First of all, don’t be too sure that you have a dying poinsettia plant on your hands. Pests, diseases and environmental conditions can all contribute to a plant that looks like it’s on its last legs. Take a close look at your poinsettia to determine what’s causing the problems of yellow leaves that may be wilting and falling off or soft and squishy stems. This guide discusses how to fix many of these issues and revive your ‘dying’ poinsettia plant…
Just a few problems are likely to be the cause of your poinsettia leaves turning yellow and wilting. If they have been exposed to cold temperatures even for a few minutes while taking them from the store to the car. However, they usually just start to drop their leaves. So if there yellow and wilting, there is probably another cause. Over- and under-watering is a common cause Over-and under-watering can directly result in poinsettia leaves turning yellow and wilting. With…
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…
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….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…