Poinsettia. Christmas star (poinsettia, beautiful spurge) before and after the winter holidays Flower Christmas star meaning for women

The most beautiful poinsettia (Poinsettia pulcherrima) has a second name - the Christmas star, because it pleases its owners on winter holidays with unusual red bracts.

This representative of the flora was named after the American ambassador Joel Poinsett, who was fond of botany. In 1825, he first brought poinsettia cuttings from South America in the USA. There are many countries where this plant is a Christmas symbol. The New Year tradition associated with poinsettia came to our country from the European continent. On domestic shelves with the onset winter cold These amazing indoor flowers are starting to appear. beautiful plants are popular not only because of their attractive appearance. They are easy to care for and durable under proper conditions. Keeping this beauty at home is a pleasure for the owner.

Poinsettia, or the most beautiful euphorbia, is a shrub from the Euphorbia family. Its homeland is Mexico and parts of Central America with a tropical climate. AT wild nature Plant height can reach 4 meters. At home, the bush grows to a mark of 40-50 centimeters. The stem is straight, well branched. Leaves 11-15 cm long, ellipsoid, the tip is pointed, the surface is bare or with fluff, have a rich green tint, the marginal line is dentate.

The flowers are inconspicuous, miniature, yellow or greenish in color, form rosette inflorescences. However, they are not at all the hallmark of a flower. Bright bracts give an alluring aesthetic appearance to milkweed, many ignorant people mistake them for flowers. The bright red top is not a flower at all, but modified lanceolate leaves that can be different colors.

plant species

The species diversity of poinsettia in nature is not rich. There are the following types of poinsettia:

• sparkling;
• most beautiful;
• largehorn;
• spherical;
• Mile.

Currently, breeders have bred various varieties flower, which differ in the shade of the bracts. Here are just a few of them:

• "Emperor" and "Angelica" - red color;
• "Regina" - white and cream;
• "Dorothy" - pink;
• "Jungle Bells" - two-color.

Milkweed care at home

In care, the flower is unpretentious, but still it is worth following some recommendations.

Temperature regime

The flower does not like cold rooms and drafts, so do not leave the plant near an open window. AT summer period stick to the mark of 21-25 ° C, and when the spurge blooms, he needs a temperature of at least 15-16 ° C. Does not tolerate temperature fluctuations. Extreme readings on the thermometer do not suit poinsettia, so pack it well when buying in winter.

Room illumination

He has a negative attitude towards direct sunlight, loves diffused light. For placement, windows oriented to the east or southeast are suitable. During the flowering period should be a lot of light. In the warm season, you can rearrange spurge on the balcony, but protection from wind and direct sun should be provided.

Poinsettia orange

Poinsettia pale pink

white poinsettia

poinsettia spotted

Poinsettia red

Poinsettia pink

Watering

Watering should be moderate, as the earth dries up, but in the hot season requires abundant watering. Does not like waterlogged soil, this can rot. If, after excessive watering, the poinsettia began to disappear, then immediately transplant it into a new soil. Before transplanting, it is advisable to rinse root system potassium permanganate solution. In summer, the plant must be sprayed. The temperature of irrigation water should be at room temperature, but in no case cold.

Humidity environment. Prefers moderate humidity, Euphorbia is resistant to dryness, but it is advisable to regularly spray its leaves in summer.

Fertilizer

Poinsettia should be fed regularly 2 times a month with mineral fertilizers of normal concentration. As a top dressing, you can use any fertilizer for home flowers. When the plant blooms, it is good to fertilize with a special top dressing containing potassium.

Important! All types of poinsettia have one feature that you need to remember when growing at home. They secrete a poisonous whitish juice resembling milk.

The poison is especially dangerous for the mucous membrane of the eye, it can also provoke an allergic reaction on the skin. If the juice enters the stomach, it can lead to mild poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea. How then is it safe to care for the plant? If you cut or transplant spurge, then it is better to do it with gloves. In addition, make sure that the flower is out of the reach of small children and pets.

Flower care: calendar types of work

Spring

The plant should be transplanted at home in the spring season (April-May). From the beginning of March, the stems should be cut by a third (leave about four to five buds). Then put the pot in a well-lit and warm place. Pour some water, which is better to warm up a little. When the leaves begin to appear, then you can start transplanting. The pot will need a little more volume than the previous one. The soil must be slightly acidic. Take clay-soddy soil 3 parts, leaf - 2, peat - 1, sand - 1. You need to take care of. Then place the poinsettia in a warm room, produce abundant watering and spraying. Soon new shoots should grow, leave the strongest of them, and cut off the others. Remote shoots can serve as cuttings during propagation.

Summer

During this period, it is better to shade the plant, since the hot rays of the sun can have a bad effect on its condition. Water the milkweed liberally.

Autumn

At the end of September, the poinsettia should be transferred to a different lighting mode. From this moment on, the flower must be kept without light for 11-14 hours a day. Cover the plant with a dark impenetrable film, removing it in the morning. The flower can simply be placed in an unlit place. Keep spurge in this mode for 2 months, and then take care of him as before.

Winter

At this time, the poinsettia blooms. Many people think that the plant is one-season, but this is not true. With proper care, the flowering period will come next year. When the leaves fall off, then water the spurge less often. The stems should be cut, leaving 9-13 centimeters. Keep the pot in an unlit cool room, do not water. The poannesetti has a dormant period, it is necessary for the flower to rest and for it to bloom next season.

Plant propagation: seeds and cuttings

In nature, the poinsettia forms seeds, but it is quite difficult to get seeds at home. But this is not necessary. Domestic plant species were bred by the selection method, so a flower sprouted from seeds will lose its valuable qualities.

Because of this, reproduction of milkweed is often vegetative. From cut shoots you can get a new Christmas star. Growing poinsettia at home can be done in the following way. For propagation, cuttings up to 10 centimeters with 4-5 buds will be required, they should be cut under the lower knot. On the cut, juice-poison will stand out, protecting the shoots from decay. Wait for the cut areas to dry, and then sprinkle them. charcoal, which must be crushed in advance. Carry out the procedure with gloves so as not to come into contact with a toxic substance.

For rooting cuttings, water or moist soil (peat and sand in a ratio of 1: 1) is required. Keep the cuttings in a warm place, spray them and ventilate the room. After about 30 days, young plants should take root, then they need to be planted in small pots and cut off so that they branch well.

poinsettia fairest home may suffer from pests such as scale insects, thrips, whiteflies, mealybugs and spider mites. Combat this problem with folk remedies and insecticide preparations.

Types of milkweed diseases: gray rot, powdery mildew and fusarium. At powdery mildew leaves and flowers fly around with a white film, and under it, tissues begin to turn brown over time. From Fusarium, the stems turn black, the leaves fall off, and then the spurge begins to wither. Fungicides help: Topaz, Fitosporin-M, Skor. With diseases of gray rot, gray spots appear on the lower branches. It is necessary to get rid of the affected parts, and treat the plant with an antifungal drug.

The leaves are getting yellow - cold temperature in the room, waterlogged earth, dry air or spider mite damage.

The leaves are falling- excessive or insufficient watering, cold, little light. But it is worth remembering that after the winter holidays, the plant sheds its foliage itself, it is preparing for a dormant period.

The edge line on the sheets turns yellow, the inflorescences fall off– too hot and not enough moisture in the environment.

artificial flowers

At present, handmade was a very popular type of creativity. There is even a technique for making poinsettias from foamiran. Crafts are bright and lively, like real flowers. With their help, you can decorate interior items of any home (curtains, candles, paintings, photo frames) and wardrobe (handbag, shoes). Foamiran poinsettia can also be a wonderful gift that will delight the owner long years. In addition, at home, caring for such a flower is elementary, unlike its living counterpart.

The Christmas star is often called the poinsettia. It is she who gives us the feeling of the Christmas holiday, makes it unforgettable and mysterious. This name was given in honor of the flower, because its bright and delicate petals are so reminiscent of the radiance of stars. Therefore, very often Catholics also call this plant the flower of the holy night. It is worth noting that poinsthia blooms only on Christmas Eve.

According to one legend, for the first time this flower showed itself in Mexico, when two boys wanted to bring something as a gift for Christmas, but since they were very poor, the guys decided to bring this flower to the temple. When everyone had gathered, they placed a poinsettia at the altar, which after a moment shone with red flowers.

How to improve the aura at home

According to astrologers, this flower is able to attract the right people to your house, to protect from negative energy. If you put this flower at home, then perhaps all the quarrels that you had in your house will disappear, the atmosphere will become more harmonious, and the stresses that surround you will not have any effect on you. But the main thing is to take good care of the poinsettia and take care of it.

flower for weight loss

But beneficial features this plant is not finished yet. With the help of this talisman, you can stimulate the brain, which will improve the interaction between the right and left hemispheres. Plus, you can open up your creativity and leadership skills. Do not waste the moment, get to know yourself, and perhaps after a while you will have a new talent, and you will also be able to cultivate in yourself what you have long wanted.

Poinsettia also helps children in their studies. After all, she will give them energy in order to fulfill all the tasks of the teacher, and most importantly, to sit still and listen to him carefully. And teenagers who have to choose their future profession, with the help of the energy of this plant, will be able to more clearly understand what they want and how to achieve it.

How do we know obesity and excess weight This is problem modern man. Passive lifestyle, low-quality food, constant sitting near the computer. If you put this flower at home, it will help you get rid of extra pounds. After all, it controls the metabolic processes in the body.

There is no place for a flower in the bedroom!

As we can see, the Christmas star is a real talisman that should never be placed in the bedroom. This plant will be more comfortable in the kitchen or living room. After all, the poinsettia loves busy rooms. In this case, it is better to install it on beautiful stand. This will also help to activate a positive influence on all households.

And do not forget that the Christmas star cannot be placed in plastic pot. Give preference to clay, after decorating it with green ribbons. In order for the poinsettia to bloom star leaves on time, by Christmas, in October and November, the daylight hours of the flower should be reduced to 10 hours, covering it for the remaining 14 hours with a dark cloth or carton box. And in early December, when the first buds appear, put them in a well-lit warm room and water abundantly.

If you follow all the rules and take good care of the poinsettia, then by the festive table all guests will be able to admire the Christmas star, and be sure - with such a talisman and a holiday and next year will be unforgettable and will bring a lot of positive emotions and events.

Poinsettia or Christmas star flower, care of which brings happiness to the house!

Green and red colors are considered a symbol of the New Year holiday, or rather the Catholic Christmas. In many ways, this symbolism is associated with the flowering of the poinsettia, which is also called the "Christmas star". Pots with flowering poinsettia are usually placed on festive table, to give for the New Year or Christmas. This type of milkweed blooms in late December, just in time for the holiday.

This is an amazing indoor flower as almost all flowers love to bloom. late spring, in the summer, when the sun warms, but not the poinsettia. Its flowering occurs in December - March, when the day is short, it's frosty outside, the sun hardly shines, and you really want to please yourself.

This interesting flower is actively bought before the New Year holidays, because it is so beautiful, it immediately attracts the attention of casual buyers, and besides, it great gift to the new year.

The homeland of this indoor flower is Central America, Mexico - there it is evergreen shrub up to 1.5 meters high. AT room conditions its dimensions are more modest 40 - 50 cm. Red poinsettia flowers resemble a star in shape, but there are varieties of white, pink, yellow color, as well as rare ones - two-tone.

The most beautiful spurge
-Christmas plant

The largest poinsettia nursery is located in California.

poinsettia care

This is a completely unpretentious indoor flower. Caring for him is easy. The plant does not tolerate drafts, so choose an appropriate room for it. The flowering of the Christmas poinsettia is affected by the duration daylight hours. For the formation of flowers, it is necessary that the plant be in the light for no more than 10 hours a day for 8 weeks.

But when the poinsettia blooms, on the contrary, she needs good light to save flowers. With uncontrolled lighting, the Christmas star will bloom on its own, but by the end of winter.

Indoor beauty does not tolerate frost, you need to know who wants to buy a plant in winter. It is best to buy poinsettia at other times of the year, but if your purchase comes during the cold season, then choose a store closer to home, have your flower wrapped in paper or film.

The Christmas star will help create good New Year spirit
Temperature: optimum temperature for this miracle at home +20 +22 degrees, the temperature should not be allowed below 15 degrees - the bracts will lose saturation in color, and at a lower one the roots will begin to die off.

Air humidity: 60 - 70%. The plant does not tolerate drafts.

Illumination: from the end of September, the poinsettia must be completely isolated from night light (from moonlight to artificial) for 2 months. The flower must be in complete darkness for 14 hours. A cardboard box or a dark bag that can be placed on top is perfect for this. Due to the darkness, the color of the bracts will begin. They are often called flowers, but they are not. The flowers of the plant are small and inconspicuous, namely the upper leaves become colored.

Watering: The star is sensitive to a lack of moisture, but an overabundance will also hurt. Watering is average, do not allow moisture to thaw. When the soil dries out a little, you can water again. Golden Rule: Better more often than once and all at once. A couple of times a day will be enough. In January - March, watering should be kept to a minimum. Be sure to water room temperature, from a cold poinsettia will shed foliage, it is good to spray the leaves from a spray bottle.

Top dressing: The first top dressing can be carried out 3 weeks after transplantation. Throughout the summer, the flower is growing rapidly, the poinsettia needs to be fed 2-3 times a month with complex mineral fertilizer or organic alternately. During flowering, the Christmas star is more suitable potash fertilizers for flowering plants.

New Year's compositions from poinsettia

With the advent of December, we anxiously begin to think about our favorite holiday - the New Year. Of course, I want to create coziness and New Year's mood in the house in order to meet the next year as best and more fun as possible. After all, we all believe: "as we meet, so we will spend." The poinsettia is a real find for the winter holidays. Beautiful photos with Christmas star compositions will surely inspire you to create your own design.

This is how you dress up your star New Year
Go to the link: "Christmas compositions from poinsettia
"

Poinsettia care after flowering

The dormant period of the plant begins at the end of March. The most beautiful spurge will gradually shed its leaves and turn into an ugly spurge, so watering should be reduced. After dropping the leaves, the plant must be cut to half the length of the shoots. Put in a cool (not lower than +10), poorly lit room, water a little so that the earth does not dry out. In this state, the Christmas poinsettia should stay 1.5 - 2 months.

In late April - early May, the green beauty wakes up again. It is important here to help the plant gain strength so that it can bloom again in winter.

It is very important to transplant poinsettias in new pot, this manipulation will stimulate the growth of the flower. But when transplanting a flower, do not injure its roots, transplant it along with a clod of earth. Then put the pot in a warm room, preferably on a window with a south or southeast orientation.

Land for transplanting poinsettia should consist of equal parts humus, peat, leafy soil, turf and sand. From purchased soil is suitable palm mix. Water lightly after transplanting.

The plant will begin to grow actively, young shoots will appear. During this period, once every two weeks, feed the flower with a complex mineral or organic fertilizer. Leave 4 - 5 strong young shoots, remove the rest. Each poinsettia shoot removed can be rooted and a new plant can be grown.

In summer, it is important to hide the indoor star from straight lines. sun rays! It can be taken to the balcony, but do not forget to shade and hide from the wind. This goes on all summer long.

In autumn, feeding is gradually reduced. This is where lighting manipulation begins, as I wrote above. In early November, packages and boxes are removed, the poinsettia is moderately watered, kept in a warm and bright place.

reproduction

The plant propagates only by cuttings. And in the natural habitat - seeds. When choosing a cutting, it is better to give preference to specimens of at least 7 cm, and with 5 or 6 leaves. If you already have a poinsettia, then after transplanting, you will have new cuttings after they are removed.

christmas flower
Proper pruning the escape is done under the bottom node. The lower leaves are torn off, the cut stalk is placed in water for 10 minutes, so that the milky juice comes out, which is poisonous. The stalk is planted in well-watered soil, then covered polyethylene film, put in a lighted place, but not under the direct rays of the sun. From time to time air and spray. The rooting process lasts about a month, when young leaves appear, the shoots must be pinched, stimulating the formation of new stems and forming the shape of a bush.

Diseases and pests of poinsettia

Because of improper care the flower will turn yellow and the leaves will fall off. There are many factors, and wrong lighting, drafts, inadequate watering, whatever.

Dry air can lead to spider mite. A small red spider that will weave a web on inside leaves. To remove it, you need to spray and wash the leaves of the poinsettia with tobacco infusion or ground sulfur, you can buy a ready-made preparation.

Room miracle can be amazed mealybug, shield. If this happens, you need to lather with a sponge or rag, and then wipe the leaves. After this procedure, the leaves of the poinsettia must be washed thoroughly. warm water, it's good to do it from the shower. If that doesn't help, buy special agent to fight them.

Attention! The plant is very beautiful, but poisonous! It contains milky juice, which can cause irritation if it gets on the skin. Keep pets and children away from the poinsettia as they may be poisoned if they eat.

Types of poinsettia
The most beautiful spurge comes in a variety of colors and shades. Every year there are new varieties of poinsettia. Most popular colors: red, pink, yellow, white-yellow, scarlet, purple, two-tone combinations.

Legend of the poinsettia

Whether the legends are true or not, many of them have already become part of history. Mexicans believe in the miraculous appearance of the Christmas star and hold a big festival each year to mark the occasion. Where did this amazing plant come from?

Christmas star will help create coziness in the house

There is a beautiful legend about poinsettia.

Long ago, when Jesus was born, two children from a very poor family went on a journey to see the miracle - the birth of the son of God. Their names were Maria and Paulo
On the way, they decided to find some kind of gift, and then they caught their eye small flower, with modest green leaves. When they reached the right place, there were already a lot of guests. The guests also brought generous and valuable gifts in honor of such an event, and the children were only ridiculed with their nondescript flower. But when the plant was brought to the cradle of the baby, it blossomed at that very moment, became a chic, bright, amazingly beautiful flower.

Hence another legend why the poinsettia is called the Christmas star or the Christmas flower.

True or not, but in Mexico, in the homeland of this flower, they believe in it, and they always decorate the house with the most beautiful milkweed. Since the last century, poinsettia has won the love of North America, and today we are falling in love with it. The flower is rapidly gaining popularity in Europe and Russia.

The plant requires careful care after it blooms. But then, she is so beautiful, and deserves to be in every home for Christmas and New Year.

poinsettia historical facts about the flower of the holy night

Did you know that the plant owes its name to the American ambassador? Who at one time brought this plant to America from Mexico. Poinsettia was loved and revered by the ancient Aztecs, she grew up with them as wild flower. They prepared all kinds of potions and decoctions, and even received purple paint.

Beauty Poinsettia

Poinsettia has many names: euphorbia, spurge, Christmas star or star of bethlehem. The flower blooms for Catholic Christmas with red stars (but not only red, there are different colors).

The flower was awarded the name of poinsettia by the American ambassador Poinsett, who brought it to America at the beginning of the 19th century, where it took root perfectly. Unusual name euphorbia was given in honor of the ancient physician Euphorbus.

Poinsettia was widely used by the Aztecs, where a healing potion was made from its leaves, fever was treated with juice. The poinsettia is a symbol of purity. For spiritual reasons, the Aztecs never touched wild flowers, but they grew the most beautiful flower from seeds. Made from red leaves purple, which was then used as cosmetics or dyed clothes.

Poinsettia with bright red leaves was the favorite plant of the leader Montezuma among the Aztecs. When the Spanish conquerors began to enslave Mexico, the birthplace of this plant, the graceful plant immediately attracted the attention of Catholic priests, after which religious legends about poinsettia filled with miracles began to appear.

The flower was a miracle, as if nature itself rejoiced at the birth of the son of God, the altar of the holy virgin was decorated with a poinsettia. Today's Mexicans call this plant - flower of the holy night or beautiful night.

America's first ambassador to Mexico, Robert Poinsett, was not only a good politician, but also a botanist. He sold seeds all over the world, had his own personal collection of plants. After visiting Mexico, I immediately fell in love with this beautiful flower with dark red leaves and returned with him to his homeland. After his retirement, he became closely involved in plants. Poinsettia seeds sent to all botanical gardens North America. After his death, the flower was named after him.

christmas plant

Festive wreath with poinsettia flowers video tutorial

The Christmas wreath has reached our seats. Now everything more people decorates their homes with whimsical, cheerful wreaths. But, what a pleasure to make it with your own hands also with poinsettia flowers! I suggest you take a look detailed wizard class for creating this decoration.

Master – Class of a Christmas wreath decorated with fabric poinsettia flowers

1)Video about indoor flower Christmas star

2) Video about caring for Poinsettia

3) Video about the features of caring for the Christmas star

Plants that bloom in the coldest and darkest winter months can be counted on fingers. One of these “uniques” is the most beautiful poinsettia (the most beautiful euphorbia, the Christmas star). In winter, it blooms with small button-flowers, framed by bright bracts of red, pink, and white tones. It is they who give the plant a festive, recognizably "Christmas" look.

Usually poinsettia is bought on New Year's Eve or Christmas Eve, as a temporary decoration. After flowering ends and the bracts fall off, the plant is discarded. This happens because poinsettia is very capricious. For many unlucky flower growers, it rots already in the first months of being in the house, for others it never blooms again. Behind the Christmas star is needed special care, taking into account its tropical origin, clear periods of rest and vegetation. In this case, it will delight you for many years, blooming anew every December. And it can bloom as much as 3-4 months! Therefore, it is still worth making friends with her and keeping her, despite the difficulties.

Poinsettia flowers are small, inconspicuous, but they are framed by bright colorful bracts.

The poinsettia has a complex character. She is extremely thermophilic, prefers a temperature range of 12-25 ° C. The summer heat above 25°C is negative. It does not tolerate dry air, so in winter, with running batteries, it has to be sprayed often. Any cold, draft can also be fatal for the Christmas star. Imagine: this flower in winter needs to be moved away from window glass so that tender leaves do not accidentally touch the cold surface. Here is such a sissy!

Varieties of the most beautiful poinsettia

Acquire poinsettia usually in winter, during the flowering period. It is impossible to buy it on the street, at temperatures below 5 ° C. Even a short stay in such conditions is often detrimental to the poinsettia. Cannot be transferred after purchase open plant in the cold Wrap it in paper, cover with a cloth, and only then take it outside. Otherwise, the poinsettia will get frostbite, the consequences of which can be the most unpleasant: from falling leaves to the death of the plant.

Characteristics of the poinsettia

Christmas star: care during the flowering period (December - February)

So, you bought a blooming poinsettia and brought it home. What's next? Follow simple steps:

1. Place the poinsettia on a light window sill south, east or west. In winter, the southern window sill is ideal for her, but with obligatory shading from direct sunlight.

2. Maintain temperature 16-25°C. Do not open the vents to cold air did not hit the plant.

3. Provide high humidity air. It is desirable that there are no hot batteries under the windowsill that reduce humidity. Dry air has a very bad effect on the plant, reducing its decorative properties(leaves dry, turn yellow, fall off). Therefore, in winter, spray poinsettia with warm settled water 1-2 times a day. Or use other methods to increase humidity. For example, place a plant pot (with a tray) in a wide extra tray filled with wet expanded clay. Or get a humidifier.

4. Water the poinsettia as needed. She prefers moist soil, but without stagnant water and dampness. Watering should be carried out with warm settled water only after the topsoil has dried. The water from the pan must be drained, otherwise the soil will become damp and the roots will begin to rot.

5. One month after purchase, if the poinsettia continues to bloom, feed it complex fertilizer for indoor flowering plants. So you prolong its beauty, add strength for further flowering.

Poinsettia at proper care can bloom up to 4 months!

Rest period (March-April)

After flowering, the bracts of the Christmas star fall off, and the leaves may also partially fly around. The first sign of the end of flowering is the appearance of green leaves on top of the bracts. In this period:

1. Place the poinsettia in a shady, cool place with a temperature of 12-15°C.

2. Trim the plant. It is enough to leave shoots 7-10 cm high on the poinsettia.

Pruning poinsettia allows you to further form a compact, well-flowering bush

3. Minimize watering. Between waterings earthen clod can dry out completely, this will only benefit the "sleeping" plant.

At rest home flower the Christmas star should stay 1.5-2 months.

Vegetation period (May - September)

With the advent of heat, the poinsettia begins active growth: new shoots and leaves appear, the root mass increases.

With the onset of warm and sunny days a pruned poinsettia bush begins to be covered with young leaves

The plan for caring for a Christmas star during the growing season is as follows:

1. Transplant the poinsettia into new soil. It should be loose and moisture permeable. This composition is well suited: leafy soil, soddy soil, peat, sand in a ratio of 2:3:1:1. The pot can be taken a little more than the previous one. But remember that the larger the pot, the taller the poinsettia can grow. At home - up to 35-50 cm.

2. Place the plant pot on a warm, light window sill. Ideally, take it out to the balcony or garden. The place of detention should be light, but with shading from direct midday rays. Hot sun can cause burns tender leaves. It is unacceptable to install a pot of poinsettia in a draft.

3. Keep the poinsettia at 16-25°C.

4. Water the plant moderately, after drying the top layer of earth 2-3 cm thick. Drain all the water that has spilled through the wood holes into the pan. If waterlogged, root rot is possible!

5. As top dressings in the spring-summer period, use universal fertilizers (with the same content of N, P, K) or fertilizers for decorative foliage (with a high content of N). With a violent growth, poinsettia responds to the introduction of humus, bird droppings, and humus.

6. Start shaping the poinsettia. As soon as the plant begins to grow, select the 4-6 strongest shoots, cut the rest (cut cuttings can be used for rooting). Thus, a compact, dense crown is formed and provided decorative look flower.

Preparation for flowering (end of September - November)

Under normal room conditions, without observing certain conditions of maintenance, flowering of poinsettia can be difficult. In order for the laying of flower buds to occur, it is necessary to create conditions for the plant that are close to natural. In its homeland, in Mexico, the flowering of poinsettia begins after 2 months of short daylight hours with a duration of 10 hours. When keeping poinsettia in living rooms, such conditions are provided artificially. There are several options for how to do this:

Option number 1 - protect the poinsettia from light

Beginning in late September, from 6 pm to 8 am, cover the poinsettia with a cardboard box or an opaque plastic bag.

Option #2 - Provide a natural change of darkness and light

In the fall, put the poinsettia in a heated greenhouse or non-residential room where there is no artificial lighting. Naturally, a short daylight hours during this period will be sufficient for her.

Option #3 - Use Light Barriers

Unfortunately, under normal room conditions, the poinsettia on the windowsill will be illuminated by electrical appliances: lamps, TV screens, etc. Even a small amount of light that goes beyond the norms of a short daylight hours can “knock down” the flowering of a Christmas star. If you decide to make your poinsettia bloom on the windowsill, then use thick curtains as a screen from home light. After 6 p.m., pull them tightly so that the poinsettia on the windowsill is in the dark.

All this time:

• water the poinsettia with warm, settled water after the soil has dried to half the pot;
• apply fertilizer for decorative flowering 1 time per week.

At the end of November, after 2 months of short daylight hours, all manipulations can be stopped and the poinsettia can be placed on a bright, warm windowsill. Very soon buds will appear on it, followed by colorful bracts.

The beginning of flowering of poinsettia: buds and colored bracts appear on the apical cuttings
Gradually, there are more bracts, flower buds open

The most beautiful poinsettia: video

How can the most beautiful poinsettia look like, how to care for it to preserve its decorative effect, how to make it bloom? All these questions are answered by the director of the garden center:

Home flower Poinsettia, due to its beauty, quickly finds owners.

Bright inflorescences stupefy all who see this beauty.

A real flower is not only an indispensable element of decor, but also a carrier of positive energy.

What is a plant

The lands of Mexico are the birthplace amazing plant Poinsettia or Christmas star. The flower got its second name for appearance, similar to five pointed star and entering the flowering phase during the period new year holidays(December-March).

In the store you can find another name for the bewitching green pet - Euphorbia.

The green leaves are densely arranged throughout the plant and have pointed tips. The height of the Christmas star can be up to 50 cm if placed in a larger pot.

The color scheme of the buds can be varied - white, yellow, blue, red and pink, depending on the variety.

The most popular is the red poinsettia.

It is better to buy a flower in a store and in warm weather. Shopping in an open area often leads to disappointment, since the Star does not like drafts, they adversely affect her condition.

To avoid stress after purchase and before removal from the outlet, delivery to the destination by car will allow, without unnecessary wrapping, so as not to damage the plant.

Poinsettia. How to care at home

Florists will have to apply a large number of efforts to bring graceful inflorescences to light.

Euphorbia is characterized by 4 stages of development - flowering, dormancy, vegetation and preparation for flowering. All periods are characterized by certain temperature conditions, irrigation and fertilization.

Flowering is ensured by the location of the pots, from December to March, in a place where it is warm and light. The air temperature in the room is not lower than 17 degrees, strong heating of the room is unacceptable, the windows are always closed, the plant is located without the leaves touching the window.

Only dry soil is a reason for watering, waterlogging will lead to the death of the flower. Favorably on the health of Poinsettia, spraying with water at room temperature will affect. This procedure is repeated depending on the humidity of the room and the condition of the plant.

Irrigation of the leaves will help to avoid the appearance of ticks and other pests and diseases.

The dormant phase is characterized by falling petals and leaves, the flower is preparing for hibernation.

The best place would be a shaded area, without sunlight and direct beams. Soil moisture is reduced and is almost not required.

By transplanting a flower into another flowerpot (May-September), the vegetation phase begins.

The soil is selected from leaves, soddy soil, peat and sand. The air temperature is within 17 - 25 degrees.

You can get a new plant only with a cutting, which is cut off at the moment active growth flower and throwing out new shoots.

In September, Poinsettia is rapidly preparing for flowering, so at night (from 6 pm to 8 am) the flower is covered with a cardboard box.

Application universal fertilizers, once a week, will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the flower.

positive omens

Not easy to care for, poinsettia is a positive plant. A number of benefits stand out for a green pet.

Solve the problem with negative impact a family will be allowed to conduct a ritual of cleansing the premises with holy water, going around the house by a priest, or acquiring a black cat.

While the atmosphere is getting better, better plant give to friends, and after two weeks return to the usual penates.