The Poinsettia belongs to the milkweed family, and is native to Central America where the historically Aztecs used it for decoration and medical purposes. Nowadays, this is quite popular in European homes during Christmas season.
The flower is yellow but the bracts come in many colours including white, pink, orange, and red, being the most popular. The simple process to make the Poinsettia bloom for as long as possible is a plenty of direct light during the colder months It is best to place it on an east facing window where it gets enough morning sun and avoids the stronger afternoon sun (it can also be placed on a south and west facing window, but a north facing window should be avoided). It should be watered when the surface layer of soil is dry to the touch until excess water begins to leak out through the drainage holes of the pot, after which this excess water should be poured out to prevent wilting. The temperature in your home should be during the day between 18 and 24 ° C and at night it would be ideal if the temperature is approximately 15 ° C. In winter, like other plants, it should not be fertilised. The planting soil should be loose and well drained with an admixture of peat.
In order for Poinsettia to survive throughout the year, following steps should be followed:
January - March: Water every time the substrate surface is dry.
April: Gradually reduce the amount and frequency of watering by allowing the substrate to dry between watering. After a week or two of reduced watering regime, the plant should be left in a room (basement or heated garage) where it will be in the dark for 12 to 15 hours every night and at a temperature of about 15 ° C.
May: In mid-May the branches should be shortened to about 10 cm and transplanted into a larger pot with a new substrate and watered well. The plant should then be returned to a well-sunlit position, with a temperature between 18 and 24 ° C. Feeding can also be started again every 2 weeks.
June: The poinsettia should be taken outside (in the garden or on the balcony) in a partial shade spot, maintaining a regular interval of watering and fertilising.
July: At the beginning of July, each branch should be pinched by about 3 cm, in order to encourage stronger growth and growth in width, not height.
August: Continue to pinch the twigs so that only 3 to 4 leaves remain on each twig. In mid-August, it should be brought back indoors and continue with a well-established interval of watering and fertilising.
September: Stay at the same watering and fertilisation interval and make sure that the room temperature remains above 18 ° C.
October: Poinsettia is a short-day plant, which means that in order to bloom it must be exposed to less than 12 hours of light a day for a period of about 10 weeks. Starting October 1, the plant should be kept in complete darkness from 5 pm to 8 am, and any exposure to the sun will delay flowering. It is best to place the plant in a pot or box that has no holes or slots through which light can pass, so therefore cabinets and closets are not a good solution. During the day the plant can be brought back to the window and continued with the watering and fertilizing interval as before. November: On the last week of November the darkness process can be stopped and the plant can be permanently placed in the old location. During this period, flower buds should already be formed.
December: The plant should now be as it was when purchased, in bloom and ready to start all over again with the whole process. Feeding should also be stopped until May.
May you have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year,
Božica
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