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Poinsettia Love - 4/17/2007 12:31:54 PM   
LuckyAlbatross


Posts: 19224
Joined: 10/25/2005
Status: offline 		I received a poinsettia at work in December last year.

I've never owned one before.  It was about a foot tall with 6 stems in about an 8 in diameter pot.

I've kept it mainly on top of a bookshelf, so it never gets any direct sunlight, but it's generally bright in the room when the sun is out.

It's maintained red leaves since I got it, occasionally dropping some, and I've cut off the ones that were dying to prune occasionally.  I also just cut off about two inches on two of the stems so they are pretty bare now.

Overall the stems have grown about an inch since December.  I've added some plant food and keep it watered regularly.

Since it's the first plant I've ever really owned and cared for, I really want to keep it going.  Any advice on whether I'm doing the right thing and how to keep it thriving through this year and in the future? 

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RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/17/2007 12:52:17 PM   
mixielicous


Posts: 1283
Joined: 4/6/2006
From: Boston area, Massachusetts
Status: offline 		as a gardener, i can tell you that you are on the right track! dont feed it too much, only what the box advises - if that - many will over reccomend for sales. you may want to transplant it if you havent yet, and sounds like its getting enough sun [edges of the leaf will "burn" if its not getting enough sun"] usually the darker green = more chlorophyll abundance = less need for direct light. edit to add[unless it is flowering heavily then it will need more light]

i try and feed after transplants or heavy pruning rather than recommended times

< Message edited by mixielicous -- 4/17/2007 12:58:00 PM >

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RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/17/2007 12:53:18 PM   
mixielicous


Posts: 1283
Joined: 4/6/2006
From: Boston area, Massachusetts
Status: offline 		also, over watering is very common way to kill a house plant. wait till the soil is dry to touch to water it!

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RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/17/2007 12:56:00 PM   
mixielicous


Posts: 1283
Joined: 4/6/2006
From: Boston area, Massachusetts
Status: offline 		AND it being poisonous is an old wives tale

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RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/17/2007 1:44:33 PM   
farglebargle


Posts: 10715
Joined: 6/15/2005
From: Albany, NY
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross

I received a poinsettia at work in December last year.

I've never owned one before. It was about a foot tall with 6 stems in about an 8 in diameter pot.

I've kept it mainly on top of a bookshelf, so it never gets any direct sunlight, but it's generally bright in the room when the sun is out.

It's maintained red leaves since I got it, occasionally dropping some, and I've cut off the ones that were dying to prune occasionally. I also just cut off about two inches on two of the stems so they are pretty bare now.

Overall the stems have grown about an inch since December. I've added some plant food and keep it watered regularly.

Since it's the first plant I've ever really owned and cared for, I really want to keep it going. Any advice on whether I'm doing the right thing and how to keep it thriving through this year and in the future?


Call your local Grow Shop, and swing by for a visit. They'll help you out.

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RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/17/2007 5:23:20 PM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		They are lovely plants, LA.  Mixie gave you some good gardening advice. 
Here is a link for the interesting history about the plant -
 

  • " The Aztecs called poinsettias "Cuetlaxochitl." During the 14th - 16th century the sap was used to control fevers and the bracts (modified leaves) were used to make a reddish dye.

  • Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings, would have poinsettias brought into what now is Mexico City by caravans because poinsettias could not be grown in the high altitude. "
     
    http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia/history.html
     

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    RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/17/2007 11:28:35 PM   
    soultoshare


    Posts: 519
    Joined: 8/24/2006
    Status: offline     		actually, in order to get it to bloom next december, you might want to try what my mom used to do....she'd cut the stems off practically at dirt level, and stick 'em down in the basement where it was dark and cool.  She'd pull them out in the fall and let them get growing, and they'd always bloom for christmas, and actually, well into January.  Course, my mom's green thumb goes up to her damn elbow, me, as long as i ignore the things, they grow beautifully!

    The warning about them being poisonus is mainly for animals....but the cats seem to know it, cuz they won't chew on them.  They actually prefer the ivy! 

    m

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    RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/18/2007 2:49:52 AM   
    m0rgan


    Posts: 403
    Joined: 3/19/2007
    Status: offline     		mixielicious is spot on with the overwatering advice, all poinsettias are killed by too much water, as are all geraniums/pelargoniums! if you have it in a tray of some kind to stop water getting on the surface it is stood on, you are mistreating it! put it on a coaster that can not hold water, the roots need to be drier than many other plants and misting the leaves once a week is almost certainly all the water it likes

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    RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/18/2007 7:28:53 AM   
    mixielicous


    Posts: 1283
    Joined: 4/6/2006
    From: Boston area, Massachusetts
    Status: offline
    quote:

    ORIGINAL: soultoshare

    actually, in order to get it to bloom next december, you might want to try what my mom used to do....she'd cut the stems off practically at dirt level, and stick 'em down in the basement where it was dark and cool. She'd pull them out in the fall and let them get growing, and they'd always bloom for christmas, and actually, well into January. Course, my mom's green thumb goes up to her damn elbow, me, as long as i ignore the things, they grow beautifully!

    The warning about them being poisonus is mainly for animals....but the cats seem to know it, cuz they won't chew on them. They actually prefer the ivy!

    m

    IMO, the work put into making such a cheap house plant dormant, is not a wise investment. it takes months, and strict light regulation when they re emerge b/c they are a "short day" plant and should not stay in light all day. i think it would be easier to keep it for the foliage/bracts as she has, and if she really wants a new one with flowers, theres always next year! :)

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    RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/18/2007 7:41:36 AM   
    LuckyAlbatross


    Posts: 19224
    Joined: 10/25/2005
    Status: offline     		Thanks for the advice guys.  I'd heard of cutting it way back- but it's continued to 'flower' and keep blooming red leaves on the top so I wonder if I should just let it be?

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    RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/18/2007 7:53:19 AM   
    ShiftedJewel


    Posts: 2492
    Joined: 12/2/2004
    Status: offline     		LA, being a poinsetta killer from way back I'll share what I've learned from twicehappy (she can grow anything!!) When it gets nice and warm outside put them in the sunshine, they'll naturally start to die back, they are supposed to. Then cut them way back and put them in your closet, water occasionally very lightly then come fall bring them back out and they will start growing again. They go by the length of sunlight in a day, they are winter blooming plants. I'm pretty sure I got it all correct but will ask twicehappy to read this post and correct me if I'm wrong. Ours aren't dying back yet either so she'll be putting them outside soon.
     
    And the "don'ts"? Don't let me touch it and don't sing "Persy the puny poinsetta" to it.
     
    Jewel



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    RE: Poinsettia Love - 4/18/2007 8:16:04 AM   
    FatDomDaddy


    Posts: 3183
    Joined: 1/31/2004
    Status: offline
    quote:

    ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross

    Thanks for the advice guys.  I'd heard of cutting it way back- but it's continued to 'flower' and keep blooming red leaves on the top so I wonder if I should just let it be?


    No...

    This by May you should cut ot way back and put it someplace dark. Bring it back up in late September oe early October.

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