Holiday Plants - Poinsettia
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  (January) I received a Poinsettia tree for Christmas. How do I care for that? Can they be grown in a pot outside?

  Poinsettia trees or topiaries are simply regular poinsettia plants trained into a different form. This makes them no hardier than the smaller versions. They all do great outdoors in the spring, summer and early fall, but would not survive outdoors in the winter. For now, give them bright light, and even moisture and they should stay pretty for several months.

  (March) I have a large pot with several old poinsettias that I move inside each winter. They are still blooming profusely and look beautiful except they are about 3 feet tall and the stems are without leaves and are not so beautiful. I would like to know - should I prune them all back and how much , and then put them on the deck where they live each summer, or do I just let them go and maybe they will put out more leaves. I have three more from this season to add to the pot, and I assume I can just prune them back a little and then transplant them.

  If they are still colorful, enjoy them as they are. Once the color fades, cut them back severely to get them to leaf out and fill out. If they don't get enough light, they often shed the lower leaves. If you don't cut them back, even when they do begin to leaf out, they will be somewhat thin and leggy. You may need to consider several pots, instead of putting them all in one. It may be that they are too crowded in one container.

  (April) I have three poinsettia that seem to be thriving inside. Can I put them outside, repot, put in soil, or just how can I maybe save them until next year?

  Poinsettias make nice green houseplants year-round, and can have some colorful bracts again in the winter -- usually not as showy as the greenhouse grown ones for sale each season. Move them outdoors and either sink the pot in the ground, plant in the soil or grow as a container plant for the growing season. You will need to bring them back inside next fall, as they are not winter hardy.

  (September) I bought a Rose Poinsettia for Christmas in December, 2002. The leaves kept blooming red until June, and then I put it in a window and it's now growing a lot of green leaves. What can I do to it, and when should I do it, to make the leaves start turning red?

  The rose poinsettia would be treated just like any other poinsettia variety. Beginning this month, prune it in height if needed, but then try to begin giving it bright light during the day, and total darkness at night. If you continue to water and fertilize, with this light/dark schedule, you should notice the plant beginning to change colors in a couple of months. I don't think you ever get the top-notch quality you could get from professional greenhouse production, but it can be a challenge. Still plan to buy a new poinsettia this season.

  (November) I saved three poinsettias from last Christmas. I put them out in the shade in larger pots during the summer and have left them out. My question is when do I bring them in and how do I get them to have the pretty white leaves they had at Christmas? They are very healthy, bushy plants at this time.

  By now all plants that are going to be brought in, should have made the move. While some areas have had a light frost, and some have not, the nights have gotten quite chilly. The plants will naturally change color in relation to short days and long nights, provided they get NO artificial light at night. Move the plant to a room that is not used in the evening, or prepare to cover it each evening. Give it plenty of sunlight during the day and total darkness at night. After 6-8 weeks of the light/dark cycle, you should see the color changing. While you may get some colorful bracts, I doubt you will get the quality you will get with a greenhouse grown poinsettia, but they make a fine houseplant, year-round.

  (December) Last Christmas we received a large poinsettia. We kept it watered and in the house until spring, then planted it outside where it grew nicely. I wanted to try and make it bloom again, so I brought it back into the house. Its in the basement and I am watering with a mix of water and Miracle Grow. Is there anything special I must do to coax it to turn red again. Thanks for a reply.

  I hope your basement has sunlight, or you may be in trouble. Poinsettias can re-bloom, but be forewarned that the quality will usually not compare to what you can get from a commercially grown poinsettia. Poinsettias do need a dark period, but in conjunction with light. They need bright light all day, and total darkness only at night. They need regular water and fertilization during this period as well. After about 8 weeks of this light/dark cycle, they should begin to turn color. I think it can be a fun experiment once, but I continue to buy new plants each holiday season.

  Enclosed is a picture and a stem of my poinsettia. The stem has something on it and the leaves have a sticky substance. One of the poinsettias is two years old, and the other is one year old. Should they be cut back after all the red leaves are off? What should I do to solve this problem on the stem?

  Your poinsettias are heavily infested with scale--an insect which sucks the sap out of the plant, then releases a sticky substance called honeydew. I am surprised the plants look as healthy as they do in the picture with as many scale insects that were covering the stem you sent. I would definitely cut the plants back, and I wouldn’t wait for the red coloring to fade. If you plan to save these plants, cut out as much of the damaged stems as you can and spray with either a horticultural oil or orthene. Monitor the plants closely for repeated infestations, and be sure to isolate these plants from any other houseplants. Normally, when poinsettias begin to lose their colorful bracts, we’ll cut them back by half. Move the plants outside and they should thrive.

  My poinsettia is already dropping leaves. I am watering regularly, and I don’t think too much, and it is sitting under the light in my dining room. What can I do to save the plant?

  Look first at your light source. Poinsettias are used to bright sunlight. Unless your artificial light is within a foot or so of your plant, they aren’t getting enough light during the day. Bright sunlight, even moisture conditions, and a location free of drafts will keep your poinsettia pretty for a long time after the holiday season. Remove the decorative foil to allow for good air circulation and sunlight penetration.

  I got the prettiest white poinsettia for the holidays. It still looks good now, but what do I do after they finish blooming? I was told to stick it in a closet and it would re-bloom, but that sounds somewhat far-fetched.

  Poinsettias have been bred to hold their showy bracts (not true flowers) for months, with proper light. Give them a bright sunny location and enjoy them for a long time. After bloom, simply grow the plant as a houseplant. Move it outside for the summer and give it bright sunlight, monthly fertilization and frequent water. In August, cut it back to a manageable size, bring the plant indoors in September and start the light/dark cycle from October 1 through November, if you want it to re-bloom. They need bright sunlight during the day, and total darkness at night. I think some people hear the total darkness at night part, and think a dark closet will work. Unfortunately, put in a dark closet for a month or two will lead to death, not a blooming plant. A simpler solution, which I have taken from a friend, is to save a quarter a week and buy a new plant each year.

  I received several poinsettias already this Christmas and would like to know the proper care of these plants to keep them looking their best. I have several different colors. In the past, friends have had them looking good for months. I want to do the same. Tell me how.

  Poinsettias like bright light, so don’t use them as decorations in dark places. Keep them evenly moist. Often, the foil wrap they come in excludes light to the base of the plant and may keep too much moisture in the bottom. As soon as possible, remove the decorative wrap and give them a saucer to drain into. With bright light and even moisture, the new varieties have been bred to keep their color for months. Avoid drafts from open doors and heating vents, and keep them at temperatures between 60 degrees and 75 degrees and they should thrive.

  Every year I get a poinsettia for the holidays, and every year it loses leaves. It has bright red flowers at the top on totally barren stems. Needless to say, it isn’t very attractive. How can I keep it looking its best, at least until Christmas is over?

  Remember where poinsettias are growing before you get them–in a bright sunny greenhouse. Then you move them indoors into a lower light situation, with low humidity and uneven moisture, and boom–the leaves start to fall. The best conditions for a poinsettia (other than a greenhouse) would be bright light and even moisture. Don’t use them as a table decoration away from a window. Give them as much light as possible, and keep them evenly moist. Make sure your plant has a container to catch the excess run-off. With just a little extra care, not only will they look good through the holidays, but for several more months as well.

  Please tell me once again how to get a poinsettia to bloom. I have a couple of beautiful plants in pots that are still outdoors.

  Move the poinsettia inside to a bright sunny area, by the end of September to early October. Fertilize it monthly, and make sure it has ample water. Starting the first of October, and continuing through November, it needs total darkness from early evening until morning, and bright light all day. Remember, the light cycle is just as important as the dark cycle. During the dark cycle, it can’t have any light at all. Many people find it easier to cover the plants for the dark cycle to prevent any light getting in. Then take the covering off in the morning. After two months of this light/dark cycle, coupled with regular watering and fertilization, you should have a blooming plant by the holidays.

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