Poinsettias are the perfect plant for Christmas with their red bracts and green leaves.
Most people’s poinsettias die off after the Christmas period because they’re not cared for properly.
Underwatering, poor lighting, sudden changes in temperature and low humidity can all contribute to an unhappy poinsettia.
So how can you ensure your poinsettia continues to thrive beyond Christmas and into the New Year?
Keria Kay, a plant expert at Bloom & Wild has shared exclusively with Express.co.uk how to keep plants alive “beyond the festive period”.
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She explained: “If you plan on keeping the plant beyond the festive period, it’ll want feeding monthly with potassium-rich plant food to encourage new flowers.
“Prune back in the early spring and keep it at a slightly lower temperature (around 13 to 15 degrees) and reduce the light it gets to 10 to 12 hours per day to mimic the wintery shorter days.
“You’ll want to re-pot it in May and pop it in a cool location (around 18 degrees) for continued growth.”
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It’s important poinsettias are not kept in areas where temperatures tend to fluctuate during the day.
For example, window sills, radiators, fireplaces, draughty windows and doors should all be avoided when it comes to choosing the best location for your poinsettia.
Poinsettias one need to be watered when the top layer of the soil is dry to the touch.
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These plants do not like to be overwatered and should only be watered to the point where the water is draining from the bottom of the pot.
The plant should not be left to sit in the water but should be allowed to drain.
Poinsettias should only be watered every few days or once a week depending on where it’s positioned and the size of the plant.
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