Caring for poinsettias during the holidays and beyond

The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is among the most popular flowers to buy during the holiday season. It is so nice to have something in bloom in the home during the cold winter months. These are easy plants to grow; however, most people tend to toss their poinsettias out once the blooms have died. These descendants of a 6-foot-shrub that grows in the wild in Mexico can be kept, though, and brought back to life in the spring. You can then force them to bloom once again and have new blooms just in time for Christmas. One note of interest: The "flowers" are really not flowers. They are actually leaves, called bracts. The flowers are actually the little nubs that you see in the middle of the colorful bracts.

Care during the holidays

Poinsettias like normal room temperatures and bright filtered light. (This means that you can place your poinsettia in front of a window covered by a sheer, for example.) Try to keep it away from drafts. It is time to water when you notice that the foliage is slightly droopy. You should then saturate it thoroughly. There is really no need to give your poinsettia any fertilizer. With proper care, your poinsettia will stay in bloom for at least two months and even sometimes longer.

Care during the winter months

Once the flowers have faded, do not discard your poinsettia. Instead, cut the plant back to about two inches above the soil level. Allow the soil to dry out almost completely. (You do not want it to be bone-dry, however, with soil that is hard as a rock.) Place the poinsettia in a room, once again with normal temperatures, where it can get some filtered light. Water just enough throughout the winter to keep the soil slightly moist. (I only water mine about once every two weeks or even once a month.) Do not fertilize.

Care during the spring and summer months

Around April, start flooding your poinsettia with water. The dead-looking stump will start producing new growth. You can also move your poinsettia outside once all danger of frost has passed. Do not place it in full sun, though. The leaves will scorch. Place it, instead, in partial, dappled shade. Keep it evenly moist during this time. By the way, there is really no need to transplant your poinsettia into a larger pot. A larger pot will only encourage rapid foliage growth at the expense of the flower bracts. Give it a balanced liquid fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro once a month.

Forcing your poinsettia to bloom

Bring your poinsettia in about the middle of September. To force it to bloom, you need to put it in an area where it will be in total darkness for no less than fourteen hours per day. (A closet that is not used is a good choice.) You do not want any light at all seeping in during the time that the plant is in darkness. Do this for eight weeks, after which you can bring it out and place it in the desired spot.

Most of us are familiar with the red and white poinsettias. There are numerous other colors on the market, as well. You can now find pink and some that have mottled colors, such as pink and white. In addition, there are yellow and orange cultivars. There is even a blue poinsettia available. If you are unable to find any unusual colors at your local garden center, you can look online. Some places to explore are:

Farmer's Markets Online: There are many farmer's markets that have enclosed buildings and are, therefore, able to stay open year-round. This is a great resource for finding poinsettias, which are usually locally-grown. Check out the online site for such a farmer's market near you.

Nurseryman/Flowers and Ornamental Plant Growers: This site gives a good listing of the various nurseries around the country, who sell plants online.