You can move the plant outdoors but poinsettia frost damage is a real threat if your area’s temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 C.). Favorite Answer. Answer Save. The solution to this problem is to monitor the dampness of the soil of your poinsettia on a daily or alternate day basis, and only water the plant once the soil is almost dry. Don't trim after September 1. Those in chillier climates may grow poinsettias as houseplants year round. Steps. 1 Answer. How far back can I trim it, where there are no leaves? This can be done once a month until the middle of August. If it is dropping all its leaves it will need some care to survive. Poinsettia plants can survive the winter near a window that can give them at least 6 hours of light a day. As with most house plants, too much water is more detrimental than too little. 499. Get your answers by asking now. Avoid placing poinsettias in areas which receive air movement from windows, doors, fans, or radiators exists. [6] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source Repotting is a good idea for the poinsettia especially. Learn more in this article. Place in a well lit location. I am in South Texas . You can plant them outside in the summer but they must come back inside for the winter. Reply. The soil in which poinsettias grow should be kept moist at all times, but not excessively wet. You can move your poinsettia plant outdoors when the nighttime temperatures stay above 55 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the night. If your area gets cold in the fall and winter, you will want to keep it in a pot instead of transplanting to your flower garden. Both the Christmas cactus and the poinsettia are not hardy outdoors and will freeze if planted outside. The secret to healthy plants is knowing how to transplant poinsettias and what continued care they need. The article is very informative and helpful. Transplanting poinsettia plants will ensure they get plenty of root room as they grow and a new source of nutrition. Saved by Gardening Know How. Here’s your straightforward, step-by-step guide on reblooming poinsettias: 1. Place the poinsettia in the container and gently firm damp medium into the space around the roots. If the plant experiences sustained temperatures of 50 F. (10 C.) or below, the entire root system will likely be killed. Decide whether the climate is right. Have my poinsettia outside in ground about 3 years now but this summer it looks awful, leaves aren’t so bright green and the plant looks leggy, it’s about 4 ft tall. If you live in a place with mild winters, you can plant the poinsettia outside as a perennial. Still have questions? This is why Poinsettia plants often react in a similar manner when they are over-watered and under-watered, and can make poinsettia plant care a little tricky at times. If placed in such locations, they cause premature flower, bract, and leaf drop. How big do poinsettias get? Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Poinsettias can be kept year after year, and they will bloom each year if you give them proper care. The beauty of poinsettias can persist from Thanksgiving through Christmas, and sometimes even to Valentine's Day. The poinsettia (or Mexican Flame Tree or Christmas Star, as it is also known) is synonymous with the festive season but keeping the plant alive long enough to see Christmas Day can be a challenge. The flowers of the poinsettia are actually modified leaf structures called bracts. They should remain in their pots and not be planted outdoors in the garden if you live where it freezes in the winter. Give them enough sun, warmth, and water and your poinsettia will provide perfect seasonal color. To keep the plant in good condition do not let temperatures fall below 13°C (55°F). Can I plant my poinsettia outdoors? It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. Relevance. Poinsettia is a native of Mexico, so it is likely that because of our reduced light levels in this country your plant will get some yellowing and leaf fall. Poinsettias can become rather large and need a large pot. October 1: Poinsettias are short-day plants, for a mid-December bloom date, your poinsettia needs complete darkness for 15 continuous hours each night (5pm to 8am). The poinsettia (/ p ɔɪ n ˈ s ɛ t i ə / or / p ɔɪ n ˈ s ɛ t ə /) (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).Indigenous to Central America, it was described as a new species in 1834. Some stores sell poinsettias in cellophane cones that will protect the plant from wind damage, but if it’s bitterly cold outside, the bracts and leaves could still suffer. Many of these varieties excrete a white and milky sap, which is toxic. Place Plants Outside. Poinsettias are not poisonous, but the sap may cause dermatitis. In frost-free zones, plants can be transplanted into the garden. Once nights become longer in … Either way is fine. At this range, the cold hardiness of poinsettias is below its tolerant point and leaves will drop. See more ideas about poinsettia, poinsettia plant, plants. Method 1 of 2: Growing Poinsettia as a Perennial 1. The tricky part. Beginning on October 1, the plant must be placed in a completely dark room for 14 hours each day. Your poinsettia probably won’t grow as large. The poinsettia plant is native to Central America where it was used by the Aztecs for decorative and medicinal purposes. When temperatures begin to get cooler, bring the plant inside. Avoid keeping cool rooms . When the nighttime temperatures reach 55°F you may place your plant outside. Plant them if there are spots where you think poinsettias would look good and fit in well with your existing plants. A tropical perennial plant, poinsettias can survive and bloom for many years with proper care. After new growth has reached between 6 to 10 inches, pinch out the tips to encourage branching. Poinsettias can grow to be the size of a small tree, reaching 16 feet in height and 6-8 feet in width. Every year, they grow 200,000 plants on their main site and bring in another 200,000 from other UK growers, all to supply Sainsbury’s. In order to keep its bright and cheery appearance the poinsettia must be given proper care. With the introduction of long-lasting cultivars, the popularity of the poinsettia has increased significantly. Article by Jay Fillimore Poinsettia, the Christmas plant, is popular in many American, Australian and UK homes. I could say the top Christmas “flower” but that’s not strictly true. Plants will deteriorate if overwatered, causing the leaves to yellow and fall off after wilting. This year they are growing 200,000 plants on their main site and bringing in another 200,000 from other UK growers, all to supply Sainsbury’s. Poinsettias do not require high levels of light, one of the reasons they are favored as a potted plant. How to water poinsettias. Poinsettias grow well in moist soil and temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F. They can be grown outdoors during summer. You can either move your plant into a dark room, or cover it in a large opaque box. and i would like to know if i could keep it outside until it grows big. Poinsettias have now taken charge as the top Christmas plant. Any exposure to stray light of any kind could delay the flowering process. Ask Question + 100. Do not plant the poinsettia directly in the ground. Thank you . If you want to save your poinsettia and bring it to bloom again next year, you can follow the repotting and reblooming procedure. Poinsettias produce deep red blooms in winter, adding color to holiday tables. 0 0. That is why we have created a poinsettia care guide for those … Light . Poinsettia plants perform best in temperatures that range from 65 to 80 degrees fahrenheit. Poinsettias are short-day plants, meaning they naturally flower when the day length is less than 12 hours. Anonymous. Today the poinsettia serves as a decorative element everywhere from beautiful churches to the porches of homes. Poinsettias, like all plants, need water to grow, but they can be very sensitive to overwatering. That’s in warm climates like southern Mexico where the plant originates. Bracts are the leaves of poinsettia that change color depending on light exposure. There are more than 100 varieties that you can find throughout the world. The parts of the plant that provide all the colour are not flowers at all – they’re bracts, which are like modified leaves and which surround the true flowers and do the work of enormous showy petals. after it is big and strong would it handel the cold a littel more and could i cover it when is … Prune the plant in June and July to keep it bushy and compact. Poinsettia Has a Colorful Legend . Some gardeners are not satisfied with this long season of indoor beauty and attempt to save the plants to re-bloom the following winter. You can keep your poinsettia healthy and vigorous throughout the holiday season with the right care. Dec 25, 2013 - Explore Cynthia Fulkerson's board "Poinsettias " on Pinterest. See Step 1 and beyond to learn more about both approaches. While poinsettias can be kept indoors throughout summer, many people choose to move them outdoors in a sunny, but protected, area of the flower garden by sinking the pot into the ground. As flowering shrubs, poinsettias can reach a height of up to ten feet. Water the plant when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch. A poinsettia can grow from a cutting. Colonel Mangat Shanker January 9, 2017 at 6:07 am. How to Grow Poinsettia . Though people normally think of the poinsettia as a Christmas flower, cuttings generally have to be purchased in late May to June to have a beautiful plant to offer during the Christmas Season. Water thoroughly but wait until the compost is quite dry before watering again. Poinsettia (botanical name: Euphorbia pulcherrima) has certified itself as the UK’s number one houseplant over the Christmas season.. Transplanting Poinsettia Plants: Can You Transplant Poinsettias Outside. Put your plant in an area that gets light, but avoid direct sunlight. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. If you moved your plant outside, bring it back inside around the middle of August, and continue to water and fertilize through the rest of summer and early fall. While most people plant poinsettias outdoors, you can also grow them indoors, which is ideal for those who are living in cold climate. 10 years ago. In fact, this is one of the main means by which the plant is propagated, and people can purchase cuttings in many large gardening stores.