When Christmas approaches, many households dare to get hold of a poinsettia, also called a Christmas plant or Poinsettia , since it is one of the most typical Christmas plants . These plants are highly prized for their large flowers and deep red bracts, which add a striking contribution of color to any decoration.
However, keeping poinsettia is not always easy, especially if we try to make it survive until the following Christmas, which can be difficult but not impossible. In this article we are going to focus, among all the care that this plant needs, on watering the poinsettia, how often and how to do it . So, if you’re interested, keep reading this practical guide on how to water the poinsettia .
When to water the poinsettia
The frequency of watering the poinsettia is especially important, since, both in the face of its excesses and its lack, it will soon lose its leaves, so it must be done properly so that the plant is healthy. These are the most important points to keep in mind about how often the poinsettia is watered :
R iego Easter flower in winter
It must be abundant, especially at the beginning of it, in its flowering season. At this time it is convenient to water the plant up to twice a week, taking care that the substrate is always kept moist, without ever drying out completely.
Watering the poinsettia in summer
It should be more spaced, reducing the frequency of it to once a week. Only in especially dry and hot climates will it be necessary to increase the frequency of watering the poinsettia.
In any case, to know how many times the poinsettia needs to be watered, pay close attention to the appearance of the poinsettia leaves and be alert for possible symptoms of over- or under-watering. For example, if you see that your poinsettia has flabby or fallen leaves , soft and dark, it is very likely that it has an excess of water; This also happens in case you see that the poinsettia has wrinkled leaves. On the other hand, if they are losing their color, they look brown or yellowish, and something drooping, then it is that the plant is drying out, lacks irrigation or may have excess direct sun or sources of dry heat, such as radiators.
How to water the poinsettia
Now that you know when to water a poinsettia , let’s talk about how to do it correctly. If you want your poinsettia to keep the leaves for as long as possible, you should not water it in the usual way that other plants are watered. That is, do not pour the water or spray it on it, since the leaves and bracts of the plant should not be in contact with excessive humidity. Follow these tips and steps to water the poinsettia or water the Christmas plant properly:
- In order to water it properly, you will need your poinsettia to be in a pot with drainage holes . and have a plate or use a larger container.
- Fill the dish with water suitable for irrigation and place the pot inside. Thus, the substrate and the roots themselves will absorb the water they need. Therefore, it will be the lower part of the plant that absorbs the water, without its leaves or flowers becoming excessively humid.
- You should leave the plant in immersion for a maximum of 10 minutes , or a little longer if the soil was very dry before starting to water it.
This type of irrigation, known as immersion irrigation , is quite common in some species of plants, such as orchids, and is especially useful for those that, like the Christmas flower, do not tolerate excessive humidity very well in their aerial part.
There are many who are made with one of these plants thinking of having it only during the winter season, but the reality is that, with proper care, a poinsettia can survive perfectly until the following year and so on. We always encourage you to try it, since it is an effort that pays off when the same plant accompanies us year after year, instead of getting rid of it.
How to care for the poinsettia
Once all the doubts about how the poinsettia is watered have been clarified , we will comment on the other poinsettia care. In all other aspects of its care, the poinsettia is not a particularly demanding plant. This is a basic guide to caring for the poinsettia, Christmas plant, poinsettia or Poinsettia :
Light
As far as light is concerned, it is always advisable to put it in a well-lit area or room, but where the sun does not affect it directly. Also ensure that its location is away from heat sources or the passage of air currents, as they do not do you any good.
Spray water on its leaves
In the flowering season, and only during it, you can spray its green leaves with a little water, but do not let its red bracts get wet.
Compost for the poinsettia
Regarding the subscriber, in its time of growth and flowering the poinsettia appreciates receiving the contribution of liquid fertilizer in its irrigation water, once every two weeks approximately. In this way, it will grow with more energy and more quickly.
Poinsettia pruning
It will also be necessary to carry out a specific pruning for the poinsettia, usually when its leaves begin to fall, whose objective is to stimulate the growth and flowering of the plant, in addition to helping it through the most problematic months for it.
Finally, it is important to respect a period of vegetative rest, or it will not flower again the following year. If you follow all these indications, your poinsettia will accompany you for many years, brightening your winters with its intense colors.
