Keep Your Poinsettia Alive Until the Next Holiday Season

Now that the holidays are over, you might be staring at the poinsettia you were offered, wondering how far into the year it might survive this time. Only these holiday beauties can make it to the next year easily, if well taken care of. Whether blessed with a perfectly green thumb or struggling to grow all things green, Agrotica has got you covered as we walk you through the full process of caring for your poinsettia.

Temperature

When grown indoors, the best temperature to keep your poinsettia thriving ranges from 18 to 20ºC. It is essential to keep the plant away from fluctuating sources of temperature such as heaters and fans. Any temperature below 10ºC can cause serious damage, while frost will lead to irreversible harm.

Light

Indoor poinsettias need to be placed near a window, allowing bright daylight to reach them daily.

Water

The best way to water a poinsettia is by placing its pot in a basin with at least 5cm of water. This will allow it to soak up the water from the bottom for 1 to 2 hours, depending on its soil texture.

This watering process could be repeated each 2 to three days, or when the soil is dry to the touch (which depends on how dry the indoor area is)

Nutrition

Poinsettia nutrition is relatively simple and requires as little as a couple of products when grown at home. A balanced source of essential nutrients goes a long way. 20 20 20 fertilizers such as Debbane’s Prosol can be applied as per its recommended rate of use every three to four weeks. Another tip to avoid plant stress and promote its good development is the addition of specialized foliar amino acid and peptide liquid fertilizer like Trainer.

It is worth noting that fertilization should be stopped during the blooming stage. This ensures that the poinsettia conserves and reaches the best color when entering the flowering stage.

Transplanting

As your plant is growing, it will eventually need to be transferred into either a larger pot or a bed of soil. The essential when performing the latter is to go for it when the weather gets warmer, usually during spring or early summer. In addition, supplying the new soil whether in a pot or outdoor bed with a good source of organic matter optimizes the conditions for better plant growth. Always make sure that the relocated poinsettia has all its temperature, light, water, and nutrition requirements properly met to avoid plant stress.

Following these tips can help you easily maintain healthy post-holiday poinsettias. Now comes the question of how to bring color back to it in time for the holidays. Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about this and keep up with the latest agricultural insights and tips from Agrotica.

by M. Bouzeid