Five mistakes to avoid when growing poinsettias
Poinsettia season is here!
Poinsettias are one of the many festive plants that brighten up the Christmas season. Their bracts, which are sometimes misidentified as flowers, come in a variety of hues, including red, pink, white, orange, and bicolors.
Although their beautiful blooms are short-lived, you may avoid the following gardening mistakes to ensure that they survive through the holidays.
Applying fertilizer at a wrong time
Feeding poinsettias with fertilizer when they are blooming is unnecessary.
Wait until after the bloom has ended to fertilize your plant if you want to maintain it for its green foliage or get it to bloom again.
Make sure to stick to the product label's instructions when fertilizing.
Excessive watering
Not having proper drainage can turn their leaves yellow, or their roots to rot, thus causing the poinsettias to perish.
Make sure to poke a few holes under their container and drain any excess water from the saucer from time to time.
Providing them insufficient light
Poinsettias thrive best in bright indirect light. They may burn in direct sunlight, so place them in a well-lit area where the sun won't directly hit them.
Exposing them to extreme temperature
Keep your plants away from spots that are too cold or too hot. Do not put them near vents, radiators, or windows where they may be subjected to high temperatures.
Underwatering
Keep their soil moist but not waterlogged. Allowing the plants to dry up is just as bad as overwatering them. Only water the plants if the soil is dry when touched, or in some cases, when the container feels light.
Although poinsettias inevitably wilt and fall off as the holidays pass, if they are properly cared for, you may be able to watch them bloom again the next growing season.