How does one care for poinsettias? Mine usually drops leaves and dies.?

'Instructions

STEP 1: Place your poinsettia in a sunny window. These plants require bright light - the more, the better. STEP 2: Keep soil evenly moist at all times. Even a day without adequate moisture is enough to make poinsettias drop their leaves. STEP 3: Provide a constant source of humidity by filling the overflow saucer with gravel. Water seeping through the pot will evaporate from the gravel. STEP 4: Turn up the heat. Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where it is hot during the winter. STEP 5: Keep the temperature as close to constant as you can, day and night. Decreasing temperatures cause leaves to drop. STEP 6: Fertilize weekly with half-strength liquid houseplant fertilizer, or use a slow-release food when you first bring your poinsettia home." Good luck.

How does one care for poinsettias? Mine usually drops leaves and dies.?
Water and keep away from heat.
Reply:it needs water and sun
Reply:I guess it all depends on where you live. My green-thumb sister lives in Canada. This is what she does, she transplants in a larger pot and keeps the plant in a dark closet in her hallway. Why would anyone do that you might ask, well the flowering formation is triggered by 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness. I guess it's a trick to make the plant think that it is still in Mexico. Then at breakfast she carries the plant from the dark cupboard and places it in her sunny front window (draft-free away from doors and electric heaters) She cuts the plant back in the Spring and when the buds start to grow she stops the closet routine and keeps it in her sunny front window. The soil should stay moist-not wet.I tried to do that last year but mine didn't make it, I guess it must have caught a draft. She is very successful at it and has many in her home all year

.PS. Poinsettias are poisonous to house pets.
Reply:Dont water it to much but they are very temperamental.
Reply:these will go dormant over the winter/early spring. put it in a very low-light area (like a closet w/ a small window) and water it sometimes. take it out next summer and it will rebloom
Reply:My mother-in-law gave me this one----put the plant in a sunny spot in the room (protect from freezing). Water the plant by placing two ice cubes in the pot each day (no more and no less). That way the watering is consistent and even. She keeps them alive from December to July this way (she had one go for almost a year).
Reply:Poinsettias are a tropical plants. They like bright windows and a good sun too if you have a sunny window. Don't feel discourage if they drop all their green leaves and red ones because they usually do. All the poinsettias on the market for Christmas were all forced to bloom (or change in color) and there's high percentage that they'll die. If they drop their leaves, as long as the stem is still green and alive don't throw it yet just keep the soil moist and they'll give you new shoots. Don't expect that they'll be the same as when you buy them. It'll be totally different. It'll be more natural. It won't hurt too to prune them in cases that there's lot of shoots. Just keep the one you desired. Treat them as your other house plants. If you're successful, what you do next November is to keep them in total darkness for a week and then brought them out again after. If you're lucky you'll gonna get a live one for Christmas with a good show of color. You can just leave it natural too, without forcing it ta change color in December, they'll eventually change color in February. It works for me, it should work for you too.
Reply:only water it every other couple days and keep it in an area where it can get shade and sun 50% each!!11





poinsettias girl 818
Reply:Water it, Love it and give it sun light
Reply:they dont need alot of water so water every 2 or 3 days
Reply:They make great plants and will live for a long time. They can grow fairly large, and would become tree sized if we could plant them outside in a tropical area.

Don't overwater, water when dry and don';t over fertilize- fertilize very lightly. In the summer, it can get too hot for it- if you live in Texas, for example don't set it outside in full sun it'll burn it up. Select a partial-light area.

If you leave it outside when fall comes the cooler temps will create red leaves. We have some that are several years old.

The reason most xmas poinsettias die is due to initially, failure to water them followed by overwatering, this is partially because the soil used in the poinsettia pot is like the worst you'll ever buy a plant in- its packaged only for xmas viewing. you should repot your poinsettia in quality soil at first opportunity or it'll always struggle to some extent in the poor soil it came with
Reply:Pointsettas are from Mexico, they need to be treated as if they were in the tropics....so, keep it in a sunny location, protected from cold elements, water thoroughly, but allow to completely drain.....if you have it in a foil wrapper around the pot - take it out! The roots need fresh air....it will last and last with good care.



Kaneohe_2000
Reply:My grandma has worked at a florist for over 20 years. Poinsettias do not need a lot of water. In that case, the easiest thing to do, and what she has always suggested to me, is to put an ice cube or two on the soil and let it melt by itself. It melts slow and it won't drown the plant. Every few days, throw another couple of ice cubes on top of the soil, and it should be fine.
Reply:water give some sun keep away from the cold and frost a lot of activity is not usually a good thing. ohh and never let near a cat near them poinsettias are poisonous to cats
Reply:they dont need lotz of water so water every 2 days
Reply:well for some they are like children, so i assume just likei care for my daughter they would care for their plant,i know, it is silly right
Reply:water only when dry
Reply:I agree with SS, not direct light and give tgem food they will grow.
Reply:Location and Temperature - The poinsettia thrives on indirect, natural daylight. Exposure to at least six hours daily is recommended. If direct sun cannot be avoided, diffuse with a light shade or sheer curtain. To prolong the bright color of the poinsettia bracts, daytime temperatures should not exceed 70o F. Avoid placing the plants near drafts, excess heat or the dry air from appliances, fireplaces or ventilating ducts.



Water and Fertilizer - Poinsettias require moderately moist soil. Water the plants thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to the touch. Remove the plant from decorative pots or covers, and water enough to completely saturate the soil. Do not allow the poinsettia to sit in any standing water; root rot could result which could kill the plant. It is not necessary to fertilize the poinsettia when it is in bloom.



Outside Placement - Since poinsettias are sensitive to cold weather, frost and rain, outside placement during the winter months should be avoided. However, in mild climates, an enclosed patio or entryway may be suitable provided the night temperatures do not drop below 55o F. Make certain the delicate bracts are well-protected from wind and cold rain.



After the Holidays - When the bracts age and lose their aesthetic appeal, usually by late March or early April, cut the poinsettia back to about 8 inches in height. By the end of May you should see vigorous new growth. Pruning may be required during the summer to keep plants bushy and compact, but do not prune after September 1. Keep the plants in indirect sun and water regularly.



Place your plants outdoors, where they can bask in the warmth of spring and summer, after outside night temperatures average 55o F or above. Continue regular watering during the growth period. Fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the spring, summer and fall months with a well-balanced, complete fertilizer. Around June 1, you may transplant your poinsettias into larger pots. Select pots no more than 4 inches larger than the original inner pot. A soil mix with a considerable amount of organic matter, such as peat moss or leaf mold, is highly recommended. If you wish, you may transplant the poinsettias into a well-prepared garden bed. Be sure the planting bed is rich in organic matter and has good drainage.



Re-flowering - The poinsettia is a photoperiodic plant, meaning that it sets bud and produces flowers as the Autumn nights lengthen. The plants will naturally come into full bloom during November or December, depending upon the flowering response time of the individual cultivar. Timing the bloom to coincide closely with the Christmas holiday can be difficult without the controlled environment of a greenhouse. Stray light of any kind, such as from outside street lights or household lamps, could delay or entirely halt the re-flowering process. Starting October 1, the plants must be kept in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. Accomplish this by moving the plants to a totally dark room, or by covering them with a large box overnight. During October, November and early December, the plants require 6 - 8 hours of bright sunlight daily, with nighttime temperatures between 60 - 70o F. Temperatures outside this range may delay flowering. Continue the normal watering and fertilizer program. Following this regime for 8 to 10 weeks should result in a colorful display of blooms for the holiday season.
Reply:I know putting them in dark works. But I have a friend who planted hers outside by the corner of the house%26amp; just waters it now %26amp; then. This was several years ago %26amp; it has grown as tall as the house and it still blooms but at odd times
Reply:they don't need alot of water and they are tropical. sorry that is all i know.
Reply:plenty of water and some sunlight.
Reply:never over water them and they say put them in a dark closet and they will last til after the new year. i do it and it always works for me.
Reply:If you don't have a green house where you can control humidity and temperature, don't waste your time or money. Chances are VERY good they will die. The varities you get during Christmas time are not good for planting. These plants need very rich soil, high humudity, lots of water, spicy salsa and latin love. Look up the weather in Puerto Villarta and mimic those condition in your green house and buy your plant from a good nursery.
Reply:Ok, I have a plant book that I have used before to find out about poinsettias. The leaves are pale green and the small greenish yellow flowers uninteresting, but the vibrantly colored bracts can be magnificent. These are, in fact, colored leaves that develop at the top of the stems in fall...They like bright, filtered light. In the winter the should be kept at 60~70 degrees temerature. Keep soil moist in winter and spring, reduce watering after flowering, apply weak fertilizer every 2 weeks from mid fall to late spring. When plant has finished flowering cut it back to 4~6 inches/10~15cm. Store it in a warm place, and keep the soil almost dry until new growth appears, usually after 2 months. Then in early summer water the plant well, when growth restarts, repot in fresh soil in same size pot. Beginning in the mid fall it is essential to keep a poinsettia in total darkness for 14 hours each day if the colored bracts are to appear. For 2 months cover the plant with a black plastic bag in early evening and remove it the following morning while increasing watering and feeding. When the bracts beging to show color, leave the plant uncovered. Hope this helps you out. Im a plant lover myself...
Reply:i have many pointsettas and all that they truly need is love,care, and a good shoulder to cry on

i especialy like to feed mine santa shaped gingerbread cookies and nothing makes a pointsettia feel better than a long bath
Reply:After Christmas dump them in the garbage.
Reply:You should just throw them away and get new ones next holiday season. Otherwise, they might look tacky.
Reply:i pee on mine.its growing like a weed