The Christmas gift that keeps on giving…

Poinsettia in full bloom

Beautiful Poinsettia Plant

With the holidays behind us, I thought I would devote a Bloom’n moment to the beautiful Christmas Poinsettia.  Caring for your Poinsettia can bring years of Christmas beauty to your home.

Most of the time when you receive or buy a Poinsettia it is in the blooming stage.   To care for the Poinsettia during the blooming stage keep the plant from drafts, in a room about 70 degrees, no cooler.  A sunny window, free from drafts, is a good place to keep potted Poinsettia, they require a lot of sun.  Water every day from above, with slightly warm water.  Never let the soil dry out, yet do not keep it soggy.  Excess moisture is sure to shorten the period of the plant’s bright display of red, pink and white flowers.  Even if kept under perfect conditions the plants will drop their leaves later in the winter months.

The plant will start going dormant when only red bracts remain at the top of the Poinsettia, this is the plants natural behavior, for it requires a resting period after it has bloomed.  When the lowest leaves begin to drop, gradually withhold water, and finally let the soil dry out completely.  When only the naked stems remain, store the pot in a warm, dry place until early May without applying any water.

In May, shake the old soil out of the pot and repot with fresh rich soil.  You may add a small amount of manure to fertilize.  Cut down the stems to within two or three eyes or bud from the base.  Water and sink the pot outdoors in a sunny spot level with the soil surface.  Soon after the plants are set outdoors, new shoots grow into large specimens.  Plant must receive full sunlight and lots of moisture.  In the fall, putting the Poinsettia indoors and again giving it plenty of sun and water is imperative to the plants.  Following these simple steps will again assure that you will have a blaze of color at Christmas.

And there it is…..The Christmas gift that keeps on giving, if you care for it properly

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