5 simple tips to keep your lovely poinsettia plant alive even after the holidays
Every year, a large part of the Christmas holiday season atmosphere is transmitted by the various decorations and lights that are usually placed inside and outside the home.
Tradition has it that there is also a gorgeous tree decorated with all the beautiful classic decorations, elegant balls, and colored lights.
But there is also another very important element that always makes a good impression during the Christmas holiday season, namely, the poinsettia, an ornamental plant that blooms beautifully at that time of the year.
However, it often happens that, once the Christmas holiday season is over, we automatically throw away this beautiful plant because it wilts very quickly.
In this regard, we want to give you some advice about how to keep your lovely poinsettia plant alive and well, even after the holidays.
via Lowes
The Poinsettia is a plant known, above all, for its ornamental beauty, and as you already know, it is frequently purchased during the Christmas holiday season, precisely because the plant reaches its maximum splendor during this period.
Often, it happens that once the holidays are over we throw them away, not considering the fact that a poinsettia plant should be treated like any other plant.
In fact, during and immediately after the holidays, a poinsettia plant should receive the proper amount of necessary direct light and you do not need to water it too much or too often.
Poinsettias do best when the thermostat rests between 65°F—75°F (18°C to 25°C). Also, keep them away from drafts and cold windows.
In addition, you must make sure to use a suitable fertilizer, which provides the poinsettia plant with the nutrients it needs: a small amount of dry coffee grounds mixed with the soil also works well.
Here are briefly, the five steps to follow starting in spring, to revitalize and keep your beautiful poinsettia plant alive and well:
1. Place the plant outdoors: With the arrival of spring, when the temperatures are above 50°F (10°C), you can put your plant in a place where it is sure that it receives direct sunlight. The plant will begin to grow but will remain green during the summer.
2. Prune the plant: When summer arrives, we recommend pruning half or a third of the plant, and then put it in a slightly larger pot.
3. Put the plant indoors: Once the summer is over, you can relocate the plant indoors before the night temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C). It is essential that, from September 21 until the end of October, your poinsettia spend 14 or 15 hours a day in full darkness (continuously), at an average temperature of 64°F (18°C). With this simple action, your plants will be able to change color from green to red.
4. Cover your plants: Every evening, around 5:00 pm, remember to cover your plant so that it is in a completely dark environment. Then remember to uncover it around 7:00 am or 8:00 am every morning. The key to a beautiful flowering poinsettia depends on your plant receiving the right amount of light.
5. Enjoy your plants!
By following these simple steps, you should be able to take care of your poinsettia plant even after the Christmas holiday season is over.
