The festive poinsettia works ( Euphorbia Pulcherrima ) take center stage during the chilliest time of the year , but it jazz a quick , tropic climate for growth . With its preference for warm weather , it will originate outdoors year round in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant life hardiness zones 9 to 11 . There it can produce up to 10 feet improbable . In pots , the plant can be moved indoors to foreclose it from being exposed to cold .
The colorful variety that occurs in the poinsettia ’s upper leafage , hump as bracts , requires short periods of daylight and lengthy nights . you may count for a Mexican flameleaf to flower outdoors in early springtime because of the brusque twenty-four hour period during wintertime . For indoor poinsettias , you’re able to force the flowering to concur with the holiday time of year . look on the miscellanea , a healthy indoor or outdoor poinsettia plant will display bright traditional violent , pink , Burgundy wine , livid , marbled or speckled bracts with mysterious gullible leaf and foliage that grows the entire length of the stem .
A native flora of Mexico , poinsettias were used for medicinal purposes and for crimson dyestuff by former American native . The plant was presented to the first American embassador to Mexico , Joel Roberts Poinsett , in the 1820s . Poinsett , who was also a botanist , returned to his home in the South where he foster the plant with winner . Today , the Paul Ecke Ranch in California produce over 70 % of all lobster plant sell . The Ecke family has worked for decades to proliferate the flora and are to credit for the abundance of poinsettias we enjoy during the holiday time of year .
How to Grow and Care for Poinsettias
poinsettia are unmanageable to commence from seed or divisions . expend nursery transplants instead . To grow poinsettias open air , prefer a well - draining localization in full or partial sun with slightly acid soil . A malarkey protective southern wall is the best location for this plant . trim the plant every two calendar month . Pinch the tip to encourage a bushy signifier with little bract , or thin the branches without pinch to boost the production of much larger bract . Use a water soluble fertilizer every other week in the spring when fresh growth appear or feed once , choosing slow liberation pellets .
With special tending and attention , you’re able to successfully raise poinsettias in pots anywhere . For potted poinsettia plant success , weewee regularly to keep the soil just moist . During the summer , the plant can be placed indoors or out . When moving it outside , place it in a partially shaded location and gradually move it to full sun after two weeks . The plant life must be make a motion indoors when nighttime temperature fall below 55 - 60 degrees . Place the plant indoors in smart , collateral luminousness . In the saltation , cut the stem turn back 4 - 6 inch to stimulate newfangled growth . hold a houseplant fertilizer once a month unless the flowers are in bloom .
Poinsettia Pests and Problems
Overwatering is the main causal agency of destruction for the poinsettia plant . Overdrying get leaf loss and plant strain as well , so take limited care to keep a slightly damp soil for both indoor and out-of-door plants . Poinsettias are cold and draught sensitive . When purchasing a poinsettia plant , even channelise it home can stress the plant if it is cold out of doors . It is of import to be careful not to expose the plant to temperatures below 50 degree and to protect it if you have to take it outdoors .
Contrary to popular belief , Christmas flower are not poisonous to people , although some may be sensitive to the sap and see a balmy skin reaction . Pets , on the other hand , should be kept away from poinsettias as the plant is known to make nausea and mild irritation , especially to puppy and kittens .
Varieties Worth Considering
“ Advent Red ” is a newer multifariousness with the traditional brilliant crimson colour . This is a hardy variety for outdoor planting in the S and will stand up to wind and pelting well than other variety show . It begins to flower the first of November .
“ Red Glitter ” is a stronger variety for indoor and out-of-door growers . With a red or pink backdrop and white billet and splotches , it has a unique looking peak . <
“ Winter Rose ” is a beautiful potted salmagundi whose long go bloom remains all through January and into February . The bracts curl under , adding dimension to its appearing .
To learn how to drive blooms , tune into this YouTube video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdqFkUjLt0Q#t=14
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/poinsettia/facts.cfm
Creative Commons Flickr photo courtesy ofguiskatenator
