Poinsettia, if you place it here it blooms better: the perfect place
The Christmas Star is the symbol of these beloved holidays: place it here so that it blooms better and healthier.
Purchased at Christmas most of the time it has a short life, but if some precautions are followed we can see that it lasts much longer. Let’s discover together what they are.
Poinsettia: a plant loved all year round
Florists are full of them, large red bushes appear in greenhouses. Poinsettias are like swallows in spring, they warn us that that extraordinary time of year has arrived. The streets will become increasingly hectic and the stores will become more crowded.
Returning with a beautiful vase with the Christmas Star is pleasant, it reestablishes contact with a nature that refreshes the soul. The only worry most of the time, even those with green thumbs, see how they lose their red and green leaves one by one , leaving only the bare stem…
The fact that this plant comes from Mexico, where it flowers wild in the highlands of Central America, should make us understand that it must be treated with some caution, since it is no longer found in its natural habitat.
That it is prolific in the nursery is already a sign, so no dry air , the kind that we also have to keep at bay at this time of year, with the heating on. It is best to place it in a cool place.
In a place where the temperature remains constant around 20°C, with a good degree of humidity, the Poinsettia pulcherrima or Christmas Star grows strongly.
Where to place the Christmas Star?
This plant, like the others, should not lack sunlight, and precisely because it is the queen of the holidays, it deserves a place of honor.
The brightest part of our living room placed in front of a window will be fine, as long as it is not open to cold air currents.
In addition to light and temperature, a fundamental element for the plain to grow healthy and lush is irrigation. The ideal would be to spray them periodically but with lime-free water , this way you will avoid staining the leaves.
Every two or three days it is better to check the soil to know the degree of humidity inside the pot, which must respect the dimensions of the plant. Also be careful that there is not too little soil left in relation to its size, because it will tend to dry out quickly and require more frequent watering.
It is better not to place the poinsettia in a transit location, the leaves and bushes break easily as they lack flexibility.
Once the peak holiday period has passed, we can put the star in a more suitable position so that it lasts over time. A cool place like the stairs, where there is no heating, but still very bright.
In any case, the temperature should never drop below 15°C . In spring we can place it on the balcony or veranda.
While waiting for new active growth, it will be enough to water it once a week, while the branches will be shortened by half in spring, when the flowers are no longer present. Good care involves taking the plant outdoors in summer, fertilizing it with a fertilizer for flowering plants that contains potassium and phosphorus.
When part of the summer has passed, you can transplant into a larger container with peat. Once the summer is over, in October, you can let her into the apartment again.