Poinsettia response to phosphorus. 1999. Season of interest. Fill the new container with a sterile, soilless potting mix containing peat moss. 11(1):8-10. The poinsettia should have its holiday colors by Thanksgiving. Floral Notes. This article discusses basic fertilizer requirements and special nutritional needs of poinsettia. Keep your poinsettia in a bright, sunny spot where the room temperature is 65-70 degrees. Leaf analysis revealed no substantial difference in plant nutrition between subirrigated and top-watered plants. Poinsettia season will soon be upon us, so it is worthwhile to review the nutritional needs of poinsettias and the corresponding fertilizer practices that will maximize crop quality. Some common fertilizers used for poinsettias are 15-0-15, 15-16-17, 20-10-20, and EXCEL Cal-Mag 15-5-15. The poinsettia's colorful bracts wilt and fall off to signify the end of the bloom. An all-purpose house-plant fertilizer. However, because of the role of humidity in the movement of water and Ca in the plant,use of these fertilizers may not always prevent bract necrosis from showing up. Interveinal chlorosis and marginal necrosis occurs on the recently-mature leaves and middle-aged leaves. Many people plant poinsettias where there is a night/street light which lights the plant after sun down. Poinsettias also bloom in cream, lemon, peach, pink colors and with white and gold-splashed leaves. After the holidays are over, they can be used as landscape plants. Q. In addition to stimulating too much growth in height, excess P has been linked to bract necrosis (Whipker and Hammer, 1994) and to nutrient pollution of water. Poinsettias do best in full fall sun and the bracts (colored leaves below the flowers) obtain their deepest color in good light. Fertilizing poinsettias is a lot like wrapping a package; there are numerous ways to do the same thing that all get the job done. Simply so, what is the best fertilizer for poinsettias? Transplant the poinsettia at the end of June. Place your poinsettia in a sunny window. Poinsettia needs complete and un-interrupted darkness for 13 hours a day…. Weekly sprays should start when the bracts first show color and continue until the pollen shows. This program may also be supplemented with granular or slow release fertilizers added to the growing medium. Move the poinsettia outdoors in June. 2. The closet or box should be between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Wait until the poinsettia is actively growing and mix 1 tbsp. Poinsettias are flowering plants with bright red bracts (flowers). A water-soluble fertilizer is easiest to apply, but a dry fertilizer will also satisfy poinsettia fertilizer requirements. Today Ca deficiency is the most widely accepted nutritional explanation of bract necrosis. Keep the soil from getting soggy. Poinsettia Care After the Holidays. For example, I've been using 20-0-20 with superphosphate added to the growth medium for a couple of years with great results. had larger bracts than plants grown with lower rates, but were too tall. The best fertilizer for a poinsettia is a significant requirement for you to achieve bright colors through your winter holiday. Here, a legend held that a girl named Maria was too poor to be able to offer a gift for the holidays. Molybdenum deficiency. Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico and Central America. Calcium is most critical during bract expansion to avoid bract necrosis. What type of fertilizer is best for a poinsettia? Do not fertilize while the plant is blooming. Some common fertilizers used for poinsettias are 15-0-15, 15-16-17, 20-10-20, and EXCEL Cal-Mag 15-5-15. Choose a sunny spot that will not receive any artificial light at night. So adequate ventilation to reduce the relative humidity during bract development is very important. Poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant. Begin the routine of long nights/short days needed to initiate buds: 13 hours of uninterrupted darkness, 11 hours of bright sunshine each day. Never expose poinsettias to hot or cold drafts. 12(1):5-6. Connect with UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops & Floriculture Program: UMass Research and Education Center Farms, Conservation Assessment Prioritization System (CAPS), Extension Risk Management/Crop Insurance Education, North American Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative, Civil Rights and Non-Discrimination Information. Skip the fertilizer—for now You don’t have to fertilize your poinsettia to keep it looking bright over the holidays. University of Minnesota Extension: Care of Poinsettias, Ohio State University: Poinsettia Care in the Home, How to Make a Poinsettia's Leaves Turn Red. Regular fertilization should begin at planting because it helps the plants become established and encourages rapid development of branches after the pinch. ©2020 University of Massachusetts Amherst • Site Policies, Greenhouse Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual, New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide, Pesticide Information (Labels, MSDS, WPS), Pesticide Licensing (Certification, Exams, Workshops), Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing and Diagnostics, Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment. Soil tests should be made at several times during the season to monitor the nutrition of the plants. Interveinal chlorosis of the lower leaves on the branches of a pinched plant is the main symptom. Do not apply fertilizer. But other fertilizer types can also be used to grow good plants. J.R., Houston. Use scissors to cut the stems. Figure 1 represents the goals in each stage. Rate (ppm N) is only one factor because it interacts with frequency of application, volume applied, amount of leaching, and environment to affect plant response. Since poinsettias are long-term crops, the grower must supply all necessary nutrients for optimum plant growth. Know your plant. Poinsettias have four stages in which fertilization needs vary. Plants grown with 9 lbs./cu. Keep the poinsettia out of direct sunlight once the bracts have changed color. Make sure the temperature stays above 65 F. October: Poinsettias are short-day plants, meaning their bud set is affected by the length of daylight. Too much water can kill a poinsettia. Mg deficiency is most likely in November. Fertilizer needs of poinsettias also decrease, so it is best to reduce constant feed rates to 75-100 ppm nitrogen. An all-purpose house-plant fertilizer. She has also been profiled in the Florida Today newspaper and the Writer's Digest magazine. Floral Notes. In fact, sometimes it seems there are as many different ways to fertilize as there are growers! Remove the plant from its existing pot, shake the soil from its roots and plant it in the new pot. Start the flowering process beginning October 1. Poinsettias contribute over $250 million to the U.S. economy at the retail level. Subirrigation vs. overhead watering for poinsettia. A spreader-sticker compatible with poinsettias should be added to the solution. Ventilation is important, but keep the plant away from drafts. This might occur if calcium nitrate/potassium nitrate, 15-0-15, or other low P fertilizer is used for an extended time to fertilize poinsettias growing in a low P mix. HortScience. Continue watering and fertilizing. Continue putting the plant into the dark each night until Thanksgiving. A. Remember, most commercial soilless media don't contain superphosphate (0-20-0) or other P fertilizer. Pour the solution on the potting mix until it drains from the container’s holes. 1994. 2. The range of rates commonly used are 200 to 300 ppm N - I recommend 250 ppm N. Although I tend to think in terms of Scott's fertilizers because I use them; Plantex, Masterblend, and Greencare fertilizers also grow excellent poinsettias. September: Continue regular watering and fertilizing. Be sure to water the plant thoroughly after fertilizing poinsettias, especially if you use a dry fertilizer. In Fact, the plant first became associated with the holiday during the 1500s in Guatemala and Mexico. Put the poinsettia in a sunny window for the remaining hours. Place the poinsettia in a dark closet or box from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Continue to fertilize the poinsettia once every 30 days using the 1/2-strength fertilizing solution. The closet or box must be completely dark, as any exposure to light will interfere with the poinsettia’s flowering process. of a 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer to the gallon of water. Feed the poinsettia with a second application of fertilizer six weeks after the last application. Phosphorus nutrition. Most Popular. Ca deficiency can generally be prevented by adequate liming and the use EXCEL Cal-Mag or 15-0-15, 20-0-20, or calcium nitrate/potassium nitrate supplements to a phosphorus-containing fertilizer. Keep an eye on the soil, as it may become dry more often than it did while the plant was indoors. Poinsettias HOLIDAY COLOR FOR THE HOME & GARDEN. Keep the soil watered if it feels dry to the touch. Bract necrosis, leaf edge burn on stock plants, and weak stems are disorders linked to calcium (Ca) deficiency. Poinsettias are often given as gifts in pots in late November and throughout December. Poinsettias do fine with any good quality, all-purpose fertilizer. Poinsettias grow best in well-lit areas, but direct sun or hot lights can dry out the plants. Place the plant in a shady location out of direct sunlight. Seal the cut end by dipping in boiling water or holding over a flame for fifteen seconds. The poinsettia is a beautiful plant associated with the winter holidays. Water the poinsettia when the soil feels dry to the touch. Pruning or trimming helps the plant grow faster and stays upright. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a perennial plant that announces the approaching holidays with colorful bracts. At present most growers utilize a liquid feed program as their primary means of supplying plant nutrients. Most of the focus is on bract necrosis. After blooming, these plants require fertilizer and minor pruning to live until the next holiday season. Foliar sprays of 1 ppm Mo are very effective at preventing deficiency before symptoms show up or correcting the deficiency if it is caught when the chlorosis first appears. Mo deficiency is most likely in November, however this problem is rare nowadays and may have disappeared with the 'Heggs' and 'Lilo.' Fertilize the poinsettia six weeks after the bloom ends. Whipker, B.E. Keep the poinsettia watered throughout the year. 29(2):85-87. To rebloom, poinsettias need … California is the top U.S. Poinsettia-producing state. Solutions are made up to supply 200 to 400 ppm Ca using calcium chloride. (July-August issue). But other fertilizer types can also be used to grow good plants. Ca sprays to the bracts are very effective in preventing bract necrosis. Provided the poinsettia plant is given the proper environmental conditions, it should begin to regrow within weeks. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, but it can be kept as an indoor plant in any zone. Reducing fertilization at this time helps extend the postharvest life of the plants and prevents soluble salts injury to the bracts (this practice really works!). Poinsettias as Outdoor Plants . Results of my study showed that 100 ppm N was also good, but 325 ppm N was too high. This site is maintained by Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment in the College of Natural Sciences. Apply fertilizer when new growth appears. I recommend the range of 200-250 ppm N for subirrigation of poinsettia. Jamaican poinsettia pruning and providing its soil with proper fertilizers is an important part of caring it. Best Fertilizer for Poinsettia Plants. Mix a 1/2-strength solution of a balanced, all-purpose household plant fertilizer. Probably this is because there are a number of factors which interact to determine how much nutrition the plants get. This recommendation is based on my observations of what experienced growers are doing in New England and my own work at UMass (Cox, 1998). Fertilize poinsettias only if keeping them after the holiday season. Drue Tibbits is a writer based in Central Florida, where she attended Florida Southern College. In case you are also looking for a way of ensuring that the beauty of poinsettia is maintained for more than two or three months, you will need to supply them with the right nutrients. Common Problems . Poinsettias have long been known for their Christmas affiliations. Some common fertilizers used for poinsettias are 15-0-15, 15-16-17, 20-10-20, and EXCEL Cal-Mag 15-5-15. Make sure to wet the potting mix thoroughly to prevent any air pockets around the poinsettia’s roots. For better pruning know about minimum height and width in Jamaican poinsettia Information . Best offers for your Garden - https://amzn.to/2InnD0w What Do You Fertilize Poinsettias With?. Early fall into winter in frost free areas. Water the newly transplanted poinsettia with the 1/2-strength fertilizing solution. Fertilize the poinsettia six weeks after the bloom ends. This problem has all but disappeared since the widespread adoption of "peat-lite" fertilizers which are about 50% nitrate-N. Don't use 20-20-20 for poinsettias! Perhaps more effective treatments than those discussed here will be developed to prevent this potentially serious problem. Water when the soil is dry. Stop the darkness treatment, put your poinsettia in a spot out of drafts that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun. Fertilizing Poinsettias: Maintaining adequate nutrition is among the most critical aspects of producing greenhouse crops. Resources from UMass Extension and the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment: ag.umass.edu/coronavirus. Place the plant in a sunny window and continue the watering regimen. November 25. Hammer. But other fertilizer types can also be used to grow good plants . Selection of fertilizer must be made with water quality, plant needs, stage of growth and interaction with growing medium in mind. 1998. Place a saucer under the pot, and drain the saucer if water starts to collect in it. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. The best way to prevent this problem is by maintaining the recommended pH and the regular use of "peat-lite" fertilizers. It should be neither dripping wet nor totally dry, and if it is, … This occurs around the end of May. Poinsettias have four stages in which fertilizer needs vary: propagation, initial growth, rapid growth and flowering phases. The amount of Ca reaching the bracts is influenced not only by the Ca supply in the growth medium but by water movement into the roots, through the plant, and transpired out of the leaves. DON’T Forget to Protect the Plant in the Car. Mix a 1/2-strength solution of a balanced, all-purpose household plant fertilizer. Too much P may lead to excess growth. Poinsettias watered and fertilized from the bottom can be safely fed with the same rate (ppm) of fertilizer as top-watered plants. Poinsettia's botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, means … yd. These plants create colorful holiday decorations for any home. How to Keep Christmas Cactus Over the Summer. Perhaps the best way to help your droopy plants is to repot them in fresh, well-drained soil. Cut the poinsettia back to 8 inches tall in early May. Cox, D.A. Water the plant with the fertilizing solution until it runs out of the container’s drainage holes. Understanding the origin and habitat of each of your potted plants is essential to … (July-August issue). Poinsettias are the best selling potted plant in the United States and Canada. Fertilize every month until mid-December, while continuing to water the plant if the soil feels dry. and P.A. The best potted plants for establishing in the landscape are ones that have been in good light while indoors and have retained some green and healthy leaves. Poinsettias do not like soggy soil, but extended dry periods will cause the leaves to wilt and drop. Determination of injurious phosphorus levels in poinsettias. Yes, the soluble salts were higher at the surface of the growth medium with subirrigation, but in the root zone (the lower two-thirds of the pot) there was no difference in soluble salts level between subirrigated and top-watered plants. The bracts are sprayed with a fine mist. Apply fertilizer every two weeks or once monthly using a complete houseplant fertilizer. During the day continue to water, lightly fertilize, and give 11 hours of bright light daily, turning the plant to keep the growth even. If the fertilizer application rate is not reduced, fertilizer salts can quickly build up in the growing medium. Ammonium toxicity. Low phosphorus (P) may result in reduced plant size or small bracts. For example, I've been using 20-0-20 with superphosphate added to the growth medium for a couple of years with great results. J.R., Houston A. Water your poinsettia when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. Poinsettias do not need fertilizer when they are in bloom, but they will need additional care if you plan to keep them longer. Several years ago I studied the affect of superphosphate rate on poinsettia growth and P leaching (Cox, 1999). This … Be sure to keep the soil moist but not soaking wet, and punch holes in the decorative pot cover so water can drain away from the container - do not let your poinsettia … Although poinsettias are fairly tolerant of a wide range of pHs, the target range is 5.8 to 6.2. But other types of fertilizers can also be used to grow good plants. One important piece of information from the soil test is pH. Some commonly used fertilizers for poinsettias are 15-0-15, 15-16-17, 20-10-20, and EXCEL Cal-Mag 15-5-15. From a nutritional standpoint, poinsettias can be a rather finicky crop that challenges even the best growers. Use a 1/2-strength fertilizing solution to water the plant until it runs out of the container’s drainage holes. The amount of fertilizer taken up by plants varies depending on how quickly the crop is growing. The poinsettia's colorful bracts wilt and fall off to signify the end of the bloom. Mg deficiency can be prevented by EXCEL Cal-Mag or monthly application of magnesium sulfate at a rate of 1-3 lbs./100 gal. Use a container that is 4 inches larger in diameter than its existing container. Magnesium deficiency. Her articles have appeared in Entrepreneur and Your Home magazines. Keep in mind that bract necrosis is also a symptom of Botrytis infection, pesticide spray injury, too much fertilizer late in the season, and simply "old age.". Keep temperatures in the low 60's at night. Temperatures of 60-70°F are ideal (15.5°-21°C ). Poinsettias are the most popular of the holiday plants. This is another cause of interveinal chlorosis. In addition to writing brochure copy for local businesses, she helps new start-up companies develop a local image presence. Calcium deficiency. Switch from a nitrogen based fertilizer to an even houseplant fertilizer or one made for poinsettias, and reduce fertilizing by half. Fertilization should continue on a regular basis until 2 to 3 weeks before sale and then it should stop. What type of fertilizer is best for a poinsettia? kathy.huber@chron.com. If you cut your poinsettia for a flower arrangement leave at least four inches of stem. Excess salts can burn poinsettia roots, allowing for Pythium or other fungal pathogens to infect the root system. Use a potting mixture available from garden centers or … Is a Christmas Cactus an Acid-Loving Plant? If the pH falls in this range it helps maintain the availability of calcium, magnesium, and molybdenum. If possible, check the soil before buying. Poinsettias can be successfully fertilized using a number of different approaches. Should be applied spring through summer but reduce fertilizer in mid to late summer for best flowering. Water the plant with the fertilizing solution until it runs out of the container’s drainage holes. Ideally the potting mix should be tested prior to planting and then after planting when the branches are about 2-3" long (early to mid-September), again when the bracts begin to show color, and finally just before fertilization is stopped late in the season. However, research being conducted by Rich McAvoy and Bernard Bible at the University of Connecticut suggests a more complicated scenario which may include boron nutrition and other factors. High relative humidity inhibits transpiration and Ca movement through the plant. Cox, D.A. Fertilization. Some stores sell poinsettias in cellophane cones that … Douglas Cox, Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Add water until it pours out of the container’s drainage holes. For example, I have been using 20-0-20 with superphosphate added to the growing medium for a few years with excellent results. 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