Poinsettia care

[saxy_jag]

My son - who I don't see very often - has bought me a lovely big poinsettia. Thing is, house plants usually come to their last home when they come to me. I haven't a clue. Can someone tell me how to look after it, please?

[daffy654]

We also got gifted one last week, it is well on it's way to being chucked out already. Like you I always manage to kill off house plants very quickly. :)

[saxy_jag]

Thing is, Daffy, I want to try not to kill it off. It came from him rather than his female dog-like, bovine female of a wife, so I know it came from the heart rather than being a token gesture.

[daffy654]

I do know they are supposed to have about 10 hours of pitch dark to make sure the leaves go red. The rest of the time they need as much light as possible. Other than that I am also clueless.

[DSJ]

I think they often die because of central heating which is odd because they grow naturally in hotter climates than ours.

[daffy654]

ps, loving the description of your daughter in law :) lol

[lilacben]

Only water when the soil feels dry.

[webbo3]

you could try this, we sell it where i work and the experts in there recommend it.
I dont work here, but in another garden centre.

http://www.dobbies.co...eder-32ml-/pid-155630


Dave.

[daffy654]

http://gardening.abou...rden/a/Poinsettia.htm

[saxy_jag]

Looks like the landing is going to be the best place for it. Not too hot, not too cold, not too light, not too dark, and will be passed by regularly so that we can check how dry the compost is and water (from the bathroom) if necessary.

Webbo, the drip-feeder looks good, so I'll keep my eye open for one.

Cheers

[boxtops]

Don't overwater it, saxy - it likes to be cool and fairly dry.

[saxy_jag]

@boxtops - landing is relatively cool but not freezing, and light from the landing window. Believe me, it's in no danger of being over-watered!

[hammerman]

Ok...this is how i've done it in the past. Bear in mond that the poinsettia is a small tropical shrub and ive seen it growing in barbados as an almost weed up to 6 feet tall.

Bearing this in mind, poinsettias need good light, warmth and most important, humidity. They will not appreciate direct sunlight through a south facing window....even in winter.

To keep them to next year, i grow them as a normal houseplant until late march. Keep them moist and let them lightly dry out between waterings....do not over water or allow to dry right out.

By the end of march, i would cut them back by half. Watering may be reduced as there will probably be no leaves on the plant...just stems. Also be careful of the milky white sap...it can be an irritant to some people. I would also give a dilute liquid feed at this point...half strength miracle grow is ideal.

When you see new shoots coming...pot the plant into a slightly bigger pot using general purpose potting compost. if the plan is in a 13 cm pot. you need to go up one size....to maybe a 15 or 17 cm pot. DO NOT OVER POT !!!

Then, keep it watered and fed throughout the summer and keep it misted to keep the humidity up and keep out of the sun.

around the beginning of October, you need to give the plant 12 hours daylight and 12 hours total darkness...and i mean TOTAL darkness.

is it worth it ? probably not but it's a bit of fun

[saxy_jag]

Thanks for all the advice.

It's now up on the landing, a stair's width away from a west facing window. It also gets some direct light from the energy-saving light bulb at the top of the stairs. It's not cold, not too hot. although one or two of the bracts and leaves have withered and dropped, I think because the poor thing had a couple of drastic changes of temperature when it first arrived.

We'll see how it goes.

[shmev]

Maybe you should concentrate on looking after your son if you haven't seen him for long time .......... no doubt you are a useless parent too , arse !!!!!!