Enjoying holiday poinsettias year-round, indoors and out

  (NC)—The poinsettia has become a mainstay of holiday decorating and offers gorgeous colour during the colder winter months. The good news is that with proper care and attention, a poinsettia can be moved outdoors to enjoy in the summer garden with the goal of re-blooming the poinsettia for next season.

• Poinsettias prefer indirect sunlight room temperature and moist soil. Do not let plants sit in water.

• In early April, cut back the poinsettia to about 8 inches in height. Continue to water

when the soil feels dry to the touch and fertilize the plant after blooming has stopped. By the end of May, there should be vigorous new growth.

• In spring, when the danger of frost has passed, plants can be moved in their pots to enjoy outdoors.

• In warmer areas, plants can be transplanted into a garden bed with good drainage and rich in organic material.

• To ensure blooms for next holiday season, plants should be moved indoors again in cooler weather. At the beginning of October, poinsettias require 14 consecutive nights of complete darkness

(in a dark room or with a box cover).

• For the six to eight weeks leading up to the holidays, they need bright sunlight (about six to eight hours per day), watering and fertilizing.

• With a bit of luck, this should result in another season of colourful blooms!

This holiday season, Canadian Tire is carrying poinsettias in a variety of different colours, sizes and formats including planters, hanging baskets and small trees. Beyond the vibrant red varieties, poinsettias also come in other colors like pink, white, marbled, speckled, and yellow – a great accent for holiday decorating.

- News Canada
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News Canada

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