Tips
How to take care of your Poinsettia
When the wet and cold autumn months come to a close it is nearly time for one of our favourite times of year: Christmas! A time of being together with family and friends, presents, a Christmas tree, but also for beautiful plants like the Poinsettia. The Poinsettia is a real bestseller for the holidays. Nowadays the plant can be found in different colours, shapes and sizes. Since the Poinsettia is a really sensitive plant, we decided it is time for some care tips, so you can enjoy your Poinsettia all through the season.
- Poinsettia are very sensitive to both a shortage and an abundance of water. If the roots are submerged in water for example, they will not receive enough oxygen which causes them to die. A shortage of water on the other hand will cause the plant to dehydrate which is disastrous for its longevity. A good solution is to use a watering system like the Chrysal Aqua Pad or the Aquastick. This way the plant can regulate its own water intake, while making sure you don't have to water your plants all that often.
- The Poinsettia is a subtropical plant that likes temperatures between 18°C and 22°C. When placed in a colder environment the plant will surely last a lot shorter.
- Poinsettia are really sensitive to draughts. Already after a few hours of being exposed to a draught, the flowers and leaves will start to fall. In stores a common solution to protect the Poinsettia against draughts is a wrapper. If you happen to buy a Poinsettia in a wrapper, then you should quickly but gently remove the wrapper once you are at home. This will prevent leaf yellowing and falling leaves. Also keep in mind to not place the plant in a draught at home.
- Lastly, the Pointsettia is a plant that is sensitive to ethylene. This natural hormone makes plants age a lot faster. Growers and wholesalers can treat the plants with Ethylene Buster to prevent its destructive influence. At home you can make sure that there are no external sources of ethylene close to your Poinsettia. Examples are smoke, certain kinds of vegetables (like tomatoes), and fruit.