No, not Mushroom People or Tomato People. I mean people who are plant experts, i.e., master gardener types.
How does one keep a poinsettia plant alive?
For the 20th straight year, we will try to keep this plant type alive at our house. Actually, two plants this year. I received one as a gift, and one is from our church. And I fear that without some intervention, our death streak will continue.
Help!
Keep it warm. Check for soil moisture: They emit a high volume of water. However, don't keep it in a swamp. Every time the top soil gets dry and crumbly, add a bit of water. I also sometimes use ice; depending upon plant size, 3-6 full-sized cubes on the soil (not the stems!) each day may suffice.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pastor.
ReplyDeleteNote to self- send all plant related questions to Ask The Pastor.
First off, Don't use ice. It will shock the plant and the roots will go into dormancy and not be able to take the water up.
ReplyDeleteKeep it in HIGH LIGHT and away from any drafts (warm or cold).
Poinsettias don't require a ton of water. To much water and you will end up with root rot. We only water ours every other to every 3 days with about 8-10 oz of water. (You need to punch some holes in the bottom of the decorative foil and then purchase a small plant dish from your local hardware store. Home Depot has perfect ones of all sizes. This allows the excess water to get away from the roots and prevent root rot.)
Follow those simple steps and you'll be able to keep your poinsettia alive all year long, even until next Christmas.
-Head Grower
Olson's Greenhouse
Salem, Utah
(We grow over 300,000 poinsettias every year so I think you can trust my thoughts)