A POINSETTIA IS FOR LIFE NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS!
OK - MAYBE NOT FOR LIFE BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY KEEP ONE GOING LONG AFTER THE LAST FERRERO ROCHER HAS BEEN SNAFFLED!
QUEENS OF GREEN
TOP
TIPS
We love Poinsettias - these beautiful plants can light up a room with their vibrant leaves and they come in a range of colours from dark red to bright pink and cool cream. They fill supermarket shelves at Christmas time and are often bought to bring a pop of colour to the home at a time when the days are short and and dark.
Sadly - most will end up on the compost heap come the New Year, when they start to look a little sad and drop their leaves. But with a bit of effort and our handy tips you can give your Poinsettia a second chance and encourage it to rebloom next year!
1
OUR FIVE TOP TIPS FOR PROLONGING YOUR POINSETTIAS...
KEEP IT COSY
Poinsettias are from Mexico so they like the warmth and will wilt and die if they get too chilly (we know how they feel). They don't like fluctuating temperatures and they’ll be at their happiest away from draughts and in a room that is consistently between 13 ËšC and 20ËšC.
2
GET MISTING
Give your poinsettia a mist every day – this will help raise the humidity and keep the leaves looking vibrant
3
DON'T OVERWATER
Water only when the soil is dry - like most houseplants, overwatering is the main killer of poinsettias so go easy with the watering can and check the soil before you pour.
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AFTER CHRISTMAS...
Help it recover from the Christmas festivities by feeding it with a liquid plant food that is high in potassium (like tomato food). In spring, prune it down to about 10cm and repot it in a slightly bigger pot with fresh compost - prepping it for the year to come.
5
LOCK IT AWAY IN A CUPBOARD - YES HONESTLY!
Poinsettias develop their colourful blooms when the days get shorter so in order to encourage your poinsettia to flower for next Christmas, move your poinsettia into a dark cupboard or a closed cardboard box for twelve hours each day from the start of November. The temp needs to be about 18ËšC and you need to ensure the plant isn’t exposed to any light during this time – no opening the cupboard!
We're not going to lie - it's a bit of work, but just think how smug you're going to be when your poinsettia reblooms next year! So give it a go!
