Why doesn’t the poinsettia bloom: how to properly care to make the buds form, and also what to do next, after the euphorbia has dropped the leaves?

Poinsettia, or the most beautiful euphorbia, is an amazing plant of the euphorbia family, which blooms in winter.

During this period, it has a spectacular and very unusual look. In some countries, it is customary to give blooming poinsettia for Christmas.

In order for the plant to bloom by this time, it is necessary not only to competently take care of it, but also to purposefully carry out a number of simple manipulations.

Let's see why the plant is naughty and how to light a Christmas star.

When can I see the most beautiful Euphorbia blooming?

With proper handling of poinsettia, it blooms annually at the end of December. If you follow the recommendations, flowering lasts from four to six months.

What is needed to achieve flowering?

Growing poinsettia at home and not observing the nuances of caring for the plant, you can not wait for the flowering of poinsettia. There is a whole instruction, the exact implementation of which leads to the fact that the most beautiful euphorbia necessarily blooms on the eve of the New Year holidays.

How to “light” a Christmas star on a windowsill?

In the natural environment, poinsettia blooms in short daylight hours and long nights. How to make a plant bloom at home? It is necessary to artificially create a lighting mode similar to natural.

From the end of September, start daylight hours restriction. From six to seven o’clock in the evening, put the poinsettia in a closet or cover it with a dark box that does not allow light to pass through. It is necessary to hide the plant from the light until seven to eight in the morning. Poinsettia should be in the dark for about 14 hours a day.

In the afternoon, place the plant in the most lit place. Water and spray normally. Regularly feed. Contain poinsettia in such conditions for eight to ten weeks.

Important! The dimming should be absolute, otherwise the bracts will be unevenly colored.

As soon as the flower buds appear and signs of staining of the bracts are visible, the blackout is stopped. Stop feeding. Subject to these conditions, poinsettia will certainly bloom by Christmas. To increase the flowering time, maintain a temperature slightly below normal.

The process of forming buds

The mode of artificially created short daylight hours leads to the formation of flower buds on the plant. Poinsettia flowers are small and inconspicuous, can have pink, yellow-green or white color. After the formation of flower buds, in late November - early December, staining of bracts begins.

This is the name of the leaves located around the inflorescence. They are assembled in a socket similar in shape to a star. It is the bracts that create the spectacular look of poinsettia during the flowering period.

Leaves can be bright red, white-pink, purple, cream or white. The plant appears in all its glory by the end of December. Hence another name for poinsettia - the Christmas star. The color of the bracts lasts up to six months.

Dormant care

Typically, by the end of March, poinsettia fades, what should be done next?

It is necessary to stop feeding and gradually reduce watering.
When the bracts wither and begin to fall off the lower leaves, all stems should be cut, shortening them to ten centimeters. Leave three to five healthy buds on each of the shoots, which will provide a new growth and become the basis for future flowering.
Then the poinsettia is sent to rest. It is necessary to transfer the plant to a dry shaded room, where it will be at a temperature of +14 to + 16 ° C. Indicators should not fall below + 10 ° C. The rest period lasts one and a half to two months.
At this time, poinsettia practically does not need watering. In order not to completely dry the soil, it is very rare and careful to feed the plant with water through a pallet. Do not forget to pour out excess moisture. Waterlogging of the substrate leads to decay of the root system and the aerial part of poinsettia.

Why is the plant "acting up"?

Poinsettia is a rather moody plant. She refuses to bloom for various reasons:

lack of light and heat;
dry indoor air;
irregular watering;
stress due to a change of place during the formation of buds;
lack of pruning;
defective top dressing;
pot size too large;
lack of rest period.

How to care?

Consider how to properly care for poinsettia so that it blooms. It is necessary to create optimal conditions for the plant:

Arrange good lighting. In April - May, after a period of rest, place the poinsettia in the brightest place. South and southeast windows are ideal for this.
Maintain high air humidity - from 60 to 90%. Spray the area around the Christmas star daily with warm water from a spray bottle. Do not allow moisture to get on the leaves - they will become stained.
Keep at medium air temperature. Heat is contraindicated to the plant. The optimum temperature in summer should be between +20 and + 25 ° C. In a too cold room, poinsettia stops growth and does not bloom. It is necessary to protect poinsettia from sharp fluctuations in temperature, otherwise the plant will drop its leaves.
Protect from drafts. Poinsettia loses foliage even as a result of a short exposure to cold air.
Water regularly twice a week, as the topsoil dries. Use soft water that has been left for several days. Make sure that moisture does not stagnate in the pan. In the fall, watering is gradually reduced. In winter, carry out the procedure only once a month.
Choose a pot not too big for poinsettia. Otherwise, a lot of moisture accumulates in the container and the roots begin to rot. At initial planting, take a medium-sized pot. In the future, each time replace the tank with a larger one. The new pot should be two to three centimeters larger than the previous one.
Contain poinsettia in loose soil that is moisture and air permeable. The optimum acidity of the soil is from 5.8 to 6.6 pH. A ready-made substrate for decorative leafy plants is suitable. You can form the soil yourself by mixing turf, leafy soil, peat and river sand in a ratio of 3: 3: 1: 1. Before use, such a soil must be sterilized with a weak solution of manganese.
In the spring-summer season, fertilize every two weeks. In order for them to be well absorbed, it is better to alternate organic and mineral dressings. Strictly observe the concentration indicated on the package, otherwise it can harm the plant. Until the very moment of flowering, the milk of the most beautiful requires fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and potassium.
The young plant should be replanted annually, and after reaching the age of three years - every two years.
Do not transplant poinsettia during flowering. The procedure must be performed after the end of the dormant period, when young leaves appear on the branches. The best time for a transplant is April and May. In this case, use the transshipment method - do not release the root system from the old substrate. This will preserve the delicate poinsettia roots from damage.
Annually provide the plant with a good rest after flowering.
Be sure to trim twice a year. The first procedure is carried out after flowering - before the dormant period. The second - in April, after a transplant.

Euphorbia drops the lower leaves: what to do after that?

After flowering, the bracts turn green, then turn pale and fall off. The plant loses its decorative effect. Then poinsettia drops the lower leaves, exposing the trunk. Some inexperienced gardeners decide that the plant has died, and get rid of it. In fact, poinsettia requires pruning and rest, after which it will resume growth and will be ready for new flowering.

What to do if poinsettia is sick and discards leaves in December, as well as about various diseases and pests of the plant, we described in our material.

Poinsettia bloom can be caused by creating for her a regime of short daylight hours and long nights. With proper care, the Christmas star pleases with its bright leaves on the eve of New Year's celebrations, creating a cosiness and a festive atmosphere in the room.