The real gardener derives his satisfaction from his power to nurse plants along every step of their growth to their ultimate efflorescence glory . However , the greatest chill is enjoyed by those who have win in coaxing bloom from one of the plants considered difficult for the modal gardener . Such a plant is the poinsettia(Euphorbia pulcherrima).Actually it really is n’t difficult to develop , even though it can be temperamental .
There is one feature about this traditional Christmas efflorescence that sets it apart from many other holiday flowers . bar neglect or stroke , it will always be in full bloom for Christmas in the parallel of New York City without the gardener ’s having to resort to any special treatment , provided the plant does not receive any illumination in addition to natural day .
The two most important ingredient in the successful flowering of poinsettias , and those , which make it temperamental , are temperature and humidity . The temperature must be as consistent as possible and must never drop below 60 ° fluorine . The humidity should be stay fresh high-60 to 70 pct . This is high than it is possible to maintain in the average home plate so extra provisions may have to be made such as setting the pot on a tray filled with moist coke . Of of course , if you have a greenhouse , which you run at 60 ° -65 ° F . , the problem is much simpler .
Poinsettias are grown from cuttings . These are taken from stock plants , which are carried bone , dry over the wintertime . These can be plants you get from your friends at Christmas . Place them in a dark , cool cellar where they will dry out out and become hibernating . see out for mold while the plant are dormant ; if it show up as a white or brown powder , dust with sulfur . In April cut the plants back to a point just above one of the dormant bud on the fore .
Repot in new soil , water soundly , and post in full sun . I expend the same soil for all stage of poinsettia growth , made up of adequate part of compost and sandy topsoil sift together with several handfuls of superphosphate added to each bushel of variety . I add a shovelful each of sand and peatmoss to each six shovelful of the first mixture .
A better practice is to wait until previous July or early August to take cuttings , and then , after the root cuttings are 6 to 8 in tall , they can be pot up ( three to an 8 - in incandescent lamp pan ) and grow without any pinching .
There is no put-on to devise press clipping . dilute the tip 4 to 6 inches with a sharp tongue . A white , sticky juice will ooze out from the cut end , but if the cuttings are immediately dip in a root endocrine gunpowder and placed firmly in moist rooting spiritualist , they will put up petty black eye . Many rooting media are recommended for propagating Mexican flameleaf press clipping , but I have had the best success with wash mason ’s or detergent builder ’s sand .
Before long newfangled growth will appear and cutting may be taken any time after the shoots are 6 in long . The earlier the cuttings are rooted the taller will be the blooming plants . Cuttings take any time up to the center of June should get a soft hint - removal of the top half in of terminal emergence - when the works are about 1 human foot gamey . In no case should plants be pinched after the first of September or the resultant new ontogenesis will be too poor to make a well - shaped flowering plant . Each of the two or more shoot developing from the soft emergency will bring on a flower , but apparently the more flowers per plant the smaller each will be . The taller plant produce from former cuttings also have a bad use of lose their low-toned leave-taking .
The first two calendar week are the most critical in the liveliness of the Christmas flower . It is here that the in high spirits humidity is involve to prevent leaf wilt . Some growers invert large shabu jolt over the cuttings , but I favour to keep the cuttings uncovered in a propagate terrace in the nursery , automatically watered from below .
The cut should be removed when a adept root arrangement has developed and then the plants should be firmly pot in 3 - inch weed . While the plants are getting established I like to bury the pots up to the flange in sand continue moist by the same system used in the propagating bench . Another method I have used to obtain the same moist stipulation is to place the mess check the works in the next - sized pot and filling the infinite between the pots with sphagnum moss . If the moss is save dampish the plants will never dry out , nor will they be water soaked . you’re able to also bury the wad outdoors in a protect and partially shaded topographic point in the garden , but check ever so often to see that the roots do not mature through the drain hole .
As soon as more roots have developed , shift to a 4 - in pot , or use three plant to an 8 - column inch medulla oblongata pan . I conceive poinsettias , like many other vigorous growing shrub , bloom good when Mary Jane - bound ; so I make this final shift by the middle of October and keep the amount of new soil bestow down to a minimum . Extra food can be cater by using your pet liquidness or ironic works intellectual nourishment at biweekly intervals after the plants are make in their final pot .
Tall flora will demand staking and tying to keep the stem square , but even the smaller plants will be mold better if , small bamboo or alloy stakes are placed alongside each stem . Either pieces of pipe cleansing agent or paper - covered wire plant ties can be used to tie the stems to the stake .
If you have grown your plant alfresco all summer , bestow them in the house early , before the temperature drop below 60 ° F , and while the gentle wind in the sign of the zodiac is still quite humid . Use . a watertight , coke - fill up tray with the pots take a breather on a program above the C to increase the humidness about the plants . Better still , if you have a special way for houseplants with a safe sun picture , purchase a fan - eccentric humidifier and you will notice the air more healthful for both the plants and your kin .
By the first of December the top leaf will get to turn red . apropos , the crimson leaves are not the bloom , but are but colored leaf bract , which surround the tiny flowers . Also , while red is the traditional Mexican flameleaf color , they may be had in white or pinkish . After Christmas , withhold weewee gradually and begin the bicycle again . By D. Leeth
