Watering the poinsettia: how often and how to do it

The frequency of watering the poinsettia is especially important, since, both in excess of it and in the absence of it, it will not take long to 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 is the poinsettia watered?:

Rpoinsettia fire 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, making sure that the substrate is always kept moist, without ever drying out completely.

Poinsettia watering in summer

It should be more spaced, reducing its frequency 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 to water the poinsettia, pay close attention to the appearance of the poinsettia leaves and be alert to possible symptoms of excess or lack of watering. For example, if you see that you poinsettia has limp leaves or falls, 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 a little droopy, then the plant is drying out, it lacks watering or it may have too much direct sun or sources of dry heat, such as radiators.

Now that you know when to water a poinsettia, we are going to discuss how to do it correctly. If you want your poinsettia to keep its 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 it is convenient that the leaves and bracts of the plant are not in contact with excessive humidity. follow these tips and steps to water the poinsettia or water the Christmas plant correctly:

1. 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.
2. Fill the plate 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 getting too wet.
3. You should leave the plant in immersion for a few 10 minutes at most, or a little more if the soil was very dry before you started watering it.

This type of irrigation, known as immersion irrigationis 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 get one of these plants thinking to have 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 has its reward when the same plant accompanies us year after year, instead of getting rid of it.

Once all doubts about how to water the poinsettia, we go on to comment on the other care of the poinsettia. In all other aspects of its care, the poinsettia is not a particularly demanding plant. This is a basic guide to poinsettia careChristmas plant, poinsettia or Poinsettia:

Light

As far as light is concerned, it is always advisable to place it in a well-lit area or room, but where the sun does not directly affect it. Also make sure that its location is away from sources of heat or the passage of air currents, as they do not do it any good.

spray water on the leaves

In the flowering season, and only during this, you can spray its green leaves with a little water, but do not let its red bracts get wet.

Fertilizer for the poinsettia

Regarding the subscriber, in its growth and flowering season, the poinsettia appreciates receiving the contribution of liquid fertilizer in its irrigation water, approximately once every two weeks. In this way, it will grow with more energy and faster.

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 to pass the most problematic months for it. Here we explain everything about when and how to prune the poinsettia and also about how to make poinsettia cuttings.

Finally, it is important to respect a period of vegetative rest, or it will not bloom again the following year. If you follow all these instructions, your poinsettia will accompany you for many years, brightening up your winters with its intense colors.

For you to learn more about this plant and how to take care of it so that it is healthy and, thus, brighten up your home, we recommend you consult these other gardening guides from EcologíaVerde:

• Poinsettia care.
• How to transplant the poinsettia.
• How to make the poinsettia turn red.
• Poinsettia with withered leaves: why and what to do.

In addition, here below we leave you a video that goes deeper into the care of the Poinsettia or Christmas Eve plantincluding irrigation and some aspects of its flowering.

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