Overwintering and oversummer poinsettias: instructions

The poinsettia, also known as the Christmas star, Advent star or poinsettia, is only commercially available during the Advent season. Their season lasts a full eight weeks. During this time, the red or other colored bracts show their full splendor. They are not the actual flowers, because they are rather inconspicuous and are located in the heart of the bracts. With the purchase of the poinsettia, the course is set for a successful winter and subsequent summer.

So you should only choose specimens that have been stored warm and transport them home protected from the cold. The transport routes should be as short as possible. If the plants suffer a cold shock due to the winter temperatures, they shed their leaves after a few days. Plants whose substrate appears dry or too wet are best left standing, as are those with yellow leaves. Once the poinsettia has finally arrived at home undamaged, it is a matter of finding the optimal location.

Year-round site conditions

• Euphorbia pulcherrima needs a bright and warm location all year round
• Also outdoors in spring and summer
• In a sheltered, draught-free and bright place
• A sunny location is also suitable outdoors
• Avoid direct sunlight, especially in the midday hours
• Sun less intense in winter
• A location on the south window is also possible during the winter for the poinsettia
• Daylight and artificial light together, usually sufficient
• Absolutely avoid drafts, for example when airing
• In drafty places, leaf loss threatens relatively quickly
• Also applies to locations directly above a heater

Overwinter poinsettia correctly

In the case of the poinsettia, one cannot really speak of overwintering as is known from other plants. It’s high season in winter. From around November to February, it shows both its colorful bracts and flowers. After flowering, the poinsettia begins to shed the colored bracts. He enters a short period of rest. Accordingly, the watering quantities should be reduced around the end of February to April. The plant can now be a little cooler, with temperatures between 15 and 17 degrees. If it really oversummers in the coming months, it can present its typical and very decorative bracts again just in time for the next Christmas.

Summertime guide

Due to the lack of winter hardiness, the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is kept as a houseplant in our latitudes and is often disposed of immediately after the festival or flowering. In most cases, however, this is not necessary, because storing a poinsettia over the summer can be worthwhile. A bright place in the living room at home is just as suitable for this as in the garden, on the balcony or on the terrace.

• First prepare Euphorbia pulcherrima for summering
• To do this, cut off all colored bracts including the flowers during the resting phase
• Also shorten the Christmas star
• Depending on the size, cut back to a third or 15-20 cm
• Repot into fresh soil after the four to six week dormant period
• Then continue cultivating in a brighter and warmer place
• If it’s warm enough outside, put it outside for the summer
• Avoid direct sun at first
• Slowly get used to the changed conditions
• Water a little more and fertilize regularly from May to September

Darken from mid-September

In order for the poinsettia to be able to develop its conspicuous bracts later, a short phase of darkening must follow at the end of summer, around mid-September.

• Poinsettia is a so-called short-day plant
• Therefore requires a short dark phase
• Without it, bracts cannot take on their typical coloring
• Darkening phase lasts at least eight weeks
• Keep Euphorbia pulcherrima in the dark for at least twelve hours every day from mid-September
• Provide twelve hours each with a translucent cover
• For example a paper bag, a cardboard box or black foil

After this eight-week short-day phase, flowering is usually complete. Finally the new red, salmon pink, yellow or creamy white bracts appear and the plant can be lightened again.

Care in summer and in winter

pour

Basically, this plant requires little care. This is usually limited to watering, fertilizing and occasional pruning. Watering is moderate in both summer and winter. The top layer of soil should always feel dry before each watering. The poinsettia does not tolerate waterlogging. He reacts to this by shedding the leaves. If too much has been poured, this is usually reflected in yellowing of the leaves.

It is best to water the poinsettia in an immersion bath instead of watering it regularly. You take the almost dry bale with the pot and immerse it in a room-warm water bath for a few minutes. Then let the water drain well and put it back in the planter or on a coaster.

Fertilize

• When fertilizing Euphorbia pulcherrima, less is more
• Do not fertilize freshly planted or repotted specimens at first
• If kept for only one year, no additional fertilization is usually required
• A perennial cultivation requires repeated fertilization
• During the main growth phase from spring to September, every one to two weeks
• Preferably with a not too high dose, nitrogen-rich complete nutrient fertilizer
• The main growth phase can be recognized by the formation of new shoots and leaves
• Provide nutrients every two weeks in winter
• For example, with a low-dose, phosphorus-containing flowering fertilizer
• No further fertilization necessary during flowering

indoor and outdoor temperature

The ideal average room temperature for the poinsettia is between 20 and 22 degrees. He loves consistently high temperatures all year round. They should not fall below 15 degrees and should not rise above 26 degrees, even for a short time. These plants do not tolerate frost at all, they would die immediately. As a rule, temperatures below five degrees are deadly for Euphorbia pulcherrima. As a result, if it has been summered outdoors, it should be brought back indoors in good time. Ideally, as soon as the night temperatures drop below ten degrees.

Poinsettias poisonous to children and pets

As beautiful as these plants are, they are poisonous to humans, especially young children and pets. The main danger is the white milky sap, because the poinsettia belongs to the so-called spurge family. If a child is poisoned, this can manifest itself in skin irritation, nausea or abdominal pain. As a first aid measure, they are given plenty to drink and, if larger amounts are consumed, charcoal tablets. In any case, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Care should also be taken with pets such as dogs, cats, birds and rodents. This spurge is highly toxic to them . Symptoms of related poisoning include vomiting, drooling, tremors, and muscle spasms. As the disease progresses, diarrhea and kidney failure may occur. At the first sign of poisoning, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.