wonder what to do with your poinsettia plant after they bloom and begin to recede their beautifully colored leaves ?
Without a doubt , poinsettia plant are the go - to plant when it do to holiday decorating . In fact , so popular that more Euphorbia pulcherrima are sell as pot plants than any other plant in the United States . That includes any potted plant life trade at any meter of the year !
But as pop as they are , poinsettia are also one of the most misunderstood plant life . specially when it comes to the question of what to do with them after they begin to fall back their luster and blooms at the closing of the holiday time of year .
This poinsettia plant is beginning to lose its colorful bracts. But with just a bit of care, it can become a beautiful houseplant.
unluckily , all too often , poinsettia plant simply get tossed to the curb in late December or early January . Once their once - gorgeous colored leaves take off to brown off and fall to the floor , many think the plant has pass the ending of the line – much like annuals like marigold , impatiens and other summer blooming annuals do in recent crepuscule .
But here ’s the good news – the poinsettia plant is actually a perennial . And one that can actually quite easily be kept alive as a beautiful houseplant after it complete its blooming cycle . Even advantageously , it can also be made to bloom just as bright and beautiful next vacation time of year as well !
One matter is for certain , when you consider just how dear poinsettias can be , it can be a great way to carry through on your annual vacation adorn budget . And – have a great houseplant for the rest of the year too !
All too often, poinsettia plants are sent to the curb as their blooms begin to fall off. But by simply pruning back the plant after it blooms, you can revive it to keep for next year’s decorating.
What To Do With Poinsettia Plants After They Bloom
By mid - January , even the most well - go along poinsettia works begin to fade . Their colorful blooming ( actually showy leaves call bract ) in conclusion pop to flow from the plant . As they do , the industrial plant protrude to look quite spindly and decrepit .
Unfortunately , many think the works is clamber at this dot to survive . In reality , it ’s simply going through the same procedure all perennials go through when they dispatch their bloom rhythm . And just as you do with other perennial , that means it ’s prison term for a major pruning .
When pruning back , get into glove if you have sensitive skin . Poinsettias release a whitish white sap that can be an irritant for many to the skin .
A good rule of thumb is to cut plant back to about 4 to 6 inches above the filth aerofoil of the pot . Using a sharp pair of manus pruners , sheer back stems at a 45 ° angle . This will help the cuts mend over more easily and stop the sap menses much faster .
If there are any unripened , healthy farewell below the 4 to 6 in floor , countenance them to remain . Know that at this head your Christmas star is going to look more like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree than a houseplant – but do n’t be appall – it will survive and flourish once again .
Now it ’s time to revive your plant life and grow a newfangled folio canopy for your poinsettia . After pruning , place your industrial plant in a sunny windowsill . irrigate your plant as needed to keep the dirt slightly moist . Be deliberate not to overwater as Christmas star root can waste when sitting water supply .
Cut back your poinsettia about 4 to 6 inches above the soil. Cutting at a 45° will help to speed healing and also stop the sap from oozing faster.
Usually , within 2 to 3 weeks , you will set out to see newfangled growth beginning to emerge from the radical . When this raw growth appears , it ’s time to give your flora a boost of push by fertilizing . For good issue , expend a balanced plant food designed with houseplants in creative thinker . Affiliate Product Link : Schultz All Purpose Liquid Plant Food 10 - 15 - 10
You painted leaf plant will preserve to grow an entirely fresh leaf canopy throughout the rest of wintertime and early leap . Continue inseminate monthly to help the plant life re - energize its root and folio social system .
As leap and warmer temperatures arrive , you may take the plants outside . The more sun the well . In fact , you may even plant them directly into the dirt if desired . Prune back the plant a few inches in former summer and again in mid - summertime to keep the plant more full and shaggy .
As fall arrives , it ’s time to begin preparing your lobster plant for holiday blooming . To get plants to flower around the vacation season , they need to go through a 6 to 8 week period of dark to pressure the bloom .
At the end of September , localise your poinsettia in a dark , cool area . shoot for for an area that is around 65 ° to 70 ° (f ) and keep your plants dark for around 14 to 16 hours a mean solar day . A dark closet or basement with easy access works good for this . Continue to water as needed through the outgrowth .
Bring the plant out into collateral light for only about 8 to 10 minute each twenty-four hours and then fall to duskiness . As soon as you see the salad days commence to interchange colour , it is time to bring it out full time to enjoy .
Poinsettia plants will stay green and leafy all year around. Once fall comes, with just a little preparation, you can get your plants ready to bloom big again for the holidays.
Here is to redeem your poinsettia plants . Not only can you save on repurchasing – but you’re able to have a great houseplant to boot ! For even more on holiday plant care – see our article : How To Keep Your Christmas Cactus Healthy – Before & After Christmas !
Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary
Jim and Mary Competti have been compose gardening , DIY and formula article and book for over 15 year from their 46 acre Ohio farm . The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love life to journey in their spare prison term .
