Tuesday, December 24, 2019

7 Ways to Care for Poinsettia Flowers and Other Christmas Plants


Come Christmastime, we decorate our houses for some holiday cheer. And in addition to those decorations, we also buy some greenery; more specifically, pine trees and poinsettias.

Not only are poinsettias beautifully red in color, but they also have a historical background. Supposedly, an old Mexican legend says that a girl called Pepita didn't have any gifts to give baby Jesus, so she left a bouquet of weeds. Suddenly, they transformed into big red flowers, which is known today as the poinsettia.

Now that you know a bit about the history of poinsettia flowers, it's a must-have for your home. But what if you don't know the first thing about looking after them?

Here are seven ways to care for your poinsettia flowers and other Christmas plants this holiday season.

1. Keep Your House Warm

The poinsettia flower may be one that's associated with winter, but the truth is, it doesn't like the cold. Considering it's native to tropical areas in Central America, it's used to high temperatures instead of low.

Because of this, you need to ensure you keep them in temperatures above 40 degrees. If they're indoor poinsettias, then that shouldn't a problem.

However, if you keep your poinsettia flowers outdoors, you may want to bring them inside if the temperatures drop. Otherwise, they may die from the cold.

2. Don't Over water Your Flowers

As is the case with many flowers, if you over water them, they'll become waterlogged. This can result in many problems, such as root rot. If this happens, your poinsettias can quickly die.

Only water your flowers when the soil is dry to the touch. Make sure there's proper drainage; if the pot came with foil, you might have to remove it and/or poke some holes on the bottom so the roots don't just sit in old water.

To tell if you're watering your poinsettias right, take a look at the leaves. If the leaves are turning yellow and/or they're falling off, then you're not giving the plant the right amount of water.

3. Give It Plenty of Sunlight

Again, this is a tropical flower, so it flourishes when it gets plenty of sunlight. You might be tempted to put your poinsettias on the mantelpiece as a beautiful decoration, but if it doesn't get any sunlight, your flowers will wilt.

If you want to decorate your house and must have your flowers on the mantelpiece, consider leaving it in the windowsill with plenty of UV rays until the last minute. Right before your guests arrive, you can pull it from the windowsill and place it wherever you want.

Keep in mind that while poinsettias will do fine near radiators, it won't fare so well with droughts. This means keep it away from open spaces, such as hallways, doorways, or windows.

4. Decorate With Christmas Cacti

If you want a plant that's gorgeous with barely any effort on your part, then consider getting some Christmas cacti. Since they're from the desert, they're genetically conditioned to withstand harsh conditions. This means you barely have to do any plant care!

All you have to do is put it somewhere with plenty of sunshine and water it whenever the soil is dry. Just like with the poinsettia, you want to be careful not to over water it.

5. Some Christmas Tree Tips

Surely if you have poinsettias, you'll have a Christmas tree as well! Perhaps this is the first time you're purchasing one as an adult, and you have no clue how to take care of it!

When you take it home, make sure you first saw off around 1/4th of an inch from the trunk. You'll need a tree stand that allows you to keep it watered. Make sure to keep the dish filled, as the tree will need lots of water to stay perky.

If you have a potted Christmas tree, you'll need to give it plenty of water as well. Make sure you check up on it often so the soil doesn't get too dry.

6. Go With Rosemary Instead

Not a fan of Christmas trees for whatever reason? Then you might want to get a small rosemary plant instead!

This will reflect the festivities of the holiday season, all without you having to get an actual pine tree. Not only will it smell good, but you can also use it for cooking!

Rosemary plants are very easy to care for. It needs lots of sunlight and an even amount of moisture in its soil.

Although it looks similar to a pine tree, it actually needs a lot more water than pines do. Most people underwater instead of over water, so you need to stay on top of giving it plenty of water.

7. Keep Your Poinsettias Alive Until Next Year

Usually, when people see the flowers die off on a plant, they just toss it. But did you know you can keep your poinsettia plants alive until the next holiday season?

Keep your plant around after Christmas, and prune it in the spring, around April. Keep it in low temperatures around 55 degrees, repot it in May, and keep it in a cool place for the rest of the year. Give it some fertilizer every two weeks.

In November, bring your plant out and give it 12 hours of sunlight, 12 hours of darkness. After doing this for a bit, it'll start growing those beautiful flowers again!

Keep Your Poinsettia Flowers and Other Christmas Plants Lively This Holiday Season

Scattering some poinsettia flowers and other Christmas plants in your home this holiday season can give it a warm and inviting atmosphere, especially if you're planning on having some guests over.
By following our tips for plant care, you can ensure your greenery stays nice and perky during this cold winter weeks. They're sure to put you and your guests in a cheerful mood!

Want to order some Christmas arrangements for your home? Then take a look at our selection now! We have same-day hand delivery available.

1 comment:

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