We explain here how to care for your poinsettia and how to spend the summer properly so that it can wear its red leaves again after a year.
As soon as the Advent season approaches, in countless flower shops the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), which actually comes from America, is offered again in different sizes. Among other things in the bright leaf colors red, pink and white. But sometimes also with colored fringed leaves, the so-called bracts (bracts), in green or white.
While the poinsettia, also known as the Advent star or Christmas star, spreads out in its homeland as a shrub up to 5 meters high in the gardens, it can only be bought and cared for as a houseplant from us. Poinsettias are actually perennial plants that can be admired, which can also be achieved in a pot if the flower stock is cared for properly!
Buying a poinsettia - what to look out for?
- When buying, you should always make sure that the almost inconspicuous flowers inside the respective flower head make a relatively fresh impression and have not already fallen off.
- The biggest problem is that the poinsettia should be transported home from the florist with as little draft as possible in order to preserve its full splendor for a long time. Ideally, you should therefore have it wrapped loosely in paper on frosty days.
» Tip: The darker the foliage, the longer the poinsettia will last!
Caring for the poinsettia - 4 tips
Tip 1 - Light / Temperature
It is important that a poinsettia gets 12 hours of light (sun) per day, which can be compensated for at any time with artificial daylight. In principle, however, the poinsettia loves a low-temperature sunny spot (about 20 degrees room temperature). Partial shade can sometimes cause him slight problems.
Tip 2 - Watering
It is also important to keep the poinsettia slightly moist with as little water as possible - the poinsettia is extremely sensitive to waterlogging! You can recognize too much irrigation water by the yellowing of the leaves, which at the same time leads to the death of theplant can lead. In such cases, repot the hive into new soil or a new substrate as soon as possible.
Tip 3 - Fertilize
Poinsettias need a commercially available complete fertilizer at least once a week during flowering (not to be confused with the colorful bracts). The same applies to the period of growth - mostly immediately after repotting.
Tip 4 - Cutting / Repotting
In the spring you can generously cut back the poinsettia and repot it in fresh soil or fresh substrate. During the summer months you can then keep him in a sheltered, light-flooded outdoor area. And by autumn at the latest, you can enjoy the fresh leaves again.
Bringing the poinsettia over the year
If you give the poinsettia enough care after the actual "season" has ended, you won't have to buy a new one next year. The following points are important so that the poinsettia can “summer” well:
- In the summer months the poinsettia can be outdoors, but here in a partially shaded place.
- In autumn, the poinsettia must be dark, which means: no light for at least 12 hours. Choose a location in a dark room or cover the Christmas star with a dark foil.
- To ensure that the poinsettia develops its red leaves again in time for Advent, you should start the "dark phase" about 8 weeks beforehand - i.e. from the beginning of October.
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