Poinsettias are often thrown away after the holiday season because people don't realize that the plant has a lot of life left in it.It's possible to keep a poinsettia alive next year.Pruning dead leaves will create room for new growth.If you live in the right climate, introduce the plant to outdoor soil when the time is right.By the time winter rolls around again, it should regain its shape and color.
Step 1: The poinsettia can get at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.
As soon as you decide to save your poinsettia, move it to a well-lit spot inside your home.The best settings for bright sunlight are east or west-facing windows or an open living room.Poinsettias need lots of indirect exposure to remain viable.
Step 2: Every few days you should water your plant.
The amount of water you use depends on a number of factors.You should pour in just enough to make the soil moist.The soil will dry to the touch between waterings if you repeat as frequently as needed.Plants need about 34 cup (180 mL) of water a day.Don't overwater your poinsettia.Poor soil can cause root rot and other problems that can kill the plant.Make sure the pot has holes in it.Get a different pot if it doesn't.
Step 3: Remove dead foliage.
Scan the poinsettia for leaves that have lost their color and should be plucked by hand.Remove any leaves that have already fallen into the container.The foliage can be left intact.By the time you finish trimming your poinsettia, it may look like a bare stick.This is normal.The colorful foliage will come back in the spring.
Step 4: The stems have begun to rot.
Plants with mature stems that are sickly or discolored should be inspected.To clip these at least half an inch below the affected area, use a pair of pruning shears.It is possible that you will leave only the newer stems at the base of the plant.New growth in plants that are healthy will be stimulated by trimming the stems.If you add rotten stems and foliage to your compost pile, you can use it to treat your poinsettia once it starts growing again.If the stems have pests, they should be thrown away in the garbage.
Step 5: The poinsettia needs to be kept at a constant 65–75 F.
Poinsettias are comfortable at the same temperature.They will be content in almost any room of the house.Place your plant away from windows that you open frequently.Under a draft, poinsettias don't hold up well.Poinsettias should not be placed near heating or cooling equipment.Don't raise or lower the thermostat too much when the temperature outside fluctuates.
Step 6: During the spring, you shouldFertilize your Poinsettia once a month.
Adding vital nutrients to your soil requiresfertilizers.The safest choice for delicate plants is balanced water-soluble houseplant fertilization.The amount specified in the instructions is always used.Compost or worm castings can be used to fertilize your poinsettia.After watering, the best time to applyfertilizer is when the soil is still moist.Poinsettias can be damaged by being fertilized in dry soil.When the plant is in its most active stages of growth, apply thefertilizer once a month.
Step 7: The plant should be moved to a spot with indirect sunlight.
On warm afternoons, allow your plant to sit outdoors for a few hours.Place the plant in a shaded area.Plants can be grown in screened-in patios and flower beds that are protected by tree cover.Gradually introduce your plant to the outdoors.It is best to start with a few hours in the early morning, then increase its exposure by an hour or two every day until it is able to tolerate an entire afternoon.There is plenty of morning sun but less shade in the afternoon.If your Poinsettia has been spending a lot of time in the sun, it may be necessary to water it more frequently.It is possible that your plant has been outside too long.
Step 8: The stems should be trimmed back in the spring or summer.
When the weather warms up, it is helpful to cut away at least a third of your poinsettia's overall size.Pruning is needed to boost growth.It will make a bushier plant.You will be redirecting more of the plant's resources into producing new flowers and foliage by removing the stems.If you want to hold off on doing the bulk of yourPruning, you can wait until around midsummer when the Poinsettia has reached its full size.
Step 9: If you want to promote flowering, cover the plant overnight.
In order to produce vibrantly colored bracts after a dormant period, you will need to spend 12 to 14 hours a night in total darkness between September and November.Every evening at sundown, place a black fabric bag or cardboard box over the plant.When it's time to meet its sunlight requirements, uncover it again the following morning.After covering it, put it in a closet or basement.It can be difficult to prevent it from blooming on time.The amount of foliage produced by poinsettias is determined by the number of hours they spend without light.
Step 10: Put your plant in a larger container.
Your rejuvenated Poinsettia may get so big that it outgrows its original pot.The root system will have plenty of room to grow if the plant is moved to a new container.Don't damage the plant's delicate roots when removing it.The new container should be filled with a well-balanced soil mix.Once you transplant it successfully, continue watering and fertilization.
Step 11: Pesticides can be used to ward off insects.
Poinsettias have been known to feed on pests in the garden.If they want to minimize the damage they do, they should spray the plant periodically with a mild organic pesticide, such as neem oil or insecticidal soap.You may be able to remove invaders by hand if there are only a few present.Due to their gentler ingredients, organic pesticides have to be reapplied more frequently than chemical products.If you don't like the idea of treating your plant with pesticides, try mixing up your own homemade solution by combining an all-natural liquid soap with warm water in a spray bottle and using it to blast bugs whenever they pop up.
Step 12: When the temperature starts to drop, bring your poinsettia indoors.
It will be too cold to keep your poinsettia out during the day.You can find a warm spot for the plant in your home where it can get a lot of indirect sun exposure.Chances are it will thrive for another season if it has made it this far.If you live in a region with a warm climate, you may be able to leave your poinsettia outdoors during the fall and winter.At all times, the temperature should be above 50 F.It needs to be protected from frost and exposure to freezing temperatures.