Melinda Myers

Poinsettia

Botanical Name

Euphorbia pulcherrima

Hardiness

Zones 9 to 11

Height

2 to 4 feet

Width

1 to 4 feet

Flowers

Tiny yellow blossoms the center of showy bracts of red, yellow, white, peach, marbled or speckled

Light

Bright, indirect or filtered

Soil

Moist, well-drained

Planting & Care

• If the pot is covered with decorative foil, remove or punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage
• Plant will suffer root rot in soggy planting mix
• Do not allow poinsettia to dry out or leaves will drop
• Avoid temperature extremes such as drafts, a cold vehicle, heating ducts or fireplaces
• Fertilize with a dilute solution of flowering houseplant fertilizer March or April through December. Do not fertilize during flowering.
• Begin forcing poinsettia to rebloom in Late September or early October. Provide plants with 10 hours of light and 14 hours of total darkness each night. Move plants to an unused closet or room each night. Even a reading light or streetlight can interfere with the dark treatment and delay flowering. Or cover the plant with a cardboard box to keep out any artificial light. Cool night temperatures and slightly dry soil help stimulate bloom. Continue dark treatments until the bracts (upper leaves) are fully colored. Then move to an area for everyone to enjoy. Each missed or interrupted dark period delays the blooms by one day. Don't give up if this happens to you. While lovely over the holidays, poinsettia's colorful bracts are sure to brighten any winter day.

Problems

Whitefly, mealybug, soft scale, root rot in overwatered or poorly drained soil