Poinsettias grow well in moist soil and temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F. They can be grown outdoors during summer. Water your poinsettia thoroughly after transplanting. San Diego, CA. The plant will begin to send out new shoots, and when winter comes around it may also flower again. June: Move the poinsettia outside, pot and all. The reduction in light prevents the plant from producing chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plant parts green. Poinsettias are not poisonous, but the sap may cause dermatitis. Feed your poinsettia every 3-4 weeks to keep plant healthy and provide the necessary nutrients for new growth. For this reason, a windowsill is generally not an ideal location, as draughts can reach the plant via tilted windows. The poinsettia is a tropical plant native to Mexico. Just be sure that temperatures in your area don?t drop below 45 degrees F. (7 C.). Poinsettias are not poisonous, but the sap may cause dermatitis. When roots have formed, pot plants up individually. Give your poinsettias life beyond the holidays with this year-round guide that will keep them thriving. Do I prune it back? 2021 Constant wetness will rot plant roots. Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension professor emeritus at the University of Vermont and author of Caring for Your Poinsettia Year-Round, developed an easy-to-follow poinsettia care calendar based on the holidays of the year. You can keep your Poinsettia outside during summer, and you can pinch it back to promote new growth. Neil O. Anderson, professor of horticultural science, UMN College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and Leonard Perry, Extension professor, University of Vermont reviewed this content. Indoor light: Put in a south, east or west window where the plant will receive bright daylight. The actual flowers are small and yellow in color. The colorful “flowers” of poinsettias are actually modified leaves called “bracts.”. Thanks for your help! If it gets too hot and dry, their growth might slow. Also try to keep the temperature between 65 and 70 degrees during the day, keeping in mind that the area around a drafty window can be quite a bit cooler than the rest of the room. In their native Mexico, poinsettias bloom naturally during winter at Christmas. If need be, mark these steps on your calendar: Through March, just water your poinsettia as usual. Mix with water it at half the recommended strength. Indoor temperatures of 65-70 degrees F is ideal. Never expose them to temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Any below freezing temperatures could kill the tropical plant. The most popular red poinsettia sold in New Zealand, ‘Prestige’ was selected for its eye-catching, vibrant, dark-red colouring, which doesn’t fade like some of its predecessors. All rights reserved. Poinsettias are tropical plants. In order for the leaves to turn before the holidays, having the proper amount of darkness is key for a poinsettia outdoors. Maintain even temperatures around the poinsettias if you’re growing them indoors. You do not need to fertilize your poinsettia during the holidays. The plant needs specific conditions in order to make it turn the deep red and green it is famous for around the Christmas holidays. Two important factors in selecting a poinsettia are where it was grown and how long it had to travel, Harper said. Keep the poinsettia soil moist, but not soggy. Growing Poinsettias Outdoors Growing a Poinsettia plant outdoors generally requires a minimum temperature of about 45°, but they grow best when night temperatures are about 60°. This is to encourage a stout, well-branched plant. Poinsettias can be grown as attractive green plants, but most people are interested in making their green poinsettia colorful again and ready for the holidays. July: In early July, pinch back each stem by about one inch. Extension is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. During the shorter, cooler days from late October until Christmas, humidity levels in the greenhouse are often high and poinsettias use less water from the growing medium, causing it to dry out more slowly. Growers may use a fertilizer after the holidays. If you live in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 through 12, you can begin planting poinsettia outdoors. Poinsettias are only hardy in USDA zones 10-12, but will tolerate a VERY light frost. Answer: Some gardeners have real success keeping poinsettias for another year, but others find them a challenge. If yes, when? There are more than 100 varieties that you can find throughout the world. Poinsettias will suffer damage if they are exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees F. Freezing temperatures will kill poinsettias. In late spring or early summer, transplant your poinsettia into a larger container (about 2 to 4 inches bigger than the original pot) or into a part-sun garden bed. Poinsettias are named for Joel Robert Poinsett (1779-1851), a noted statesman and dedicated amateur botanist who first brought poinsettias to the United States from Mexico in 1825 while serving as ambassador. Poinsettias flower naturally in winter, but can be forced to bloom in the Southern Hemisphere during Christmas. I have recently put a potted poinsettia plant outside and would like some tips on growing it outside here in San Diego. Native to Mexico, poinsettias are in the Euphorbia family and are a popular holiday plant because of their colorful bracts (leaves). In colder climates, Poinsettias are grown as indoor plants. Enjoy your "new" poinsettia. Outside, it will need to grow in a semi-shady location. Keep the soil from getting soggy. After watering, discard any water that fills the container’s saucer. In the garden, plant into a garden bed with well-drained soil that gets 4 to 5 hours of sun per day. It may be possible to grow a poinsettia outdoors in zone 9, but that will require diligently taking precautions during sporadic freezes. Be careful when transporting poinsettias from the shop to your home in the winter, as the cold outdoor temperatures can damage the foliage. The sticky white sap can cause a skin rash, so gloves are recommended when working with these plants. Poinsettias have been a holiday tradition in this country for many years. Move the plant outside for the summer and place in indirect light. When you are growing poinsettia plants outside, choose a spot with slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Never allow poinsettia pots to sit in excess water. They are sometimes sprinkled with glitter. In pots, use a soil mix with a good amount of organic matter such as peat moss. Start fertilizing your plant when you see new growth (new green leaves, stems, bracts). Do not place the plants adjacent to heat vents or on a drafty window sill. Poinsettia flowers are actually made up of the bracts, which look like petals, and the tiny yellow flowers in the center, called cyathia. You can find poinsettias around the holidays to fit into almost any decorative scheme. Poinsettias are not harmful to animal or human health. As flowering shrubs, poinsettias can reach a height of up to ten feet. Generally, poinsettias will require no supplemental outdoor watering. Keep moist for a few weeks until they take root. If you’re growing poinsettias in containers outside the ground, do not let them sit in drainage water. Poinsettia plants like it on the warmer (not hot) side during the day and cooler at night. Beware: they don’t like cold weather or drafts. Continue to provide adequate light and water for prolonged bloom for several weeks. Place a saucer under the pot, and drain the saucer if water starts to collect in it. The first thing to do is make sure the poinsettia will be in an area that does not get too cold. If you plan to continue growing your poinsettia as a potted plant. Don’t transplant poinsettia plants outdoors right after Christmas. These diagnostic tools will guide you step-by-step through diagnosing a plant problem or identifying a weed or insect. Continue to water and fertilize but increase the amount to accelerate growth. Finding good growing conditions is the secret. Be sure it drains well to avoid root rot . They are native to Mexican forests. Poinsettias also come in burgundy (dark red), pink, white, marble and variegated. 15th August to February are best months to plant subtropical plants. It should neither be subjected to direct sun nor to strong draughts. As new growth begins, reduce the fertilizer to one-quarter the recommended strength. Julie Weisenhorn, Extension educator, horticulture. Colour indoors . Continue to water and fertilize at the reduced rate. Fertilizing during the holidays could affect the quality of the plant. Continue watering as needed January through March. Continue watering as before, waiting until potting soil is dry to touch, and never soaking or starving the plant. Poinsettias grow well in moist soil and temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F. They can be grown outdoors during summer. Will pruning keep it from getting "leggy?" Root Growth: Poinsettias need a well-developed root system before growing cold. For more information about poinsettia plants outdoors, click here. Poinsettia can be grown from stem cuttings taken in spring or summer: Wash off the milky sap in fresh water. Poinsettias are one the most difficult to reflower after the initial display when purchased. Poinsettias need bright, but filtered light, away from strong sun and draughts. Water: Poinsettias like moist, but not wet, soil. Cutting off fading portions of the branches, leaving at least 4 to 6 inches (10 cm to 15.25 cm) of the branch is recommended. Set plant in a sink and water thoroughly, allowing the plant to drain completely. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. The warmer you keep your house, the faster your Poinsettia flowers will open up. “How can I make my poinsettia rebloom?” is a common question. If your poinsettia is growing in a pot when you get it, keep it indoors in a sunny room where the temperatures range from 65 to 80 degrees F. during the day, and no lower than about 60 degrees F. at night. The day time temperatures in excess of 21 degrees C (70 degrees F) shorten the lifespan of Poinsettias. Generally, this process should begin six to eight weeks before the grower wants the most vibrant colors. Average frost season for Auckland: 13th June to 6th August. Poinsettia Has a Colorful Legend. Therefore, while growing a poinsettia outdoors may be an easy task in some tropical and semi-tropical areas, making it turn color can be an entirely different story. © As indoor plants, Poinsettias need exposure to the morning sun and shade during the hotter part of the day. They don't take up much space and are easy to care for. Do I fertilize? At the end of July, you should prune your plant again. Once all of the leaves have died back, prune the bushes back to two buds and keep it … The plants must experience at least 14 hours of total darkness in order to turn. The lower night temperatures help the poinsettias keep their brilliant color. Set the poinsettia cuttings into a tray or pot of propagating mix or coarse washed sand. If you turn your heat back at night to around 60 degrees F, then your Poinsettias will be happier and last longer. Many of these varieties excrete a white and milky sap, which is toxic. Poinsettias bloom when the days get shorter. Poinsettias change color in response to shorter winter days. Remove leaves from the soil surface, and add a little more potting soil if the roots are visible. You will also find unusually colored poinsettias such as blue or purple in garden centers. Before you do so, you might want to repot it if it has outgrown the pot it came in. Save your Poinsettia this holiday season to grow year-round as a houseplant. The largest breeder of poinsettias is Ecke Ranch in California, home of the world’s leading poinsettia variety ‘Prestige’. If you had planted the poinsettia outdoor on yesterday, please remove it and take it indoor, it need warmth, by place it near heater, until it recover. These are cream-colored varieties that are spray painted. Put the plant in a sunny area that gets at least six hours of direct light. Trim off two to three inches of branches to promote side branching. Auckland have 15-18 wet days per month during June to August. Fertilize with an all-purpose household plant fertilizer. Continue keeping the plant in a bright, sunny window. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. Flower forms vary as well with some looking similar to a rose. We’re going to blunt here: As poinsettias are tropical plants grown in greenhouses, they may not be easy to get to rebloom. In order to ensure they survive freezes in borderline zones, it may be necessary to take some precautions. Can Poinsettias Grow Outside – Caring For Outdoor Poinsettia Plants. This will help maintain soil moisture and create a good growing environment for the roots. Cut it back to 4 inches, leaving one to three leaves on each stem, and begin fertilizing every two weeks. By Teo Spengler. A: Yes, you can plant the holiday houseplants outdoors, preferably in a sunny or partially sunny, protected area with a well-draining soil. Place your poinsettia in indirect light to avoid sunburn and never let it dry out. But let’s start by taking care of this holiday gift so it looks its best and, if we’re lucky, we’ll encourage it to rebloom, too! When outdoor temperatures are consistently over 55°F (12°C), you can grow your poinsettia outdoors for the summer months (or just keep it indoors). The color is in the bracts or modified leaves. Depending on your climate, poinsettias tend to due better outside than in, so grow them outside where they get partial shade in the afternoon. It can be tricky to find that balance but do your best. Wash tools well after use as the sap can make tools sticky. Even if they are damaged by cold weather, poinsettias may eventually come back. If left unpinched, the poinsettia will grow tall and spindly. See. Start the cycle all over again after the new year. They need a minimum temperature of 13-15°C (55-59°F). It is also important to prune plants, generally in the late winter or early spring. Keep it in a partially shaded location and maintain your watering and fertilizing schedule. Water plant when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch, or pot feels lightweight when lifted. In the wild, they grow as … Outdoor light: Part sun, 4 to 6 hours daily. Move indoors to a spot that gets at least six hours of direct light daily, preferably more. Starting on or near Sept. 21, give the plant 16 hours of uninterrupted darkness (put the plant in a closet, basement or under a box) and 8 hours of bright light every day. Plant guide: Poinsettias - how to grow and care for. Growing Poinsettias Outside - Knowledgebase Question. Too much water can kill a poinsettia. Take 300mm stem cuttings, dip the ends in water and insert into potting mix. During the summer, it is essential that the plant is not placed in direct sun. Make sure your plant is in a pot that drains freely. Poinsettias grow best in well-lit areas, but direct sun or hot lights can dry out the plants. University of Minnesota Extension discovers science-based solutions, delivers practical education, and engages Minnesotans to build a better future. Planting poinsettias near buildings or covering them during colder times are both common tips. Watering and fertilizing are other key areas to consider when growing a poinsettia outdoors. This changes the bracts to red, pink or white, depending on the poinsettia variety. In winter, a couple of hours of sun per day do not harm your plant. Nevertheless, the poinsettia … They are most commonly used for decorating during the winter holidays, but are also attractive as green plants throughout the year. Mix in organic matter such as peat moss or compost into the soil. Avoid putting it near air vents, doors and windows, … If it is a particularly dry area, then watering may be necessary if the soil ever becomes dry to the touch. While most people plant poinsettias outdoors, you can also grow them indoors, which is ideal for those who are living in cold climate. They range from creamy white to pink to the traditional bright red. Avoid placing poinsettias where temperature fluctuates or may be drying, such as near cold drafts, heat ducts, fireplaces, fans, space heaters, etc. For healthy growth, a poinsettia requires a bright, warm location. Its ability to hold on to its shape and colour for long periods of time enhance its value as an indoor colour option over … If yes, when? A poinsettia is a popular Christmas flower. Prune off faded and dried parts of the plant. If your plant has become long and leggy, cut back to about five inches tall to promote more compact growth. Mar 13, 2020 4:24am . Question by oceanlover61 March 27, 2001 . If the plant is potted, but grown outdoors, then the springtime is the time to re-plant it in a slightly larger container. 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