EXTENSION REPORT

All About Poinsettias

Poinsettias are a wonderful worldwide holiday tradition. Displayed alone or in groups, they add a festive splash of color to every décor.

Selecting a Healthy Poinsettia

Choose plants with thoroughly colored and expanded bracts. The bracts are the colorful part of the poinsettia, while the true flowers are the small yellow centers. Look for plants with dense, plentiful foliage all the way to the soil line. The plant should be about 2 and one half times larger than its pot size. Select plants with strong, stiff stems and no signs of wilting. Be wary of plants displayed in plastic or mesh sleeves, these can reduce air flow.

To Care for your Poinsettia

·        Place your plant in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day.

·        Provide room temperatures between 68 and 70 degrees F.

·        Water your plant thoroughly when the soil is dry beneath the surface.

·        Fertilize your plant after the blooming season with a well balanced all purpose fertilizer.

·        Avoid cold drafts or excessive heat.

·        Do not expose your plant to temperatures below 50 degrees F.

·        Do not over water!

 The Perfect Holiday Gift

Poinsettias are so versatile that you never have to worry if the recipient already has one. From a centerpiece on a holiday table to a miniature plant decorating the corner of an office desk, to a colorful hanging basket that can brighten any room, the poinsettia is the perfect holiday gift.

After the Holidays

With proper care, your poinsettia can last long past the holiday season. Here’s how: By April when the colored bracts begin to turn or fall off, cut the plant back leaving four to six buds. Keep the plant near a sunny window, water and fertilize regularly, and by the end of May you should see vigorous new growth. Continue to nurture your plant as autumn nears. The Poinsettia begins to set buds and produce flowers as the nights become longer. Beginning October 1, keep the plant in complete darkness for fourteen continuous hours each night by moving it into a dark room or placing a large box over it. During the day allow six to eight hours of bright sunlight. Continue this for eight to ten weeks, and the poinsettia will develop a colorful display of holiday blooms. The information in this article was provided courtesy of the Poinsettia Growers Association. For more information concerning poinsettias or other gardening related issues, call your Regional Extension Agent, Mike McQueen, at (251) 937-7176.

Email address: mcquegj@aces.edu
Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.