by Sammy Stein

Created on: December 15, 2009

Poinsettias are beautiful plants. With deep green leaves and a wonderful red centre, they are closely associated with Christmas and it is at this time that their red flower bracts are at their best.

The bright red centre of the poinsettia is actualy a protective bract which opens to reveal many tiny yellow flowers. It is the red bracts which we buy the plants for and all too often, after the festive season, ponsettias find themselves languishing on the compost heap but they can be saved for next year if yo uknow how.

While your poinsettia is in bloom you can keep it at its best by providing a good place for it to thrive. Good light is essential but strong direct sunight will damage the leaves and bracts and the plant will become dry and die back far sooner than it  it is kept in good but not strong light.

 Avoid draughts too as poinsettias dislike cold air and will quickly turn brown and die back if exposed to cold air. Keep them safe by bringing them inside curtains at night if they are on a windowsill- the air behind the curtains cools rapidly after dark.

Water them only from the bottom and give a gentle mist weekly just to moisten but not wet the foliage. When the growing medium feels dry, give water from below until it feels moist and do not allow the plant to stand in water. To extend the growin gperiod a light feed can be given in the water or by foliar feed.

Your ponsettia will give three to four weeks of glorious colour before starting to fade and eventually die back. Do not despair and assume it is the end but remove the plant to a cool greenhouse and allow the foliage to die back. Stop watering and lift the rootball from the pot. After the planthas dies back completely and the growing medium has dired, it will be in a dormant state. Place in a warm place for the spring and summer - an airing cupboard is ideal. Keep it in a bag filled with vermiculite to prevent rot and add a little fungicide if you want to be sure.

Next autumn, plant the poinsettia in a 50/50 sand/peat growing medium and give it water. Bring it into good light and it will start to grow again. Feed weekly, stopping once the flower bract begins to form. Then, by mid-december you will once again have those glorious bracts and a delightful display.

Learn more about this author, Sammy Stein.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.