Ever want to grow your poinsettias? Growing poinsettias is not as difficult as you may think.
Poinsettia plants are easy to care for and will make a beautiful addition to any home or garden.
Read on for some helpful tips on planting, fertilizing, water, and otherwise care for this popular Christmas flower.
How to grow poinsettias outdoors?
Growing poinsettias is not that complicated; there are just some key points to keep in mind.
The plants need six hours of sun a day, so make sure they get enough light.
If possible, grow them outdoors or near a window where they can receive sunlight all day long.
Alternatively, place artificial lights nearby and turn them on during the night until it's time for bed.
The UV rays from the bulbs will help your plant stay healthy.
However, this may be an option only if you live in temperate zones (zone nine or higher).
In colder climates, let natural light do its job by placing your pot close to a sunny window indoors--don't forget about air circulation.
Keep soil moist at all times.
This will help the plant grow and stay healthy while also providing nutrients for them to feed on.
Avoid overwatering your poinsettia--it needs just a little bit of water, nothing more.
The roots can't take in too much liquid to lead to root rot or other issues with the soil balance, such as fungus growth.
Fertilize regularly using a high-quality fertilizer once every two weeks until it's time to bring your plants inside (around mid-October).
If you're unsure what type of fertilizer is best, go with a 16N 18P at half strength for each application.
Note: this is only necessary if growing outside; indoor plants do not need any additional fertilizing.
While it's always best to transition your plant inside before the first frost hits, if you forget to take care of this in time, there are a few things you can do: protect from cold winds and moisture by placing them near an indoor heater; cover up with blankets; or bring into a garage for the night.
Remember that once they're indoors, make sure to give them plenty of light using artificial lights during nighttime hours--six hours on, six off--and keep the soil moist at all times.
Do poinsettias like sun or shade?
Some poinsettias prefer the sun, while others are happier in the shade.
It's best to select a type of plant that suits your location and environment.
Shade-loving plants include Lavender, Ixora, Kaffir Lime, Chinese Holly, and Sweet Box.
Maroon-leafed varieties can be grown with less sunlight, although they will bloom more heavily if given brighter conditions.
White' Christmas' types need full sun for their leaves to develop properly but may also grow well on balconies or patios where there is some protection from wind chill.
When growing poinsettia indoors, the most important thing is not too much water because it can rot the roots.
Hence, it keeps them barely moist during winter months, then gradually increases watering before November.
Do poinsettias come back year after year?
Poinsettias return year after year, but it may take a few years for them to get back to their original state.
If you want the poinsettia to thrive and survive for more than one season, then be sure to care for it well every winter.
How long will poinsettias last outside?
Poinsettias will last from anywhere between three to six weeks outside.
This depends on the temperature and sun they receive but can often be as long as eight weeks if you want them to die slowly.
Can poinsettias tolerate full sun?
Poinsettias are considered shade-loving plants.
They will not tolerate full sun and should be grown with at least four hours of sunlight each day, preferably in the morning or early afternoon.
The best way to grow poinsettias outdoors is from seedlings that have been propagated indoors for three months before transplanting them outside after all danger of frost has passed.
This usually takes place between April and July, depending on where you live.
Carefully dig a hole just large enough for the roots and set your new plant into it so that it's standing up straight about an inch deep in the soil.
Water will help settle things down around the root system as much as possible, then give some additional water over time until the soil is moist like a sponge.
How do you take care of a poinsettia in the summer?
Poinsettias are a beautiful and popular plant that thrives both indoors or outdoors.
Many people grow them for their colorful blooms, but others enjoy the greenery of these plants all year long.
If you want to continue growing poinsettias outside during the summer months, here's how:
Water them every other day by simply spraying with water from your hose nozzle or watering can.
Make sure not to over-water as this may cause root rot, leading to your plant's early death.
If it is really hot out and you have access to an air conditioner (or if you live near one), place the pot on top, so its leaves do not get too wilted in front of the cool air.
Fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer like Miracle Grow once per month in the spring and summer months to keep your plant healthy.
You can also feed it with compost tea or water if you don't have these products on hand, but make sure not to overdo it as this will again cause root rot.
Why is my poinsettia dropping leaves?
The reason for this is usually a lack of water.
When the soil around your poinsettia dries out, it can lead to dropping leaves.
Always check that you are watering deeply and generously every week to keep the roots healthy and prevent leaf drop.*
How do you make poinsettia turn red again?
If you're not sure where your poinsettia should go, put it in an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day with some protection from heavy winds.
This might be near a window facing south. If possible, water the plants once weekly when they are indoors to dry out too quickly.
In general, make sure they get enough light for about 12 hours every day.
How to water poinsettias?
Thorough watering is the best way to water poinsettias.
Large plants can be watered by hand or with a hose and nozzle, while smaller ones should have their soil irrigated through soaker hoses set in emitters to distribute water over time gradually.
If you're using an overhead irrigation system, move it as close to the ground as possible without touching the plant leaves and use minimal pressure for even distribution of moisture throughout the potting mix.
For larger plants, we recommend watering them every day for about 15 minutes during dry periods, which could last from three days up to two weeks depending on how much rain your area has received recently.
For smaller plants, this may only need daily intermittent sprinkling if needed at all.
How to fertilize poinsettias?
Poinsettias are flowering shrubs and not annual.
When they're grown outside, it's important to fertilize them on the soil surface with some organic fertilizer.
The fertilizer should be mixed in well before planting.
There is no chance for burning roots from excessive salt buildup or other toxic compounds leaching into the groundwater when rain falls and washes away any salts remaining on top of the dirt.
Organic fertilizers such as manure or compost are perfect choices for this task because these natural materials break down quickly without generating any harmful runoff due to their rapid decomposition time.
Alternatively, you can mix your slow-release fertilizer by combining equal parts peat moss (or sphagnum peat), vermiculite, and bone meal.
The mixture should be moistened before adding fertilizer to it so that the dry ingredients don't crack when mixed.
The best time for fertilization is just after planting in early spring or at any point during late summer if plant growth has slowed down due to lack of rain or other factors such as high temperatures, pest infestations, etc.
If your plant looks healthy but isn't flowering well, then add a layer of compost on top of the soil surface around its perimeter and water it in with an organic liquid fertilizer like fish emulsion (approximately one tablespoon per gallon).
This will help stimulate new shoots that start blooming again from existing buds without waiting until the next season for new growth.
One of the most popular plants for Christmas time, poinsettias are native to Mexico and require a humid environment.
You can grow them outdoors if you live in an area with high humidity levels or use some other methods we've outlined here.
We hope these tips have helped you learn more about growing this plant indoors as well as outdoors.
If there's anything else you want to know about how to take care of your poinsettia, let us know.