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Poinsettia pests and diseases to watch out for
Poinsettia Pests and Diseases – Identifying & Controlling them

Poinsettia Pests and Diseases – Identifying & Controlling them

There aren’t any exclusive poinsettia pests and diseases to watch out for and on the most part, if grown indoors, there usually pest and disease free. These plants are, however, sometimes susceptible to the usual range of pests and diseases that plague any houseplant. As such, dealing with problems such as grey mould, scale insects, and thrips is quite straightforward. And none of these is fatal to your poinsettia. If you are having problems with your poinsettia, below are some…

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Can poinsettias be outside?
Can poinsettias be outside?

Can poinsettias be outside?

Poinsettias are tropical plants from Mexico and like to be in warm environments with a minimum temperature of 13˚C to 16˚C. If your climate has these warm winter temperatures, then you can put poinsettias outside all season long. However, if you plan on keeping your poinsettia going for longer than the holiday season, putting it outside in the spring is part of the program regardless of your climate. Read on for details about how to successfully have poinsettias be outside….

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Why is my poinsettia sticky? Scale insects, honeydew and the milky sap
Why is my poinsettia sticky? Let’s find out

Why is my poinsettia sticky? Let’s find out

The substance likely making your poinsettia sticky is called honeydew, and it’s bad news. Honeydew is a clear, sweet and sticky substance that’s excreted by some insects and aphids after they suck the sap out of your plant’s leaves. In itself, honeydew doesn’t do any damage, but the insects that create it and the insects and diseases it attracts certainly do. If your poinsettia is sticky, the most likely culprits are usually scale insects. However, you may also be referring…

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Are poinsettias poisonous to cats and dogs?
Are poinsettias poisonous to cats and dogs?

Are poinsettias poisonous to cats and dogs?

Poinsettias are not considered poisonous to cats and dogs, and humans as sometimes people make out. In fact, it’s not really a concern, but there are a few things worth knowing. That said, ingesting a large amount of the plant’s leaves and bracts can cause discomfort and irritation to cats and dogs, but it’s actually the milky sap that contains diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponin-like detergents. Read on to discover why you should instead be concerned about touching the milky…

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A common question I get asked is Why are my poinsettia leaves falling off? There can be many reasons, but the main one is cold related.
Why are my poinsettia leaves falling off?

Why are my poinsettia leaves falling off?

The most common causes of poinsettia leaves falling off are that the plant has been in a cold environment, that you’ve under- or over-watered it or that it’s been in a draughty place. And usually, it’s the lower leaves that go first. It’s also common that they have been stored incorrectly in garden centres or more likely in supermarkets in a drafty position and it’s only once you get it home that it starts to drop its leaves. You then…

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I show you how often to water poinsettias and when. It depends on a few factors and what stages the plant is in.
How often do you water poinsettias?

How often do you water poinsettias?

The question is not so much “how often do you water poinsettias” but “how do you know when a poinsettia needs watering?” Here’s what you need to know. Growing condition preferences Poinsettias like to be in bright but not direct daylight, out of draughts and be out of standing water. This means that they don’t like standing in excess water. This creates a welcoming environment for root rot and other fungal diseases. A general rule for when to water your…

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Should you feed poinsettias? when and how to feed
Should you feed poinsettias?

Should you feed poinsettias?

Whether or not you need to feed poinsettias depends on if you’re planning on discarding the plant at the end of the holiday season or keeping it around longer. They do make good house plants over summer with their green foliage and will bloom again if cared for correctly. The short answer to if you should feed poinsettias is yes if you keep them after Christmas and no if you’re just keeping them over the festive period. Just for the…

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How to care for poinsettias - everything you need to know
How to care for poinsettias – everything you need to know

How to care for poinsettias – everything you need to know

Find out how to care for and grow poinsettias this Christmas in my Growing Guide Poinsettias are widely grown houseplants in the winter holiday season from December to January. Many people throw these plants away once their brilliant blooms have faded, but there’s no need to do so. This guide details how to care for poinsettias during their first life and then further on so it again produces colourful bracts (leaves) the next year. If I can give you one…

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n winter, plants can get damaged by frost so should you cut them back now or wait? It depends on a few factors
Frost damaged plants and Should you cut them back?

Frost damaged plants and Should you cut them back?

Early or late-season frosts can damage plants that are normally hardy in your environment, especially if they had lots of new soft growth because this is more vulnerable to frost. The short answer to the question of whether you should cut back any frost damaged plants is ‘Not unless the risk of frost has passed’. This is statement is vital to follow if frost is still being forecasted. Don’t worry just yet though. If you have hardy plants such as…

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Identifying Verticillium Wilt Fungus
Identifying Verticillium Wilt Disease and How to Control It

Identifying Verticillium Wilt Disease and How to Control It

What is Verticillium Wilt Fungus? Verticillium wilt fungus is not a common disease, and when it does occur, unfortunately, it’s untreatable and can be very damaging to your plant. It’s also a little difficult to identify correctly because symptoms such as yellowing and wilting leaves are also common symptoms of many other diseases too. However, there is a way to tell which I touch on in more detail below. This fungus spreads through the soil and enters the plant via…

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