How to grow poinsettia? Master the cultivation methods and precautions, watering is key
Poinsettia, as its name suggests, has very vivid leaves, and a patch of red looks very eye-catching, which is why it is deeply loved by flower enthusiasts. When choosing plants to grow, many people choose poinsettia, so how do you grow poinsettia? Soil, light and so on are essential, but watering is also very key. The following are the cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia, very comprehensive, friends who want to grow it must take a look~
1. How to grow poinsettia, fertilizing is key
Because it is grown indoors, the conditions are certainly not as good as outdoors, so to grow poinsettia well, we need to do a lot of things. Soil, light, watering and so on are all essential; in addition, temperature and fertilizing also need attention. As for more specifics, they are introduced in the cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia, let's continue reading.
2. Cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia
1. Soil, loose with good drainage
How to grow poinsettia: first you must choose the soil, which is required to be clean and loose, with no strange odor. Second, drainage must be good, it should contain a small amount of soluble salts, and contain the necessary elements that can satisfy the growth of poinsettia. Flower enthusiasts can use a mixture of 3 parts vegetable garden soil, 3 parts humus soil, 3 parts leaf mold, 1 part decomposed cake fertilizer, plus a small amount of cinder.
Precautions: if you dig soil directly from a community garden, make sure there are no impurities. Usually the soil used is mainly peat soil, mixed with perlite, vermiculite, ceramsite and wood chips. Before planting, spread the soil flat and expose it to the sun for 30 minutes.
2. Light, less than 12 hours
Poinsettia is a short-day plant; only when the light period is within 12 hours per day do the flower buds begin to differentiate. The flower bud differentiation period is from early October to early March of the following year; during this period a longer dark period is required, preferably 15 hours. Apart from that, with normal care, proper shading at noon in summer is enough.
Precautions: during flower bud differentiation it is very sensitive to red light; even a short time or extremely weak red light can affect flower bud differentiation, so light exposure should be prevented during the flower bud differentiation period. Moonlight contains very little red light and does not affect flower bud differentiation. Using a 100-watt incandescent lamp to add light for 2 hours a day, in the short-day winter season, will prevent flower bud differentiation and allow continued vegetative growth.
3. Watering, water when dry, stop when wet
In the cultivation methods for poinsettia, watering is extremely key, because poinsettia is relatively sensitive to moisture; uneven watering, whether too dry or too wet, will cause adverse reactions. Too much watering makes the leaves droop and even causes root rot; too little watering makes the leaves curl. So watering poinsettia is very particular.
Precautions: water poinsettia by the principle of water when dry, stop when wet. In the early growth stage, when the plant is not large, water a little less; in summer when the temperature is high and poinsettia grows vigorously, water a little more, once each morning and evening, and according to weather conditions, spray water on the ground. In spring and autumn, watering once every 1-2 days is enough.
4. Temperature, 16-27°C
Poinsettia likes a warm environment; except in winter, potted poinsettias can be seen in any other season. When the weather starts to turn cold every September, poinsettia should be fully moved indoors, and at this time the indoor temperature should be kept at around 15 to 20°C. If it is higher or lower than this temperature, the growth of poinsettia will be threatened.
Precautions: the most suitable night temperature for poinsettia growth is 16-21°C, and the day temperature is 21-27°C. When the temperature is below 16°C, growth and development are slow, and at 13°C growth stops. The most suitable temperature for flower bud differentiation is 16-21°C; above 21°C the development speed slows down. In the later growth stage, maintaining the temperature at 15-17°C is beneficial for bract development and color change. Treating with a night temperature of 25°C can delay flower bud differentiation.
5. Fertilizing, once every 7-10 days
Poinsettia likes fertilizer; during the growth period, fertilize once every 7-10 days, and a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer can be used. From August onward until flowering, apply a nitrogen-phosphorus liquid fertilizer once every 7-10 days, and increase phosphorus fertilizer when flowering is near, which can ensure the flowers are large and bright.
Precautions: each fertilizing must not be too concentrated, and raw fertilizer must not be applied; on the morning of the second day after fertilizing, water once to dilute it. During the low-light period in winter, generally from early November until before sale, both the frequency and concentration of fertilizing should be halved.
6. Proper pruning
Proper pruning is also very important in the cultivation methods for poinsettia. If you want a good pot of poinsettia, you must prune and shape it. You can begin shaping and bending when the branches grow to 20 to 30 cm, and the purpose of doing this is to make the plant short and compact, with neat flower heads, evenly distributed, and improved ornamental value.
2. Precautions for growing poinsettia
Although there are already quite a few precautions in the poinsettia cultivation methods above, if you want to grow it well there are still many places that flower enthusiasts need to pay attention to. Overall, the precautions for growing poinsettia also include the following 3 points:
1. Watering: the key to growing poinsettia lies in watering. As long as the weather does not suddenly turn severe, the outdoor environment can fully meet the growth needs of poinsettia. But improper watering will affect the plant's growth and development, so keep the pot soil moist but not dry.
2. Light: poinsettia is a light-loving flower; under strong light it grows robustly. Apart from needing shade and cooling in midsummer, in other seasons it should have sufficient light. Even in summer, shading can cause thin and elongated stems and enlarged leaves.
How to grow poinsettia, cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia
The flowers of poinsettia are especially bright red, making people very happy to see them. Many friends have long wanted to grow a pot, but do not know how to grow poinsettia. Today the editor will carefully introduce the cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia.
Habits of poinsettia for how to grow it
Poinsettia likes a warm, humid and ventilated environment, and is not tolerant of low temperatures. Too strong direct sunlight or insufficient light may both affect its growth and cause the above symptoms. During the growth period, do good maintenance work such as fertilizing management and pinching to set the head.
Cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia
1. Propagation: mainly by cuttings; it is best to choose older one-year-old branches between February and March, and cut 8-12 cm as cuttings. To avoid the toxic milky sap from flowing out, immediately soak them in clean water, and after drying insert them into well-drained soil or coarse sand, leaving 2-3 tender buds above the soil surface, and keep them moist and shaded.
2. Soil: poinsettia likes loose, well-drained soil; generally use 3 parts vegetable garden soil, 3 parts humus soil, 3 parts leaf mold, 1 part decomposed cake fertilizer, plus a small amount of cinder mixed together
3. Temperature and light: every year in late September it should be moved indoors for growing; in winter the temperature should be kept at 15-20°C. After mid-December, when it enters the flowering stage, attention should be paid to ventilation. Poinsettia likes light and is a short-day plant; it should be given sufficient light all year round, with 8 to 9 hours per day being best.
4. Fertilizing: poinsettia likes fertile sandy soil. It is now autumn, and 0.3% compound fertilizer can be used, applied once a week for 3 to 4 times in a row, to promote bract color change and flower bud differentiation.
5. Watering: it should be flexibly controlled according to the weather, the pot soil and the plant's growth condition. Generally, watering should keep the pot soil moist without water accumulation, but after flowering, watering should be reduced.
6. Pruning: mainly prune some old roots, diseased and weak branches; the usual pruning times are late June and mid-August. During cultivation, heavy fertilizing and heavy watering should be controlled, especially before the plant's shape is set in autumn. When the branches grow to 20 to 30 cm, begin shaping and bending, with the purpose of making the plant short and compact, with neat flower heads, evenly distributed, and improved ornamental value.
The above are the cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia. Now everyone knows how to grow poinsettia, right? Then take action quickly!
How to grow poinsettia? Cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia
Image: poinsettia
[Common questions] How to grow poinsettia? Cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia
[Expert answer]
1. Preparation of growing soil
Poinsettia likes loose, well-drained soil; generally use 3 parts vegetable garden soil, 3 parts humus soil, 3 parts leaf mold, 1 part decomposed cake fertilizer, plus a small amount of cinder mixed together.
2. Temperature
Poinsettia likes warmth and fears cold. Move it indoors in mid-to-late September each year and strengthen ventilation so the plant gradually adapts to the indoor environment. In winter the room temperature should be kept at 15°C to 20°C. This is exactly the period of bract color change and flower bud differentiation; if the room temperature is below 15°C, the flowers and leaves will develop poorly. After mid-December, when it enters the flowering stage, ventilation should be gradually increased.
3. Light
Poinsettia likes sufficient light and is strongly phototropic; it is a short-day plant. It should receive sufficient light all year round, and this is even more important during bract color change, flower bud differentiation and flowering. If light is insufficient, branches tend to grow leggy and are prone to diseases, and the flower color is dull; if placed in a dark place for a long time, it will not bloom and will lose its leaves in winter. To make it bloom earlier or later, light can be controlled; generally, giving 8 to 9 hours of light per day allows it to bloom in 40 days.
4. Fertilizing
Poinsettia likes fertile sandy soil. In addition to adding organic fertilizer and horse hoof slices as base fertilizer when potting and repotting, during the growth and flowering season apply a sesame paste residue liquid fertilizer fully decomposed and diluted 5 times once every 10 to 15 days. After autumn begins, 0.3% compound chemical fertilizer can also be used, applied once a week for 3 to 4 times in a row, to promote bract color change and flower bud differentiation.
5. Watering
It should be flexibly controlled according to the weather, the pot soil and the plant's growth condition. Generally, watering should keep the pot soil moist without water accumulation, but after flowering, watering should be reduced.
6. Pruning
Mainly prune some old roots, diseased and weak branches; the usual pruning times are late June and mid-August. During cultivation, heavy fertilizing and heavy watering should be controlled, especially before the plant's shape is set in autumn. When the branches grow to 20 to 30 cm, begin shaping and bending, with the purpose of making the plant short and compact, with neat flower heads, evenly distributed, and improved ornamental value.
7. Pest and disease control
The most common is whitefly, which can be controlled by spraying insecticide or drenching the roots. Taking advantage of the phototaxis of whitefly, placing yellow sticky insect boards coated with machine oil in the greenhouse can trap and kill them. Also note that whitefly generally sucks sap on the underside of young leaves, and light-colored leaves are more likely to attract damage from whitefly.
[Editor's comments] Poinsettia has many uses; it can be made into food and wine and can also be used medicinally, but it is somewhat toxic, and the amount used needs attention. The above is "Cultivation methods and precautions for poinsettia" compiled for you by the First Agricultural Economics editor. We hope it is helpful to you. For more related materials, please follow the relevant columns and articles of First Agricultural Economics. Thank you for your attention and support!