The Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-12-03, Page 25How to help your red
poinsettia bloorn :fain
By MAI IIE IVELSON
Nothing heralds the Christmas season in
more than the presence of a poinsettia plant
with its bright, cheery leaves of deep, red
velvet.
Although a poinsettia plant adorns almost
every household during the holiday season,
its state of glory is short-lived and far too
soon, the red leaves start to curl and fall off
and before long—the plant is usually pitched
with a new one to be bought next year.
However, there is no reason for this
glorious plant to have such an ignoble en-
ding and with a little tender loving care,
your poinsettia plant will bloom and bloom
again—season after season.
Ellen Holroyd, who operates the Bruce
Agri -Park with her husband Allen where
they have been growing poinsettia plants
since July(they now have about 400 plants
for sale in the greenhouse) offers a few tips
on how to keep the plants healthy and alive
until the next season.,
tila ts Hike a warm room
Once the Christmas season is over the
plants should be kept in the house in a place
where the temperature is at least 60
degrees.
Preferably the plant will be kept in a
warmer atmosphere with a temperature
ranging from 75-85 degrees since the
poinsettia is' a tropical plant; low
temperatures will tend to retard growth and
incite chlorosis and make for a poor uptake
of nutrients.
Once the warmer weather arrives, the
poinsettia can be left outside to bask in the
summer sunshine.
However, Ellen cautions, the plant cannot
Tho frUnccacdQcao Noc.s egoOdo Fpgo FOno
withstand frost so once the nights start to
get cooler by mid-September, the poinsettia
should be brought back inside.
Water moderately
When watering a poinsettia, one should
strive for a delicate balance between soak-
ing the plant and allowing it to become bone
dry.
Ellen says the plant should be checked
every day to make sure the earth is damp—
not dry or water logged.
Poinsettias should also be fertilized once a
month with a general house plant
fertilizer: 20-20-20.
Once the fall comes, more attention needs
to be taken with the plant in order to obtain
the nice red leaves which characterize the
poinsettia as a Christmas plant.
The red leaves known as "bracts" come
when the, plant is deprived of light, therefore
causing a release of chlorophyll from the
leaves( chlorophyll gives plants their green
colour through the 'process known as
photosynthesis) .
In order to produce the bracts, the plant
should be covered or kept in complete
darkness for at least 12 hours a day starting
around Oct. 1.
Take care to make sure the plant isn't ex-
posed to any unwanted lights from street
lights, flood lights or a freeway—if in doubt
you should completely cover the plant with a
black cloth.
This process should be continued until
about Oct. 21. The plant's rather in-
conspicuous tiny yellow flowers should
bloom around Dec. 8. .
If this schedule is followed, you will have a
glorious, healthy poinsettia plant to grace
your home once again during the festive
season.
ELLEN HOLROYD POSES, with some
lovely Poinsettia plants offered for sale at
the Bruce Agri -Park. Poinsettia plants are
best known as Christmas plants but, with
the right kind of care, they can flourish
year round and will bloom again in time
for next Christmas. (Marie Wilson Photo)
Orr
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