Cutting back and repotting my poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
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- Опубліковано 29 кві 2017
- Most poinsettias are thrown out shortly after Christmas, but mine was quite happy where I'd put it on the windowsill, but over the last couple of weeks it had started to grow through the coloured bracts so I thought I'd cut it back and repot it.
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In mexico near where i live you find these by flowing rivers near the side
I issued coffee filters in the bottom of the pot .. they keep the
soil in the pot preventing its leaking....J Bell
That's a really good idea. Regards Nick
I also use the spent coffee grounds as a soil conditioner
around plants .... J Bell
@@joycebell6912 The coffee grounds can bind together on the top of the compost and slow water penetration, but a little mix with the existing compost should prevent this. Nick
This is kind of like ‘over summering’ ... something I’m working to perfect as a desert gardener... I’ve gotten a lot of, what are summer annuals to most, are winter annuals to us... and I’ve had a few make it all summer outdoors... they didn’t look good, but I’ve been wanting to try everything under the sun (pun intended) and let the people know what is possible ... looking forward to figuring out pointsettias!
Found this just in time.thank you.
Thank you for posting this video. I didn't know you could put the clippings in water and replant it. Should I wait until I see the roots growing in water before planting?
Thank u so very much.Grateful.
Great stuff! Thank you very much😊
From me in Oklahoma,Thank you.
Merry Christmas 🎄☃️⛄❄
They sound like hard work, even in sub tropical climate
I think most people just buy them for a bit of Christmas colour and throw them out on twelfth night. I've seen them growing outside in Mauritius and the bracts were red at the time, but it was their winter, the plant was 5-6ft tall and looked quite straggly with only leaves on the upper branches.
Beautiful work 🥰 Did you place pebbles at the bottom of the new pot?
Thanks for the message. I used a few broken pieces of an old terracotta pot at the bottom of the new pot, but small stones or pebbles would be just as good. It's not absolutely necessary, but I find it does reduce the amount of compost that falls through the holes in the bottom of pot.
Thanks for enlightnent! Stay healthy and wish you merry Xmas! Greetings from Berlin!
Thanks Dave, I hope you have a very healthy and Happy Christmas as well. Regards Nick
Yes , i think Bougainvillea is a much more solid option. I have seen the yellow poinsettias, and originally wanted them in pot with my palm? In shade, never under 15c, in north east direction
Bougainvillea like full sun, if they are grown in the shade without at least 4-5 hours of direct sun I don't think you'll get many flowers. I'd suggest you have a look in the gardens of neighbouring properties and see what is growing well in a similar aspect to where you are looking to put your pot. Regards Nick
I really enjoyed this video. All the info I needed! Thank you!
I was given a small potted poinsettia a few years ago. I’ve kept in a sunny westerly window, watered when needed and given it a slow release fertilizer. A couple months ago even had a few red leaves.
Now this poinsettia in its small pot has grown quite a bit. It’s top heavy now and growing towards the window on one side. I should have repotted it in the spring.
Can I cut it back now? It’s late summer here in Washington state. Then repot to a bigger pot next spring?
Our winters are too cold and weather here is often grey and rainy for outdoors. But this little plant seems to like it’s spot inside and does just fine.
Hi Gina, Thanks for your message. From what you've said it seems like your poinsettia is very happy where it is. I think if you cut your poinsettia back now, you'll loose any chance of the bracts changing colour later in the year. Whilst I don't know exactly how top heavy your plant is, to stop the plant toppling over, I'd suggest you repot it now or at least sink the existing pot into a larger pot but don't cut it back now wait until the spring. As you keep your poinsettia indoors year-round, with probably a comfortable, consistent temperature, I doubt your poinsettia will notice the change too much, although they do often like to sulk a bit if something changes. I'd also suggest that you try to remember to turn your poinsettia pot a quarter turn (90 degrees) every few weeks to try to get a more balanced growth going forward. Good luck and I hope this helps. Regards Nick
@@UKGardening yes this helps. I think I will turn it and stabilize it in a bigger pot but wait until spring to repot. I just wasn’t sure if pruning it now and reporting this late would be a mistake.
Thank you so much for replying!
🌞
My poinsettia at the bottom of the plant is brown and I transplanted it into a bigger pot and I used some good organic soil so will it be okay I watered it really good
Hi Amy, thanks for your message. I'm not too sure which part of your plant is brown. The stems will start to turn brown as the poinsettia matures, if it's the leaves, these will shrivel, turn yellow and then brown before falling as they age. It sounds like you've potted on your poinsettia well, but they are such fickle plants only time will tell. Try not to overwater your plant, I try to let the soil of my house plants dry out, checking a once or twice a week and then water sparingly. Obviously if a plant is starting to droop I water straight away. I hope this helps. Regards Nick
The red and green leaves on my pointsettia have mostly curled and gotten crispy at the edges. I haven't seen any new growth since January. Yet the stems are still green, although a dark green. Is my plant dead? Why? I watered it every few days.
Hi @PanamaSticks it sounds like your poinsettia isn't very happy, or has perhaps died. They are such fickle plants, it's difficult to know what's caused them to die, too cold a temperature or in a draft, not enough light, too much or not enough water. I sometimes wonder why I keep mine going. I try to keep mine on the dry side, watering once a week, first lifting the pot to feel how light it is and whether it actually need watering. However, sometimes during the week I may notice the leaves on one of them start to droop at which point I'll water them, but sparingly. I think even if your poinsettia begins to recover it will look sad for quite a while as just bare twigs, so maybe it's an opportunity to replace it with a different plant. I hope this helps. Regards Nick
@@UKGardening Thanks. Frustrated. A Neighbor gives me a pointsettia every november. They've all died despite my efforts.
Very helpful - thanks! From California. Happy Holidays!
Thanks for the kind comment and hope you have a very Happy Christmas.
I have a question I'm in Albuquerque new Mexico it's March 12th can I prun my poinsettia now or should I repot it first
Hi Mica, thanks for your message. I'm not too sure of the light levels of where you are, but in the UK, it's probably still a little early in the year to prune or repot. I'd wait until April to prune your poinsettia and then repot, if necessary, in May when the plant is showing signs of regrowth from your pruning. I think pruning and repotting at the same time would put unnecessary stress on the plant, especially as poinsettias seem to like to sulk at every opportunity.😉 I hope this helps. Regards Nick
Sir in which month or weather poinsettia should be hard pruned as u have done .. I am from India here winter is smaller than summers.
Hello Anurag, I cut my poinsettia to take cuttings in April, when the green leaves have started to grow through the red bracts. In the UK we tend to buy poinsettias to have a little colour indoors over Christmas. They are so plentiful in the stores and very cheap we treat them almost like cut flowers, disposing of them or putting on the compost heap as they become leggy. However, I've seen a large poinsettia shrub (5-6ft - 1.5-1.8m) growing quite happily outside in Mauritius, so I wonder if you are growing yours outside and whether your minimum winter night time temperate stays above about 5°C (41F) if need to prune yours back at all, other than tidying it up. I hope this helps. Regards Nick
Your'e not supposed to water a pointsettia before the cutting! Without the leaves, the plant will not be able to transpire as well and it makes more sap occur when cutting.
Thank you for this video! I had no idea they should be cut back! I have a three year old poinsettia in my office that is now tall and spindly, with leaves only at the very tops. Should I still cut it back as there will be NO leaves on the remaining stems?
Hi Staci, poinsettias take quite a few months to recover from any pruning, so you'd essentially be left with a pot with bare stems in your office for quite a while. I'd suggest getting a new plant that can take it's place whilst it recovers. The ones on sale in the garden centres and even supermarkets are nice and bushy and have good colour and don't seem too expensive (I've seen them for £4-£5) last year they were even cheaper after Christmas. I hope this helps and you have a very Happy Christmas. Regards Nick
Hello sir
Day before yesterday I repotted a poinsettia but it seems the plant has gone to shock as its leaves r drooping n shrunken too... Please advice to make it heathy once again
Hello Madhuri, plants often go into a sulk when they've been repotted and generally the plant recovers. It's a bit early in the year to repot a poinsettia, especially as they are particularly susceptible to going into shock when being moved from a sunny to shady position or from a warm room to somewhere cooler. I'd suggest that you put the repotted plant back in the same position as it was in before, try to keep watering to a minimum and hope that it picks up in a few days. Regards Nick
@@UKGardening thank you for your response and hopefully it should recover....
is it ok to put a plastic bag over them for humidity?
Do you have to cut them? What happens if you leave it intact through the summer?
Hi Radwa, no, you certainly don't need to cut them, if you don't they'll just continue to grow and you'll have green leaves appearing above the coloured bracts, in time these coloured leaves will fall off and it will just become a bigger version of the original plant. Regards Nick
I followed this video last year and cut my original poinsettia way back and was successful in growing two cuttings. Should I cut them way back again this year (including the new ones)? The original plant is not much taller than the two cuttings, but is a little more full. Thanks.
Hi Suzanne, that's great news that you were able to get a further two plants. I think it all depends on what they look like. If they are getting long and leggy, which I suspect the newer plants are, then I'd cut them back a bit, but if they are short and stocky as you suggest the parent plant is, I'd be tempted to leave them be. I hope this helps. Regards Nick
@@UKGardening thanks. Should I leave the red leaves on them, too?
@@suzannealotta7779 if you aren't cutting the plants back then don't bother removing the leaves, they will be shed by the plant as they get older. Regards Nick
You have to put some piñatas and lightning bug cupcakes on the plant pot and they will help the plant ☘️🌵🥳🥳🥳🌵🌠🌃🎅🏼🎄🎁
Hello. Sooooo, what do you suggest for a pointsettia, that I've allowed to get to 3 ft x 3 ft x 3ft. It started as a 6 inch christmas present and I have had it in the Bay window here in San Francisco for 6 years and it's huge. It turns red every year. The base is 2" across. Today, I will plant from a 12" x 12" pot to a large 9 gallon pot. I love it and don't want to cause harm and holding off on pruning
Hi Jal, That sounds lovely. Are you thinking of putting it outside in your garden? They are tender, but I've seen them growing very well (6-7ft tall) outside in Mauritius. I think as long as your winter overnight temperature doesn't get below approx 5C (40F) you should be fine, else keep it in a pot and move back indoors or into a conservatory over the holidays and harshest of winter. I hope this helps, regards Nick
Hi! Not sure if you still read these comments but wondered if you could give me some advice? My poinsettia is completely bare other than three small leaves at the very top of the two stems. Is there any way of recovering it? Should I cut the stems right back (sort of how you did in the video) or just leave it how it is? I'm not sure if it will grow any leaves other than right at the top at the moment. Thanks!
Good morning Bryony, I'd be tempted to leave your poinsettia for another 3-4 weeks (April has improved light levels and less extremes of temperature in the house/conservatory/greenhouse etc) and then take cuttings as I've shown in my other video (ua-cam.com/video/VkW4AtQQNYs/v-deo.html). I'd then leave the original plant for a few weeks to see if it regrows (there's no reason why it won't). Good luck and kind regards Nick.
@@UKGardening okay will do, thank you very much for replying! Have a good day!
@@bryonyp8271 A
Hello Nick
I'm raising few cuttings for this fall.
What should I do to get large bracts like yours? Is it subject to their variety or something else that I need to do?
Thankyou
Hello Chuchong, I doubt your plant is a different variety, it's still quite early in the year for them to get into rapid growth, so you might only be seeing smaller new leaves. The red bracts on my plant in the video were from the end of the previous years growing season and had only just started to push through these with new smaller green leaves. The nutrients in your new compost should be sufficient for your cuttings but if you're referring to your parent poinsettia and you haven't repotted it and it's growing in the same pot you could try, in a couple of weeks, giving it a light feed with a liquid fertiliser. Good luck and I hope this helps. Regards Nick
Hi🙋♀️🙏👌
very nice
InCanary islands, can these be planted outside? And will bracts always be red?
Hi Gary. Poinsettias can be planted outside if the outside temperature doesn't get too cold (especially night time temperature - below 5deg C and I think you will struggle). I don't think the bracts will always be red for you all the year round in the Canaries, the colour change is a response to shorter days, they need 12-15 hours of darkness for 6-8 weeks and at least 6 hours of daylight, whilst you'll get this in the winter, I don't think you'll get it in the summer. Kind regards Nick
My sister lives in Palm Springs CA - she has a huge beautiful Poinsettia plant growing in her covered front porch. She's no "green thumb" does zero gardening and completely ignores that plant. And it's not pickey about the soil - it's planted in the ground which gardenias won't grow in! It never gets any special attention whatsoever - been there for years. Go figure!
my poinsettia is still producing beautiful red leaves , but it now looks too big for the pot , can i repot it
Hi Sharon, if it's still producing the red leaves it seems that it's quite happy with where it is and its growing conditions so I'd not be tempted to repot yet as it's likely to stop producing the coloured bracts. Perhaps wait until you start to see the normal green leaves starting to grow above them and then repot. Hope this helps. Regards Nick
Thank you deeply my friend, I’m new to keeping a poinsettia after Christmas. New adventure for me ~ thank you for helping me
Hugs
Thank you for the great advice! New to this! :) Wish me luck!
Good Luck Martha.
How do you do the new rooting on the stems?
Hi hon
I thank you deeply for your advice over these months. If my poinsettia is smelling molted but leaves are growing should I throw it away ?
If it's smelling mouldy, I suspect that it's getting too much water, I'd let the soil dry out and then water a small amount once a week and see if that sorts out the smell, you could also repot the plant into fresh compost, but again keep the watering to a minimum. Good luck.
Do I have to fertilize the plants during that time?
Hi Venecia, no, you don't need to fertilize your poinsettia, or indeed any plant, until you can see it putting on new growth. Even then I'd hold off feeding until it looks like it needs it. Kind regards Nick
my poinsettia plant tip not getting red ,Why ?
Hi Ramesh, thank you for your question. The red bracts (modified leaves) develop in response to the lower light levels that we get in winter.
To change colour, poinsettias need a couple of months of 12-15 hours of darkness and at least 6 hours of daylight (so you can't just keep them permanently in the dark). Without this regime, you'll get a few coloured leaves coming through in the winter, as I do, but I doubt you'll get anything as impressive as store bought plants.
Commercially, to get such bright vivid coloured bracts, poinsettias are grown in a controlled environment, typically in greenhouses, where with shuttering they can control how much light the plants get.
I hope this helps. Regards Nick
Should I repot my Poinsettia if it has gnats?
Fungus gnats mainly feed on fungal material in the compost and dead roots, but the larvae can eat the fresh new roots of seedlings and cuttings, so whilst it shouldn't make a huge difference if you are just repotting your poinsettia, I'd get rid of the gnats first if you are taking cuttings. To control gnats, I use sticky yellow paper, cut into small squares and slipped into a cut end of a short length of a plant stick. Keeping compost on the dry side also seems to help. I hope this helps. Regards Nick
Hi hon
Thank you for the video,very caring and thoughtful , my poinsettia has light brown roots and have black patches with yellow spot, is there way to restore it or time to throw away?
Hi Sheila,
Thanks for the kind comments.
I kept the cuttings that I took in the video growing through the year and had a reasonable display, but they had to be kept somewhere warm all the time, which for me meant the greenhouse all through the summer, taking up valuable bench space that I could have used for peppers and cucumbers, bringing them into the house in October, before it got too cold in the greenhouse, only to find in the middle of December that Tesco were selling plants for £3 each!. That I have to admit, looked a bit better than mine.
But, to answer your question, if you want to have a bit of fun and experiment with trying to rescue it and grow your plant on, reduce any watering until the top of the soil has dried out (a little water perhaps once a week), remove any unsightly or dead leaves and stems and leave the plant somewhere like a windowsill that gets morning or afternoon sun but doesn't get too cold overnight.
I hope you have fun.
Regards
Nick
Thank you my friend , and so welcome
How soon should the poinsettia leaves grow after you've trimmed the stems?
If you mean when will the main plant regrow leaves, I'd say 3-4 weeks. If you are referring to the cuttings, it all depends on when you took the cuttings and where you are keeping them. If they were in the greenhouse I would think 6-8 weeks, but outside they may take a few weeks longer to start to produce leaves.
Will my poinsettias survive if I repot them before they start rooting? PS: love your videos, good work there! XO
Personally, I wouldn't repot your cuttings until you can see the plant starting to grow and is sending out new shoots. When cuttings start to 'take' they produce very fine, delicate roots that could be damaged by re-potting too early. Waiting until the roots are stronger and more established will give the plant a better chance of survival when potting on. If you must repot, make sure to water the plant afterwards to make sure the soil is in contact with the roots. Thanks for the kind words. Regards Nick
Will one of these be ok in a north facing UK windowsill. cheers
Hi Edward, It should be fine, I've had mine from last Christmas sitting on a north facing windowsill all year. It doesn't get direct sunlight, but the room is fairly bright during the day. Just keep them away from draughts, else they will sulk. Regards Nick
@@UKGardening cheers will do. and will subscribe.......thanks
My friend,
I had wrote to you the other day. What should I do with our poinsettia that has fresh leaves growing , bracts are black patches with holes and yellow, light brown roots, smell musky, and with gnats flying around it? Should I fertilize and repot and cut back or throw away? It’s sad to throw away cause of the leaves are growing ~ what is your advice?
Hi Sheila,
The light brown roots, musky smell and compost gnats are a good indicator that the plant is getting too much water, so let it dry out, you could repot it but don't add fertiliser as this may stress the plant out further. Then, as I previously suggested "reduce any watering until the top of the soil has dried out (a little water perhaps once a week) and remove any unsightly or dead leaves/stems."
If you want to get rid of the fungus gnats, put a small amount of cider vinegar in a small bowl/ramekin next to the plant pot, the gnats will be drawn to the vinegar and drown. The gnats breed in damp soil and if you scrape away the top surface of the compost you might see the tiny white/transparent grubs eating the plant roots.
Regards
Nick
Helpful video, I cat and I plant them, but the temperature is 30• Celsius, should I cover up or no?
That's warm enough to not need covering, but you might need to cover them if the night temperatures fall too low (lower than 10C).
I cut my poinsettia just like you 3 weeks ago but there is no any growth. Why is this ?
İ just dont left any leaves
Hi Umut, unfortunately I’ve found that poinsettia are very fickle with where they are placed in the house and how much/little water they require. I’ve often caught mine with dropping leaves but it soon perks up again after a quick watering. If you’ve lost the leaves I’d be tempted to knock it out of its pot and see if you can spot any new root growth, if not I’m afraid to say it might have died but I don’t think you have anything to lose to keep it for a couple of weeks to see what happens. Keep the compost on the dry side but not completely dry. Good luck and I hope it pulls through. Regards Nick
Any updates? How did this poinsettia turn out 3 years later?
Hi Liane, it survived for a couple of years, but I left it in my unheated greenhouse too long into the autumn and a cold night caught it. They are so temperature sensitive that moving my current poinsettia (that I bought at Christmas) from one room to another upset it and all the leaves went limp, but I managed to bring it back to life after its sulk and it's now doing well. Kind regards Nick
@PuraPink GachaI'm sorry to hear about your problems with your poinsettia. In my experience they are really sensitive to temperature change. If you've bought your poinsettia from a store or garden centre in the last few days, position it in your home in a warm, fairly well lit position and away from draughts, which is how they will have grown, all nestled together in a warm greenhouse. Push your finger into the top of the pot and feel if the compost is moist, if it feels a little dry give it a some water (not too much though, depending on pot size, perhaps half an egg cup full for a 9cm size pot). If on the other hand you've moved your poinsettia from one room to another, try to recreate the light level and positioning of the original position and check the compost moisture as above. I've had them loose the majority of their bracts and leaves and still bounce back, although look a little bedraggled over the festive period. I hope this helps. Regards Nick
Please tell me in which month i cut Sir
Hi moii, I cut mine back in April, when the plant has started to put on new growth. Kind regards Nick
@@UKGardening Thank y Nick
speak loud and clearly please