Poinsettia
(Euphorbia pulcherrima)

Poinsettia
The poinsettia is one of the most popular plant for the Christmas season. That’s why we get often questions about to take care of this plant and to reflowering it. It’s an evergreen and makes a colorful and traditional-looking addition to your winter landscape also. Poinsettias are sold in many sizes, shapes, colors and forms. So maybe this article will help you to get your poinsettia healthy through the Christmas season and to give an answer to many questions.

Poinsettia care :
After you have made your poinsettia selection in the shop, make sure that they wrap it properly because exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the bracts and leaves. The ideal temperature is at daytime 60°F to 70°F and night time temperatures around 55°F. High temperatures will shorten the plant’s life. Move the plant to a cooler room at night, if it’s inside to warm (but not below 55°F)
Keep your poinsettia away from warm or cold drafts from radiators, fire places or open doors and windows also don’t let the leaves touch the window (can be to cold for the leaves) Check the soil daily. When the surface is dry to the touch, water the soil until it runs freely out the drainage holes in the container.
Be sure that there are drainage holes in the container. check the soil frequently because a wilted plant may drop it’s leaves. Place the plant near a sunny window where it will have the most available sunlight..

To reflowering :
In mid January most people throw the poinsettia away. It’s very difficult and you must have some patience but occasionally somebody succeeds to get the pionsettia in bloom for a second time.

If you want to try it:
You have to cut the poinsettia back to half it size and give him a place were it’s cooler then 55°F. After a while new shoots will appear in your plant. Then you must give it a new container and grow warmer. In the summer maybe you can give it a place outside.
You have to fertilize every two weeks ones with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients. If you prefer a nice bushy plant with many flowers, pinch out the growing shoots to encourage branching. Pinching should produce more flowers. This should be done at 3 to 4 week intervals, according to the speed of growth. Pinch out the top 1/4 inch. Two or three large fully expanded leaves should be left below the pinch, this serves as a guide for knowing when the shoots are ready for pinching.
Continue this practice until mid- August, when the plant should have a shape that you want and number of shoots.If you want that the poinsettia to bloom with Christmas again then you have to place it in absolutely darkness for 14 hours a day for two months before Christmas (it’s better to start begin october so it has the time to start to bloom before the Christmas season).
You can do this by putting the plant in a dark room or covering it with a large box for overnight. Also in this time the poinsettia need 6 - 8 hours of bright sunlight daily, with night temperatures between 60 - 70°F. When you don’t place the poinsettia in the darkness and have other temperatures then the plant will bloom maybe in the spring.

Diseases and other problems :
Common diseases of poinsettias may include whitefly, mealybugs, red spider mites and scale. Also foliar problems. Root, crown or stem rots can also occur if overwatered. You have to look out for those diseases.