How to Water Poinsettias? Detailed Guide to Growing Methods and Precautions
Whenever New Year's Day or the Spring Festival comes, poinsettias bloom everywhere, looking especially festive and gorgeous, so many people like to place a pot at home or in the courtyard. So how do you water such a gorgeous poinsettia? How do you grow it? Let's take a look below at the poinsettia growing methods and precautions.
I. Introduction to the Poinsettia:
1. What is the flower meaning of the poinsettia?
Celebrating new life together, universal celebration, vanquishing demons, my heart is burning.
2. What types of poinsettia are there?
Princettia White, Flame Ball poinsettia, Henrietta Ecke, Sweet Blush bract, Ice Hole, etc.
II. How to Water a Poinsettia? Water It This Way and the Flowers Bloom Even More Gorgeously!
1. The poinsettia does not have high water requirements, so when watering, try to determine the amount based on how dry or wet the potting soil is. Generally, when 1/3 of the potting soil is dry, you can water an appropriate amount, but never water “halfway water”, so as to avoid the abnormal phenomenon of roots growing upward.
2. During the poinsettia's seedling stage, try to water in the evening to promote seedling growth.
3. During the poinsettia's vigorous growth period, try to water in the morning, and the water temperature should be close to the air temperature. In winter, try to water around noon, so as to help the plant absorb water well.
III. What Are the Poinsettia Growing Methods and Precautions?
1. What are the poinsettia growing methods?
(1) Soil requirements: Sandy loam soil is good for planting
The poinsettia likes to grow in an environment with loose soil and good drainage, so when choosing soil, try to use sandy loam soil for planting. Of course, you can also mix garden soil, humus soil, leaf mold and decomposed cake fertilizer together into nutrient soil for planting.
(2) Temperature: 15-20 degrees is best
The poinsettia likes warmth and fears cold. Generally, it can grow normally at an air temperature of 15-20 degrees, so in September, move it indoors and strengthen indoor ventilation, so the plant can quickly adapt to the indoor environment and facilitate flower bud differentiation. It is worth noting that the indoor temperature must not be lower than 15 degrees, so as to avoid poor development of flowers and leaves.
(3) Fertilizer requirements: Reasonable fertilization
The poinsettia likes fertilizer, so when potting or repotting, try to add organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer, and during the growing period apply a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer once every 7-10 days, and during the flowering period apply a nitrogen fertilizer once every 7-10 days to promote flower opening. It is worth noting that each time you fertilize, do not apply too much, and try to fertilize in the evening and water in the morning, so as to help the plant absorb nutrients better.
(4) Watering requirements: Reasonable watering
The poinsettia does not have high water requirements, and generally you should water when dry and let it dry out between waterings, so during the seedling stage water less. In summer when temperatures are high, water once in the morning and once in the evening, and according to temperature conditions, spray water on the ground to increase indoor humidity; in spring and autumn, watering once every 1-2 days is enough. When watering, never give too much or too little, so as to avoid drooping leaves.
(5) Light requirements: 12 hours of light per day
The poinsettia is a short-day plant. Generally, giving it no more than 12 hours of light per day can promote flower bud differentiation, so in spring, autumn and winter, try to place it in a spot with light, and at noon in summer, shade it appropriately, so as to avoid too strong light causing leaf moisture evaporation and affecting flowering. Of course, if you want to make it bloom earlier or later, you can give it 8-9 hours of light per day, and it can bloom after 40 days.
(6) Pruning and shaping: Prune well from late June to mid-August
After the poinsettia has grown for a certain time, useless branches such as residual branches, diseased branches and old roots will appear, so from late June to mid-August, these useless branches can be cut off to avoid nutrients being absorbed. In addition, when the branches grow to 20-30cm, you can shape and bend them in autumn to ensure neat flower heads and improve ornamental value.
(7) Pest control: Use insecticides or special agents for control
During the poinsettia's growth period, percent scale insects will appear, so take preventive measures in advance. For those already affected by disease or pests, insecticides can be used for control.
2. What are the precautions for poinsettias?
(1) Water reasonably: The poinsettia does not have high water requirements. Generally, as long as the potting soil is kept moist but not dry, it can grow healthily, so watering must be reasonable, so as to avoid too much or too little water affecting plant growth.
(2) Reasonable light: The poinsettia likes light, but that does not mean it likes strong light, so in the hot summer season, shade it appropriately to help the plant grow.
Summary: Poinsettias are very easy to keep alive. As long as you control light and water well, they can grow healthily, but if you want to make them bloom earlier or later, you can use light control methods to achieve the flowering time.