Poinsettias are perfect for decorating the house at Christmas. The houseplant’s bright red bracts look great in the centre of a festive table or on a mantelpiece.
However, poinsettias can be fussy and need special care during the festive period in order to thrive.
Speaking about the iconic seasonal plant, Dobbies’ Senior Houseplant Buyer, Claire Bishop has shared how to feed, water and choose a location for the plant.
Choose a bright spot
Finding the right location for your poinsettia is “key”, according to Claire.
She explained: “Poinsettias like a lot of light so you should place them in a bright spot where they’ll get at least six hours of indirect sunlight per day.
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“However, you should avoid direct sunlight as this could scorch the plant’s leaves.
“Being a tropical plant, poinsettias also like warmth so you should keep them away from windows and other draughty spots as this could cause the plant’s flowers to drop.”
Watering poinsettias
Poinsettias should only be watered when the soil is noticeably dry to the touch which will vary depending on the temperature of your home.
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With that in mind, your plant should only require watering every few days or once a week depending on its surroundings.
Claire added: “Poinsettias won’t thank you for waterlogged soil, so make sure they are planted in a pot with good drainage.
“They also like a humid environment so a poinsettia’s leaves will benefit from regular misting, which should prevent them from drying out when you have your heating on in winter.”
Feeding poinsettias
Poinsettias should be fed monthly to keep it thriving into the new year. Use a liquid plant food to fertilise the plant.
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is having 50,000 poinsettias delivered to stores from this week.
There are 77 Dobbies stores across the UK which are all expected to stock the plants.
The plants can also be found in other garden centres and local supermarkets.
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