Growing Poinsettias Can Be Challenging

While Christmas is still a couple months away, those wanting to grow their own staple of the holiday season, the Poinsettia, need to be prepared to care for this delicate flower.

Retired OSU Extension Professor Ross Penhallegon said if already have your poinsettia growing, now’s the time to make some important changes.

“The key is keeping it dark from mid-October to mid-November and then when you bring it out it will color very nicely.”

That means keeping the plant in a dark room that will not accidently be opened from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. every night, while keeping the flower in a room that can be kept between 60-70 degrees.

Poinsettias grow year round, and Penhallegon recommends for any beginning growers to let the plant live through the first year on a natural cycle and then begin this strategy.

“Stick our finger in the pot, make sure the soil is moist not wet. Just a little teeny bit of fertilizer. In the spring it will drop the leaves, so don’t worry because it will then start regrowing the leaves.”

Penhallegon said it can be very tough to grow your own poinsettia, but with careful planning, you can have your own beautiful Christmas flower with the green leaves and red pedals.