Poinsettias and amaryllis and paperwhites, oh my. These holiday beauties add grace to our homes but need proper care to keep up their show.
Caring for Poinsettias
Poinsettias are the divas of holiday decor. Their colorful bracts – modified leaves that change color – deliver an instant “wow” factor. But like all divas, they can be challenging.
They like bright, not direct, light and prefer daytime temps between 60 and 70 degrees and nighttime temps in the mid-fifties. They hate drafts, so keep them away from heat vents, fireplaces, doors, and windows.
Water them only when the soil is dry. Let the water run through the bottom of the pot. Good drainage is crucial.
Foil wraps are pretty but problematic. So poke a hole in the foil for drainage and set your poinsettias on a pretty plate or tray. A well-kept poinsettia will bloom for six to eight weeks.
I toss my poinsettias at the end of the season (cue the gasps), but determined, thrifty, or thrill-seeking gardeners keep them going from year to year. Here’s how it’s done.
Cut back your poinsettias in early May to 3 inches and repot them into a soilless potting mix.
Move them outdoors after all danger of frost has passed, usually mid-May. Start them out in the shade and introduce more sun over several weeks. When the new growth is 2 inches tall, start fertilizing every month.
Pinch or prune out the tips of branches when the new growth reaches 4 inches and again after the new growth reaches 2 or 3 inches. Stop pinching in early September.
Bring your poinsettias inside in late September before the nighttime temperatures dip below 60 degrees. Cut back on fertilizer and put the plants in bright light.
Now comes the fun part.
Poinsettias need a period of darkness since shorter days trigger their “flowering.” So, put yours in a dark closet or box for at least 14 hours every day until Thanksgiving. 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. works well.
Next, bring your poinsettias back into full-time light and get ready to enjoy another show.
Caring for Paperwhites
Another holiday favorite, paperwhites deliver a sweet perfume from dozens of white shooting star-like blooms for a month or two.
If you received paperwhite bulbs as a gift, choose a shallow pot for forcing them into bloom. Put an inch of sterile potting mix or gravel in the pot. They grow well in both.
Tuck the bulbs in tight, pointed ends up. Add soil or gravel until half the bulbs are covered. Water thoroughly and often to keep the bulbs moist.
Put them in a cool, well-lit room until the shoots are an inch tall. Then move them to a warmer spot. If their stems topple, support them with thin stakes or chopsticks tied with raffia or ribbon.
Paperwhites bloom only once, so toss the bulbs after you’ve enjoyed their show. Sorry, no encores.
Amaryllis
Amaryllis is another holiday bulb that delivers drama. For tips on planting and care, snag our fact sheet.
Enjoy all your holiday plants and time spent with friends and family in this most special time of year.
By Annette Cormany, Principal Agent Associate and Master Gardener Coordinator, Washington County, University of Maryland Extension.
This article was previously published by Herald-Mail Media. Read more by Annette.