Caring for Poinsettias by Jeff Rugg on Creators.com

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Caring for Poinsettias

Q: My friends and I bought several poinsettias from different stores, and even though they look alike, some have already died, some are loosing leaves and branches and some still look like they just came from the greenhouse. All of us think we have watered them properly, and all the plants are in sunny rooms that aren't too hot or cold. What can we do to avoid this problem again next year?

A: I hope you don't give up on poinsettias. Poinsettias provide a bright focal point indoors when the landscape is so drab outdoors. It is a shame that many people think they are only for celebrating Christmas. Anyone who needs a colorful plant in the winter should consider one or more. They are often inexpensive after Christmas, so buy several different colors for more winter color.

The colorful part of a poinsettia is a specialized leaf called the bract. The real flowers are found in yellow and red clusters at the end of the branch.

Until recently, poinsettias were finicky when brought home. They would loose their bracts at the slightest change in temperature or watering. Taking them home on a cold day could kill them. Usually, newer varieties have longer-lasting bracts, sometimes lasting until spring.

When choosing the longest-lasting poinsettia, look for the following characteristics. Good quality plants have dark-green leaves all the way to the bottom, no dead spots on the leaves and true flowers that are just starting to bloom. If the yellow powder-like pollen is dispersed and dried up or the true flowers are dried up, skip that plant. If any of the bracts have dried and dead edges, skip that plant, too. If the lower leaves are turning yellow or fall off green with just a slight tug, go to the next plant. If you turn over a leaf and it is covered with small white insects, do not buy it.

If you are buying poinsettias after Christmas, the true flowers will be long gone, but the bracts should last until spring if the plant is in good health.

Some new poinsettia cultivars are brittle and lose branches easily.

Look for plants with vertical stems and few horizontal ones, especially if it is going to be taken home in a paper sleeve. Some growers install a plastic ring on the pot that supports the branches about 5 inches above the pot rim. Speaking of paper sleeves, don't buy a plant that has been sitting in the sleeve for a few days, as the lower leaves will begin falling off from lack of sunlight.

Plan for the right day to buy your plant. Do not expose the plant to near freezing temperatures when taking the plant from the store or leaving it in the car when doing more shopping. Once home, don't expose the plant to drafts of any kind (especially plants on the floor) or direct sunlight. Keep the soil evenly damp all the time. Check the plant daily at first, until you determine how much water it will need — big plants and pots, with several plants in them, use a lot of water. They prefer temperatures from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the cooler temperature makes the flowers last longer. Putting it near a heat-generating appliance (TV, photocopier, etc.) will shorten its flowering lifetime.

If it dries out at the store or at home, it will begin losing leaves. If it is overwatered or left to sit in water, the roots will die and then the whole plant will die.

Although poinsettias are easy to grow in a greenhouse, they can have problems. Any crop that is grown in large quantities can have insect or disease outbreaks. The worst insects to control in your home are whiteflies and spider mites. Both are pests on poinsettias, and you should look for them before you buy the plant.

Do not use insecticidal soaps on poinsettias; it is more likely to kill the plant than the pests. Spider mites can be washed off with water from the shower. Whiteflies can be controlled with a systemic insecticide.

E-mail questions to Jeff Rugg, University of Illinois Extension at jrugg@illinois.edu. To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.