Poinsettia Survival Guide
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Poinsettias are a Christmas staple, yet they have a reputation of being very had to keep alive and healthy. Believe it or not, taking care of them is not as difficult as it is sometimes made out to be, and so long as you follow a few simple things, your beautiful poinsettias will last well after the 25th. Read on to find out what they are! When it comes to taking care of poinsettias, one thing that you always need to keep in mind is that these plants are desert plants. Yes, despite them being virtually everywhere in the Northeast, these flowers originate from the Southwest/Mexico. That being said, you need to approach these flowers a whole lot differently than your usual potted plants. So, how do you make these flowers last? The key to their survival and flourish is watering. Over-watering is the easiest (and most common way) of killing of your poinsettias, so remember this golden rule with them: less is more. Since they are desert flowers, they have adapted to getting by with a lot less—only water when the soil feels dry to the touch, and only water to the point where the soil only feels slightly wet. However, be sure to drain any water that pools at the bottom after 10 minutes. Continuing this line of thinking, make sure that you keep them in a warm environment, preferably somewhere around 70 degrees. In addition, you want to place your poinsettias in a spot where there is plenty of natural light but away from direct sunlight, as the sun will expedite the wilting process. Furthermore, keep them away from any drafts or vents, since blasts of cold or warm air is detrimental to their health. Give them some flower food or houseplant fertilizer once a week, and you should be good to go. So long as you keep up on your poinsettias, and don’t overthink it (especially with the watering), your poinsettias will look beautiful throughout the weekend, and well into the New Year. And always remember, if you need any last minute flowers or centerpieces for your Christmas dinner, feel free to stop on in!