\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Thanks for sharing your experience! This is the point that indicates that the time has come to take the pruning shears, sterilize them and get to work. If you decide to propagate your cuttings directly into soil, it is best to use a potting mix designed for houseplants. Better Homes & Gardens - 100 years of powering your passions at home. You can also use them to make festive centerpieces for your holiday table. 14 Low Maintenance Plants for a Relaxing Bedroom Escape, 12 Tough Perennials That Grow in Dry Shade, How to Use Cut Poinsettias in Festive Flower Arrangements, 23 Easy-Care Houseplants That Don't Need Much More Than Water, 5 Best Houseplants for Christmas Decorating, How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Bee Balm, What to Do with Amaryllis Bulbs After They Bloom, 7 Tough-to-Grow Houseplants that Are Worth the Effort, Better Homes & Gardens Red White Poinsettia Mix with Decorative Square Bowl, add these popular plants to your Christmas decor, Better Homes & Gardens .35 Gallon Metal Watering Can, watch out for chilly drafts around windows. Any damage, even a small scratch, can produce sap leaking on a poinsettia leaf. Poinsettias may become "leggy" and unattractive if not pruned regularly during the growing season. Luscious Hybrids Take Center Stage, Poinsettias- their initial care, and year after year, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. What is the best way to eliminate this weed? Web. Overnight, the plants can't get any light at all; even the crack under a door is enough to disrupt them. Pruning during this time will help reduce the risk of damage and encourage new growth. To propagate the cuttings, you can either place them in a jar of water or directly into soil. Poinsettias need plenty of sunlight and warmth to stay healthy. RCH Landscaping is South Floridas and the Palm Beaches go-to Commercial and Residential Landscape Company. I usually keep them until their cup-like flowers bloom and the bracts start to fade. Begin by trimming off any dry, limp, or discolored leaves. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), well known as a decorative potted plant for the Christmas season, will perform as a Florida landscape plant where prolonged freezes are not the norm or where a warm microclimate exists around a home. After youve pruned the stems, remove any dead or dying leaves from the plant. This article has been viewed 102,131 times. The spring pruning should be done once the plant has finished blooming, and the second pruning should be done during late summer. If you decide to place them in a jar of water, make sure to change the water every couple of days. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. I just got done cutting back my poinsettias and it was a great feeling! Poinsettias grow best in moist, well-drained, fertile soils. Spring pruning is considered heavier than summer pruning and lays the groundwork for the type of growth that you can expect throughout the rest of the year from your poinsettia. Once youve pruned the oldest stems, you can prune any remaining stems to the same length. The spring pruning should be done once the plant has finished blooming, and the second pruning should be done during late summer. If kept outside, sun doesn't seem to damage their leaves, no matter how hot it is. Keep the poinsettias in a lighted area but out of direct sunlight. Now that you have the right tools, its time to start pruning. 2 Cut off the dead foliage using clean gardening shears in February or March. The first clippings arrived in the U.S. in 1828 thanks to Dr. Joel Poinsett, the U.S. They grow well in a sunny window, but not in full sun, especially during the hot summer days. The Stunning Beauty of Alocasia Hilo: A Complete Guide to Exotic Indoor Plant Care, Discovering the Beauty of Alocasia Elaine: The Enchanting Elephant Ear Plant. Specializing in Commercial and Residential Landscaping, RCH Landscaping guarantees professionalism with superior results for every landscaping project we engage. When it comes to caring for a poinsettia, one of the best things a gardener can do is cut it back. Cut the stems down to about 12 to 18 inches from the ground after the fear of frost if over. I always keep them short, but bushy. The spring pruning should be done once the plant has finished blooming, and the second pruning should be done during late summer. Keep the plant in as similar a light exposure as possible. Keep poinsettias away from cold drafts and cold windows. One other quick note poinsettias are not poisonous to humans or pets. Water the plant regularly and keep it in indirect sunlight. WebIt is best to prune your poinsettia after they have finished blooming and after the coldest time of year has passed. The plant's name is derived from Joel Poinsett, the first US minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant to the US in 1825. This will help keep the poinsettia healthy and encourage new growth. This will keep the poinsettia from becoming overgrown and encourage new growth. Poinsettias are a popular holiday plant, but they can also make a beautiful addition to any garden. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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