After Christmas, the poinsettias usually leave the home. But that is not necessary at all, because with the right care over the summer, Christmas stars can bloom more often.
the Christmas star (Euphorbia pulcherrima) usually only lines the window sills at home during the Advent season - after that it goes in the trash. Because what many do not seem to know: the poinsettia is a perennial spurge (Euphorbiaceae). Even in our latitudes, the colorful Christmas messenger can easily live for several years. However, to ensure that it always blooms on time for Christmas, you have to take good care of it in summer. We give tips on care and show you how to get your poinsettia to bloom again.
Caring for poinsettias in summer
If the colorful poinsettia is to shine again in the following winter, it must first be successfully brought through the summer. After flowering, it can initially move out of sight to a slightly cooler and darker location. The water supply can also be reduced. In mid-May, when there is no longer any threat of frost, you can either plant the poinsettia outside or put it outside in a pot. Before this step, it is a good idea to cut back the faded shoots and repot them in fresh substrate and a slightly larger pot.
When new shoots sprout after pruning, fertilization should be resumed and the water requirement should also increase from now on. It is optimal to supply the poinsettia with nutrients in many small doses. There is one for this complete fertilizer such as ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer which can be administered once or twice a week with the irrigation. The growth of the poinsettia will not remain as nice and compact as with freshly bought specimens from the professional gardener. They use special growth regulators to regulate the length of the shoots and thus ensure a compact shape. However, you can counteract extreme length growth by watering sparingly. The moderate drought stress, which is not harmful to health, curbs the growth of the poinsettia. Nevertheless, there is a fine line between beneficial drought stress and lasting drought damage.
Caring for poinsettia after flowering and in summer:
- Move to a slightly cooler and darker spot after flowering; reduce watering
- April: Cut back faded shoots and repot in fresh substrate
- Mid-May: Poinsettia can move outside (pot or bed)
- Regular fertilization (once or twice a week) with a complete fertilizer during the main growing season (May - August)
- TIP: After pruning, the fresh shoots can also be used to propagate the poinsettia by cuttings
How is the poinsettia made to bloom again?
In order to get your poinsettia to bloom again, the flowering behavior of the spurge family must be known. The formation of the colored bracts and the actual flowers can be specifically controlled via the length of the day. The poinsettia is a so-called short-day plant. From a specific, critical day length of less than twelve hours, the poinsettia switches on the flowering, so to speak. Depending on how short the day is, it will take another eight to twelve weeks until the colored bracts of the poinsettia are fully formed. The shorter the day, the faster the colored bracts form.
In order for the star to show its best side in time for Christmas, the “day” must be made to last longer than twelve hours by the beginning of October. This is achieved by a so-called stray light - for which a normal light bulb is sufficient. From the beginning of October, the plant should only be exposed to light for a maximum of twelve hours a day. Then the poinsettia is to be darkened.
If it is on the windowsill, you can put a cardboard box over it, for example. In a greenhouse, things get more complicated: You can attach a black foil here, but it has to be removed every morning and completely reattached every evening. Light shining through even in small areas (e.g. from a street lamp) can disrupt and even prevent the flowering of the poinsettia induced by the "short day". It is easier to just go by the natural length of the day, even then the poinsettia will bloom. However, even then it must be meticulously protected from stray light.
Making the poinsettia bloom (again):
- The poinsettia is a short-day plant with a critical day length of 12 hours
- Day lengths under 12 hours induce the formation of flowers
- Depending on the length of the day, it takes 8 to 12 weeks from the first short day to flowering - the shorter the short day, the faster flowering usually occurs
- In the short-day phase, the poinsettia must be protected from any other disturbing light sources and placed in the dark
At Christmas time, not only the poinsettia can decorate your home. We present a number of Christmas plants to spread the spirit of Advent.
