poinsettias?

[Debi]

if that's even spelled correctly..but anyway...Dave left me one as a surprise this morning. I don't have time to look up on my pokey dial-up, so I thought I'd ask quick here.......how do you care for it? most all my windows are facing north...not good for light. I do have the front bay window facing west...so I assume that would be best? how much water? feels kind of moist right now, but not wet at all. they're so pretty, and I'd hate to kill it in the first week. do they love heat, or are they ok with sorta cool. (I don't like things hot, so rooms beyond the main room with the woodstove tend to be around 60ish) thanks!


I have the fire going...all Christmas lights on...Christmas tree...and the poinsettia adds a nice additional festive touch! going to light pine scented candles very soon.

 

[smkie]

FIrst thing I would do is take it out of the foil wrapper (the wrapper of death) because they tend to not let water drain off and suffocate the plant. THe biggest thing is not to let them dry all the way out, nor stand in water. Light isn't too critical until spring. In the summer i kept mine outdoors but have never successfullly done the light thing to make them turn again. Be careful with the animals.

 

[Zoom]

They're supposed to be stored in the dark until early winter, then allowed sunlight to make them bloom, IIRC.

Smkie's right, take off the wrapper and keep the soil damp but not wet.

Be VERY careful around the dogs though, poinsettas are quite poisonous to most animals.

 

[Debi]

wrapper coming off now...thanks! don't worry...my dogs wouldn't consider eating a plant. Ham won't even eat people food, and Addie only likes bread (if it's people food). remember...I have the odd dogs that you hand them people food...it falls from their mouth. Ham in particular...he makes a point to go upstairs when we eat. yeah..no problem even thinking they'd eat a plant!

 

[bubbatd]

Thats a pretty one !! A couple of ??s from me ~~~ can they be re potted as the usually come in a plastic pot . When storing in dark should they be watered ?

 

[Barb04]

Have to add that I just love Dave surprises!

 

[eddieq]

We had one that my wife kept alive for 3 years, including the cat knocking it down multiple times. It never turned colors again, though. It was green until the last time the cat got it. When it fell the last time, it landed upside down and cracked the stalk right up the center by the root ball. It was done for

Caring for it was simply. We just kept it in the window and kept it watered every few days, never soaking it or letting it turn to a desert (like smkie said).

If you have designs on making it bloom a pretty red again, I'd suggest reading up on it or talking to a florist that deals with them on the best procedure.

 

[FoxyWench]

as everyone else said, keep it moist (not soggy)

repotting is actually the best choice if you want to keep it. a good soil/peat/sand mix.

they are a tropical plant (in mexico they can grow 8-10ft high!)
they like plenty of light so the west facing window woudl be ideal and they can spend the summers outside, the ones mums been tending for the past few years however dont seem to like it outside lol.

then if you want "flowers" for next winter, VERY early spring (end of winter) make sure it gets hours of DARK for about a month straight, about 5pm each night put it in a closet and dont take it out untill about 8am the next morning (longer wont harm it) repeart every day for a month and this usually forces the flower buds. which means red leaves for the winter

 

[Debi]

wow, Foxy, thanks. I heard about the darkness thing to have the red leaves again, but had no clue how to actually do it. I think I will repot it, cause I have all you mentioned. plus a nicer pot would look better...if I manage not to kill it!