It is the question that is asked every holiday season – how can I keep my poinsettias blooming as long as possible?
Poinsettias are synonymous with the holidays. Their bright blooms, or “bracts” as they are officially called, are perfect for decorating any room with holiday cheer.
And with just a few simple care tips, you can keep them looking gorgeous and bright well past the holiday season!
4 Keys To Keep Poinsettias Blooming All Through The Holiday Season
#1 Watering
Proper watering is the most important of all! In fact, too little, or too much water, is usually the culprit when poinsettias fail.
And more times than not, it is too much watering that is more of a problem. Over-watering plants will result in soggy roots. And soggy roots can rot plants quickly.
Water plants when the soil first becomes dry to the touch. This allows the roots to keep from becoming saturated and soggy. But allows enough water to keep the poinsettias blooming longer.
One more note on watering. If your plant is wrapped comes wrapped in a shiny foil cover, be sure to poke a few holes in the bottom and loosen the wrap.
This will allow the plant to drain from the bottom, and keep roots healthy. Remember, soggy roots = a struggling plant.
#2 Proper Room Temperature
Rooms that are too hot, too cold, or have wild swings of temperatures will lead to early bloom failure.
Poinsettias are a tropical plant, so they need both moisture and warmth, but not so warm that they bloom too fast.
To keep the bracts blooming at their best and. longest, a room temperature of 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal
#3 Avoiding Draft
In addition to providing a consistent temperature, avoid placing poinsettias near drafty locations.
Keep plants away from heating vents, cold air returns, and at a safe distance from exterior opening doors. These short burst of cold drafts can shorten bloom times as well.
#4 Lighting
And that brings us to our last tip, proper lighting. To keep poinsettias blooming best, they do require a bit of light. Funny for a plant that needs to be in the dark to force the bracts to bloom!
Plants do not require direct sunlight, but a well-lit room will extend bract blooms for a few weeks.
After Christmas Care…
As with everything, all good things must eventually come to an end. And so it is with poinsettias and their blooms.
Usually, by late January to mid-February, most plants will begin to fade. But with a bit of care (See: Keeping Poinsettias Alive Before And After Christmas), they can be kept alive and thriving year after year.
Just another reason, they make a perfect holiday gift! (Affiliate link : 4 Pack Live, Foil Wrapped Poinsettias)
Here is to keeping your poinsettias blooming all through the holiday seasons!
This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, publishing two articles every week, 52 weeks a year. This article may contain affiliate links.
