29 December 2023 , 13:57
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This trick will make your colourful plants last longer.
The Poinsettia plant adds some much-needed cheer to homes everywhere in the cold, winter months when the trees have shed their leaves and greenery seems to have mostly disappeared outside. The bright, red leaves bring a burst of colour and make the perfect gift to whoever is hosting the festive parties you plan to attend over Christmas and New Year.
Sometimes, it can seem like the brightly coloured plants just don't last as long as you might expect, which can be a huge disappointment when you see the leaves on your Poinsettia wilting quickly. This watering "rule of thumb" will help extend their lifespan even longer, allowing you to enjoy the colourful plants for a good while.
The "rule of thumb" when it comes to watering poinsettia is - according to the Royal Horticultural Society - that less is more, and you should "only water when the surface of the compost has begun to feel dry".
It's best to keep the compost moist, rather than soaking wet, and the RHS recommend achieving this by putting the plant in its pot directly into a bowl of "tepid" water for between 10-20 minutes.
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Then lift it out and allow any excess water to drain out, before returning it to its usual position, rather than watering directly into the surface of the compost. Equally, these plants love humidity too, so you can also opt to mist them on a daily basis to keep them in good condition.
However, it's important to remember that overwatering the colourful, festive plants can damage them, so be careful to keep track of how much water you're giving yours, to ensure that it lasts as long as possible.
The positioning of your poinsettia is also important, because they love and need a lot of light, but direct sunlight can be overwhelming for them, so the best spot in your home to keep yours will be somewhere that is bright and away from draughts - they don't like the cold - but not in the main path of the sunlight that comes in your windows.
Equally, try and avoid placing them in the hottest parts of your rooms, for instance, next to a radiator, and instead somewhere where they will enjoy a "fairly consistent temperature [of] around 16-21°" Celsius, the experts explain.
When buying your poinsettia plant, whether it is to proudly display in your own home or to gift to a friend or loved one, try and purchase one that has been kept in "a warm greenhouse at a garden centre or where they have arrived freshly inside stores such as supermarkets and DIY centres" over one that has been kept outside.
This is because, RHS explains, "cooler conditions cause physiological shock, hence they have or will drop leaves and bracts" and once leaves start falling from your plant, "it will usually continue to deteriorate, no matter what you do."
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