How To Keep Poinsettias Alive

How To Keep Poinsettias Alive ?

If you want to buy poinsettia for the holiday season, then you should know how to keep poinsettias alive. Imagine how devastated you would feel it the plant wilted before Christmas Day, or the leaves fell off. The good news is that it is easy to keep poinsettias alive. All you need to do is select a healthy plant at the nursery and then care for it properly after bringing it home.

Here are some tips on how to keep poinsettias alive:

When selecting poinsettias in a nursery, stay away from plants that have bare lower stems, soaked soil or wilting leaves. These are signs that the plants are suffering from root rot. Generally, the pot will be wrapped in foil and this can prevent you from observing the plant completely. Hence, before purchasing poinsettias, it is advisable to remove the foil and examine the plants thoroughly. Also, remember, if the plant is healthy, the nursery will not wrap it in foil. (See Reference 1)

Select plants that have dark green foliage. This color should extend to all the stems of the plant. Also, if the plants have flowers, which are actually bracts, are completely colored. The real flowers of the poinsettia will be located at the base of the bracts. These real flowers should be greenish in color or red-tipped. Also, do not purchase plants where the flowers have pollen. (See Refere

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Before taking poinsettias out of the nursery, ensure that you wrap the plants in plastic to prevent them from getting exposed to low temperatures outdoors. Also, park your vehicle close to the nursery to prevent the duration of exposure. Poinsettias grow in tropical temperatures and cannot withstand cold, snow, wind or rain. Take the plants straight home and place them in a container after removing the foil and wrapping. Ensure that the plant faces a south window or west window. This will ensure that the plant gets 6 hours of sunlight everyday. Do not let the plant come in contact with the window pane as the cold pane will cause damage to the bracts and leaves. (See Reference 1)

If you want your poinsettias to live longer, then maintain the indoor temperatures at 60 degrees during the night and around 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. (See Reference 1)

Do not over water the plant. The soil should be slightly dry and water the plant only when the soil is completely dry. Do not let the plant sit in water as it will cause root rot. (See Reference 1)

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