Poinsettia is a potted flower suitable for winter cultivation

Poinsettia, also known as the Christmas flower. It is a variegated foliage plant native to Central Africa. Its flowers are small and inconspicuous, but its top leaves turn a dazzling bright red when winter comes, with a dignified and beautiful form.

Poinsettia likes light and is fond of fertilizer. It is suited to a warm and humid environment and loose, fertile soil with good aeration. When light is insufficient, the bracts often fail to turn red, and even if they do turn red, the color is pale. Therefore, it should be placed in a sunny spot indoors to receive plenty of sunlight. To make the bracts a vivid, pure red, some fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus can be added.

Poinsettia grows vigorously. To maintain a suitable plant height and a graceful form, pruning and bending should be carried out in summer. That is, as the branches grow, bend and tie them alternately left and right to fix them, so that the branches and leaves are evenly distributed. Before bending, watering should be paused to avoid breaking the branches. Stop tying half a month before flowering.

Poinsettia is intolerant of waterlogging and afraid of cold. The potting soil must not become waterlogged, and the amount of watering should be moderate. In winter it should be moved indoors, and fertilizing should be stopped. Keep the temperature above 12 degrees to prevent the leaves from turning yellow, dropping, and wilting. Poinsettia can be propagated by cuttings, carried out in spring and summer. Cut a 7-10 cm section of branch, dip the cut end in some plant ash to prevent rot, and insert it into the soil; generally it will take root after twenty-five days.