The Rural Voice, 1979-12, Page 46Gardening
How to keep
your Poinsettia
lovely longer
Just about everybody who thinks of
giving a plant for Christmas thinks first of
poinsettias. Florists know this and prepare
well in advance, because they know this
favorite will probably never go out of style.
New colors have been developed, and
while red may always be the greatest in
demand, we can now choose from varying
shades of white, pink and even marbled.
Poinsettias can be enjoyed longer if a
few simple suggestion s for their care are
faithfully followed. Check the soil every
day, and water when it feels dry to the
touch. Don't allow it to dry out completely -
or remain soaked. Quite likely the
poinsettia you received is all beribboned
and in a fancy foil -covered pot. If so,ciieck
to be sure the drainage hole is not plugged.
Do this by poking a wire or long nail into
the hole at the bottom. If it hits something
hard, that's fine. If you strike nothing but
soft earth you are in trouble. Water the
plant carefully and when time permits,
repot it correctly. Place your plant near a
warm, sunny window, but don't let it touch
the glass. Keep your poinsettia away from
any extreme of heat or cold and out of
drafts.
All this care is a lot more worthwhile
than it used to back in the old days when
poinsettias were just poinsettias. Now the
one you receive is very likely to be a
hybrid, one of the long-lasting type that
still retainsits colorful bracts well into late
spring. The multiflowered poinsettia plant
is now in vogue. By following a program of
pinching off new growth and treating with
a growth retardant, you can keep these
plants looking beautiful far longer than the
older type, but you must do your part too.
If the plant continues to do well and you
still find it a pleasure to behold, feed it a
soluble fertilizer after a month or so. When
the day finally comes that you find you and
your plant are getting a little tired of each
other, you can prepare to enjoy it for
another season by doing this. Stop
watering the plant and wait for the leaves
to fall off. Then store it in a cool, dry place
where it can rest undisturbed. In the
spring, water it again and cut the stems
back to six inches. Keep the stems pinched
back as new leaves begin to form. From
early October until blooming starts, place
the plant in a dark closet(without a single
flash of light) for twelve hours each day (8
p.m. until 8 a.m.) and keep it in a sunny
window for the other twelve hours of the
day. Fertilize during active growth with
either dry or soluble garden food.
Believe me, it's twice as nice to see that
PG. 44 THE RURAL VOICEIDECEMBER 1979
(Photo by Shelia Gunby)
Christmas gift blooming back at you the
second year!
Gardening
in December
Commence regular daily feeding of
winter buds and include some grit.
Withhold stimulating feeding and heavy
watering of houseplants during the short
days of winter. Syringe the plants daily and
-Use an atomizer to add moisture to the air.
Most house plants will benefit tram a
position in a south window while the sun
power is low.