Fertilize poinsettia and care for it properly
A poinsettia in the room spreads cosiness not only at Christmas. Even outside of the eponymous time, its often red, sometimes white, salmon-colored or yellow color splendor is beautiful to look at. Provided you fertilize and care for your plant properly.
There are around 55 different types of poinsettias. They differ in their growth habit, the number of shoots and of course in their color. These many varieties make it possible for you to choose a suitable plant. But how do you fertilize and maintain them correctly?
Fertilize properly for a new bloom
Of the Christmas star (bot. Euphorbia pulcherrima) is actually a perennial plant. Yet it is often thrown away when it has faded. You don't have to. If you fertilize and care for it properly, you will enjoy it again next year.
- Your poinsettia grows between spring and autumn. During this time it must also be fertilized. Most people don't buy their poinsettia until Advent - but then the fertilization time is over. If you want to keep your star after flowering, start fertilizing early in spring. Just before flowering, you stop this additional supply of nutrients. Warning: the colored leaves are not the flower! The flower is located between these - mostly red - bracts. The plant already bears these colored leaves in summer.
- The poinsettia does not make any special demands on you fertilizer. A normal flower fertilizer for Houseplants is enough for him.
- Simply add the fertilizer to the irrigation water once or twice a week. Use the quantity indicated on the package as a guide. When watering, make sure that your plant does not get "wet feet". Let the soil dry out a little between waterings. The poinsettia particularly likes lukewarm water.
The poinsettia is said to be a little difficult to care for. Often …
Care and pruning of the poinsettia
- Poinsettias are originally tropical plants. You should therefore give your plant a warm environment to overwinter and a window seat that is as bright as possible. It tolerates room temperature very well.
- The poinsettia cannot tolerate drafts. But he doesn't take it very badly if it's a little cooler around him for a short time. In poinsettia plantations, the morning freshness is even used to encourage the plant to grow more compactly. But don't overdo it. If it gets too cold for him, he gets yellow leaves. Please also note this when buying and especially when transporting it home.
- After flowering, you can cut back and repot the plant. In March, cut them back to a third of their original size. Also remove all bracts and inflorescences. Perhaps you would like to cut off a head cutting in the process. This makes it easy to multiply the poinsettia.
- Even after overwintering and pruning, the poinsettia needs warmth. On nice summer days it can even stand outside.
- Stop fertilizing in August. From October onwards, water less and move the star to a darker place. The poinsettia is a short-day plant. It will only develop flowers if it has previously received less than 12 hours of light a day for some time. Too much artificial light also prevents flowers from forming, it requires at least 12 hours of absolute darkness. If necessary, help a little with a cardboard box that has been pulled over.
With only a little skill and care, your poinsettia can be easily "summered" until the next season. Above all, pay attention to the correct fertilization time and the low water requirement of the plant. With just a little more effort, you can even multiply them and in the next Advent you will have a lush sea of flowers.
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