of a potted plant for a dinner or a movie that can be enjoyed only briefly.

There’s also no guarantee that your poinsettia will bloom again next December, even with yearround care. But if you’d like to try, here are a few tips:

• Choose a plant with small, tightly clustered yellow buds in the center. Look for crisp, brightly colored bracts (leaves).

• Place the plant in a room with plenty of bright, natural light. Keep out of drafts and away from appliances, and never place it on the television set.

• Water only when dry; discard excess water that runs through the pot’s drainage holes. If wrapped in foil, make sure the pot doesn’t sit in water inside the decorative wrap.

Here is a year-round care schedule that is tied to specific holidays:

New Year’s Day: Fertilize with houseplant fertilizer and provide adequate light and water for prolonged bloom for several weeks.

Valentine’s Day: Check for signs of insects such as white fly. If the plant has become long and leggy, cut back to about five inches tall.

St. Patrick’s Day: Remove faded and dried parts of the plant. Add more soil, preferably a commercially available sterile soil mix. Keep the plant in a very bright interior location.

Memorial Day: Trim off two to three inches of branches to promote side branching. Repot to a larger container using a sterile growing mix.

Father’s Day: Move the plant outside for the summer; place in indirect light.

Fourth of July: Trim the plant again and move it into full sun. Continue to water and fertilize but increase the amount to accelerate growth.

Labor Day: Move indoors to a spot that gets at least six hours of direct light daily, preferably more. As new growth begins, reduce the amount of fertilizer.

Autumnal Equinox: Starting around Sept. 21, give the plant 13 hours of uninterrupted darkness (put the plant in a closet, basement, or under a box) and 11 hours of bright light each day. Night temperatures should be in the low 60° range. Continue to water and fertilize. Rotate the plant to give all sides even light.

Thanksgiving: Discontinue the short day/long night treatment. Put the plant in a sunny area that gets at least six hours of direct light. Reduce water and fertilizer.

Christmas: Enjoy your “new” poinsettia.



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