Along with the fashion for holiday wreaths, Coca-Cola and Christmas in December, the fashion for poinsettia came to us from the West.
Poinsettia (the most beautiful euphorbia) is one of the rare plants that bloom in winter. The actual flowers of the poinsettia are small, but around them there are huge bracts - red, pink or even white, which give the plant such a recognizable look.
The decor is made in the form of a poinsettia, it is depicted on postcards, but the poinsettia flowers themselves are actively sold in many stores, even non-specialized ones. Poinsettia can be a good holiday gift, but only if you are sure that the person you gave it to is a good gardener, because this plant is considered very moody.
The Christmas star is a tropical plant, so it is very thermophilic, but at the same time it does not feel well in the heat above 25 degrees Celsius. It needs sufficiently humid air, so it is better to put it away from radiators and spray it more often. Any drop in temperature, a draft will affect the flower extremely negatively. That is why, even when buying, you can ruin the plant if, after purchasing it, you transfer it from the store without wrapping it in paper and thick fabric.
After purchasing, the poinsettia should be placed on a windowsill with maximum illumination (ideally by a south-facing window), but slightly shading direct sunlight. It is impossible for it to stand under an open window. The air should not be very dry (spray the flower 1 or 2 times a day with warm water, you can also use a humidifier). Water the poinsettia so that the soil is constantly moist, but do not allow water to remain in the pan under the pot. As a top dressing, choose complex fertilizers for flowering plants.
In spring, the poinsettia will end in bloom and some of the leaves may fall. During this period, it is worth trimming the plant a little, placing it in a cooler place. The amount of water for irrigation should also be reduced. In the summer, you can transplant the poinsettia into a larger pot, you can take it out to the balcony. Do not overmoisten the soil when watering!
Note! In the fall, when the poinsettia is getting ready to bloom, it is especially important that it is in the correct day / night light regime. As a last resort, if you need to stay in artificial light for a long time, cover the flower with blackout curtains.
