Topic: Poinsettia

[Gardengirl]

Hi all,

I have put a message on another Gardening thread but thought I would try here to see if all you garden experts can help me out.

I had a beautiful Poinsettia given to me for Christmas by a friend who is fighting cancer.  I would dearly like to be able to keep it but know that they are difficult.  

Just wondered whether anyone has any tips, or has had any success with these plants.  Would be grateful for any ideas :) :)

Pat

[Hyacinth]

Pat, all I've heard on GQT over the years is to dump them at the end of Christmas :'(

Remember one survived in Italy tho, with no special care at all & coloured-up a second year, so p'raps it might stand a chance in a heated greehouse? Lishka

[Gardengirl]

Thanks Lishka, I will do as you suggest and when it starts looking a bit faded I will remove it to my heated greenhouse and who knows, maybe I will be successful.  I have tried keeping them indoors in the past without any success at all.  As you can appreciate, this one is special to me in view of who is was from.....Pat

[Mrs Ava]

Hiya Pat, I have always wanted to keep one going, but never gotten around to buying one for myself!  Firstly, they mustn't be cold, they catch a cold very easily, many suffer on route from the supermarket to the car!.  I believe you treat them much the same as most house plants, no drafts, water when compost is dry, feed (in my case when you remember) but fortnightly or so, but to get the red bracts come winter time you have to deprive them of daylight.  I can't remember the exact science of it, and someone will enlighten us all (so I can pick one up cheap in Asda and do the same!) but I have heard that you cover them or put them in a black bin liner, only giving them daylight literally for a couple of hours a day!  It is this starvation of light that brings the colour change and flowers - kinda like a Christmas cacti doesn't flower until the length of days shorten.  I do believe the thing that kills most poinsettias is the chill they suffer on route to the home, of the drafty situation they have to live in.  In Mexico (I think) they grow outside and into huge specimens!  Hope this is a help, and lots of luck.  :)

[Gardengirl]

Hi EJ - thanks for the info.  Now you have put me in a bit of a quandry ???  I don't know whether to keep it in the house or take it to the greenhouse.  Even though my greenhouse is heated, I may kill it getting it there, unless of course I put it in a plastic bag.  Do you happen to know if they die right down and then start growing in the spring again?  Mine is already starting to lose some leaves.  It would be great if I could keep it - I love a challenge ;D ;D....Pat

[Mrs Ava]

Hiya Pat,
Well, according to my Bible (readers digest book of plants) the Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia) produces its coloured bracts when light levels fall below 12 hours a day and the plants are usually discarded when the leaves and bracts have fallen!  Discarded!  Not on this site matey!!  It is listed as a houseplant and it mentions that it should be misted regularly.  Other than that, nufink!  I would guess, as it is a euphorbia, treat it the same as an outside one.....now that I can't help you with as I don't grow them because of the sap and my little girl having chronic eczema and hubby having asthma.

I looked on google and found this site, hope it helps.  ;D

http://www.bennettsgreenhouse.com/Publications/HelpingHand/PoinHand.pdf

Let us know how you get on.

[Gardengirl]

Thanks for taking so much trouble EJ, I will have a look at the site and let you know how I get on.  I will certainly not discard it - don't give up that easily ;D

[Garden Manager]

Hello Pat.

Did you not see my reply to your earlier query on this subject?

Not to worry.

I did try to grow on a poinsettia a couple of years back. Kept it in the living room, well watered (or as well as someone who is not a houseplant person can).  It did survive, but never had the red bracts on again.  I think the key to survival is watering, or rather not too much of it. Remember they are Euphorbias, and their garden cousins prefer a drier/free draining soil.

Anyway this poinsetia went on for quite a long time, when it got leggy, I cut it back, and it regrew nicely.  Could have got the red back with patience and perseverance, but as I said i am not really a houseplant person, and DID NOT have the patience and soon gave up trying.  The plant finally gave up, and ever since have bought new each Christmas.

If the plant has a special meaning and you have the patience to try, it could well be worth trying to grow it on a second year. See it as a challenge!

Keep it in the house or if not I am SURE a heated greenhouse would be OK for it after it has finished its show. Give it pleny of light and dont overwater. Next autumn start depriving it of light for the reqired period (not sure exactly), and if you are lucky you'll get the red bracts back.  If not you'll still have the plant to remember your friend by.

Hope this helps

Keep us posted of progress wont you?

Best Wishes

Richard

[rdak]

maybe consider taking a cutting, as an insurance option! it they survive, it's kind of like the original plant surviving (well, genetically identical anyway!)

a quick google turned up this:
http://www.gel2root.co.uk/htm/suitable_results.asp?plantid=60

[teresa]

Hi if your room is on the dry side try standing the plant in a saucer with pebbles and water in the saucer this will mist the plant spraying might mark the leaves. Of course feed it weekly and when the leaves fall its going to sleep this is when you can cut it back the sap goes down and repot it in the spring.
Think I read 4 hours of daylight to colour the leaves try starting in october? put a sheet of dark paper over the top of the plant please dont put the plant inside a plastic bag.
Good luck with it

[Gardengirl]

Thanks everyone for your replies - I now have a wealth of information to work on :) :)

Richard I did not see your previous reply, where did you post it? ???

Teresa, don't worry I will not put it in a plastic bag.  Only said that I'd do that if I was going to transport it to the greenhouse to stop it getting cold ;D

Hope you all enjoy your New Year's parties or if you are like me, your New Year's stay at home and comfort the dogs and cats when the fireworks start :o :o

Pat

[Garden Manager]

Richard I did not see your previous reply, where did you post it? ???

Pat,

Did you not post about this on G4all?

I posted a reply to your problem there not here

Where else did you enquire about Poinsettias? ??? ???

[Garden Manager]

Pat. :)

Have a look at the 'Houseplant Forum' on the BEEB site. there i a query there about Poinsettias, and a very informative reply on general care for the plants.

Have a Look :D :D

[Gardengirl]

Richard, I thought you meant you had posted a reply here - I did see your reply on G4A - thanks.  Thanks also for the other info, I will have a look :)..Pat