Here it is less than 2 weeks until Christmas...
I thought this year that I would be able to keep my Christmas poinsettia alive, from one Christmas to the next... but, no luck again.
In October, I was tickled, as my plant, that I got 10 months ago was still alive. That's a record for me!
But, then it began looking sickly. And, about 2 weeks ago, my husband thought it was looking pretty pitiful (it was still alive though). So, he decided to give it some additional care. He watered it and figured that some fresh air and sunshine would do the trick. He put it out by the pool, in the direct sunlight. There it sat for 2 days. Uh-oh! It was fried! That was officially the end.
I typically have a green thumb with outside plants, but give me an inside plant and I'll have it dead in no time.
Are poinsettias supposed to live for a long period of time or are they only seasonal plants? And just HOW do you take care of these beautiful plants? Does anyone know? I sure don't!
I don't buy poinsettias for myself. I receive them as gifts, from people that don't know that I'll have the poor thing dead in no time.
So, this year, when I receive my beautiful Christmas poinsettia, I hope I can keep it alive until next Christmas.
Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate
Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing
I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations. I can help with Short Sales and Foreclosures.
I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.
Your blog made me smile Sandy...I've never been able to keep a P alive...
Hi Sandy-
You have the optimism necessary for real estate! Be patient with those Poinsettias and find some kind gardener (not me), to let you know how to keep more than the hope alive. by the way, the photo of the live poinsettia is just beautiful
Happy Holidays --Sara in San Antonio
They can be very hard to make live. I keep mine in the basement until the weather starts chilling and then feed them. I have been lucky.
I love these and we can not keep them. My wife says that they are poisonous to our cat
Merry Christmas from your friend in Charlottesville!
I have heard they are poisonous as well so I don't haev any. I have enough trouble with my Christmas Cacti!
It is ok, Poinsettas love the darkness --maybe put it in your closet for a month and it may come back? good luck
shelton
They are subtropical, they surrounded our house as shrubbery when we lived on Okinawa (25 deg North latitude). Gorgeous, gorgeous during the blooming season. Is it warm enough where you live to take them out of the pot and put them into the ground?
I've never had any luck with them. But then again, my green thumb turns everything brown. They are gorgeous though when in full bloom and healthy!
When you figure it out let me know. I have never had any luck with them either. They make such a mess with they start dropping their leaves. Now I just toss them when they start looking sick.
Sandy,
I have a friend who has some gorgeous ones. He said they have to go without sunlight for 14 hours a day if you want them to bloom....
Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO
Don't feel too bad. I've given up on house plants. Years ago, I became the first person ever to kill a cactus plant.
Glad to know I'm not the only one! I read the same thing about darkness. It said you're supposed to put them in a closet. Seems every year by the time I remember this is too late and the poor thing is a goner.
Good luck!
Sandy looks like my poinsetta. My wife actually got one to bloom this year. She placed it in the house to escape freezing temperatures and it was dark enough for it to bloom.
Sandy, You do have to keep them dark if you want them to bloom again but I had one for three years. After it's lovely leaves the first year it stayed green...I gave it lots of water and sunlight and I still miss it!
Sandy
Well another poinsettia bites the dust.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Oh Sandy, I remember the one from last year too!! :-) I rarely get them, they really don't seem to do well in dry Colorado and always die. I think in some climates they are perennial- but in most they are only annual! Merry Christmas Sandy, enjoy that beautiful plant as long as you can!
I have found poinsettias do best in a cool dark place. I haven't mastered taking it out of the cool dark place...
You have a friend in Washington State,
Paul
Sandy, I give mine 6 ice cubes every other day and it does the trick!
I think if there was such a thing as "The Killed Poinsetta Society" the membership would be overwhelming. I enjoy indoor plants but have given up on them completely since I have 3 cats and they love to eat those leaves. Indoor plants and indoor cats don't mix very well.
Hello Sandy, Funny post and you just reminded me that I am trying, for the first time, to keep a begonia plant alive until springtime 2010. The idea of adding a few ice cube posted by Caren is what I just added to my last season's plant hibernating out in my garage storage room.
Debbie, Gosh, I don't feel so bad now. I thought I was the only one that killed these beautiful plants.
Sara. Looks like there's alot of good advice here on how to take care of these plants. I have to take some notes, so I can keep mine alive till next year.
Laura, Hmmm, we don't have basements, so maybe a dark cool closet? Wonder if that would work.
Charles, I have heard that they can be poisonous to your animals if they eat them.