Poinsettia: home care after purchase, pruning and propagation

Flowers

The poinsettia, or Christmas star, is a rather capricious and finicky houseplant. It's important to take proper care of it at home after purchase and be aware of the challenges it can pose when growing it.

Even biblical stories mention this beautiful and vibrant plant. When the baby Jesus was born, beggar children brought completely bare branches to his cradle, and the next morning they blossomed into bright red stars. This is where the name "Star of Bethlehem" comes from.

Interesting!

Nowadays, it is customary to give this indoor flower to loved ones at Christmas; it is believed that it brings prosperity to the home and is a symbol of comfort.

Caring for poinsettia at home after purchase

When purchasing poinsettiasThere are several factors worth paying attention to:

the plant should not be packaged so that it can be examined properly;
the soil should be slightly moist, as too much moisture or too dry soil can affect the vital functions of the star of Bethlehem;
Pay special attention to the plant's stems. There should be no black or brown spots. Leaves are located on all sides of the stem and the color of the leaves is rich green.
Look at the bracts; they should be clean. If you find pollen, it means the flowering period is quite long;
The color of the buds is yellow with a green tint.

If one of the points does not correspond, then it is worth purchasing the plant elsewhere.

Plant placement

First of all, it's best to separate the poinsettia from other flowers. It's important to remember that the Star of Bethlehem is a tropical plant and, therefore, has specific requirements.

The indoor star does not tolerate direct sunlight, i.e. it will feel most comfortable either on the eastern or western windows;
Prefers diffused light. This will require the installation of additional special equipment;
If you place it too close to the glass in winter, the leaves will immediately darken and freeze;
avoid drafts and open windows, as she does not tolerate cold;
Also, you shouldn't place poinsettia near radiators.

Temperature

Since the Christmas star is quite capricious, it's best to avoid temperature fluctuations. It should never fall below 16°C or above 27°C. The optimal temperature range is between 20°C and 24°C.

Watering

One of the most important aspects of caring for poinsettias indoors is watering. The plant should be moistened as the soil dries out. Avoid overwatering, as this can damage the root system.

In summer, watering should be done up to three times a week, while in winter, once a week or even twice a week is sufficient. If water collects in the tray, drain it immediately.

Important!

Water only with water at room temperature and during the heating season it is worth spraying the leaves.

Top dressing

The Star of Bethlehem should not be fed frequently, moreover, during flowering and during dormancy, it should not be fertilized.

After the dormant period, it is worth fertilizing the indoor flower once every two weeks with a mineral complex to stimulate flowering.

Transfer

Every year in mid-spring, poinsettias need to be repotted. Cut the stems back by one-third and place them in a warm, well-lit area, watering with room-temperature water. Pruning occurs in March. When new leaves appear, the plant needs to be repotted.

It's important to remember that the new pot shouldn't be larger than 1.5 cm from the previous one. Repot the plant by transshipping it, without breaking the root ball. Be sure to never disturb the root system. Fill any gaps with soil.

To minimize stress on your poinsettia, place it in a mini greenhouse, covering it with a transparent dome. This will increase humidity. Daily ventilation will help prevent fungal diseases and root rot.

Please note!

After a month, remove the greenhouse. The roots will adapt to the new container size. Remember that after repotting, the plant needs thorough watering and misting.

Trimming

When caring for poinsettias at home, remember that they bloom only on new growth. To encourage reblooming, they need to be pruned, but only after the plant has entered dormancy.

If your Star of Bethlehem plant refuses to shed its leaves, it's a sign of excessive humidity. In this case, pruning occurs when buds appear. This method allows pruning at any time. However, additional lighting is necessary during winter.

So, what's the proper way to prune a poinsettia? Prune the Christmas Star plant fairly low to promote better shoot growth and larger, more vibrant flowers.

Important!

Each shoot should have 3 to 5 high-quality buds. This forms the basis for further development and flowering.

Reproduction

Poinsettias are quite difficult to propagate indoors. It's a labor-intensive and complex process. Vegetative propagation is primarily used. April or May is considered the best time.

What you need to get started:

A healthy plant that has faded.
Root formation stimulator.
Disposable cups with a volume of 200 ml.
Soil in a 1:1 ratio of perlite and sand.
A container with warm water.

The materials are prepared, now you can start planting.

Cut cuttings from 10 to 15 cm;
remove the lower leaves from the cut cuttings;
rinse in warm water to remove milky juice;
make holes for drainage in the prepared containers and fill them with soil;
Treat the cut where the root will be with a root growth stimulant. If there isn't one, that's okay; it will simply speed up the rooting process;
Next, immerse the cutting into the ground by about 3 cm;
then water the seedlings;
Place the containers under a mini-greenhouse.

Once the Christmas Star is planted, remember to ventilate it once a day and maintain a temperature of 15 to 21°C. Rooting occurs within two months.

How to make a poinsettia bloom

Many houseplant lovers throw away their poinsettias after they've finished blooming, which is a mistake. But with proper care, you can ensure they continue to delight you with flowers year after year.

If you remember, the Star of Bethlehem has a dormant period. Wait until the last leaves have fallen and trim them back to about 10 cm above ground level. Then, move the container with the houseplant to a cool and relatively dark room and stop watering.

Advice!

In the first days of May, transplant the plant by transshipment and begin watering immediately. When shoots appear, leave no more than five of the best ones and remove the others.

If you want to make your poinsettia bloom for the New Year, you should do a number of things:

Around the end of September, the plant should spend at least 12 hours in a dark room;
carry out this procedure for 8 weeks;
After this time, return the Christmas Star to its normal mode.

Within three weeks of the start of the process, flower buds will begin to appear on the shoots, followed by the formation of rather bright bracts. Temperatures during flowering should be slightly cooler than usual; in this case, the flowers will delight you for up to six months.

Pests and diseases

If you follow all the rules and conditions for poinsettia growth and development at home, you can be sure of your favorite plant's health. However, let's take a look at some of the diseases and pests that the Christmas star is susceptible to.

Mealybug.If you notice a light, cotton-like coating on your plant, take immediate action. First, remove the coating with soapy water and treat with Aktara.

Spider miteAre your pet's leaves curling and drying out? Then this pest has appeared. To get rid of it, wash the plant with soapy water, then rinse under a hot shower after half an hour. Control products include Antikleshch, Actofit, etc.