"Christmas star", the most beautiful euphorbia, or poinsettia is one of the most popular gift houseplants. During the New Year and Christmas season, this flower is given and bought for interior decoration. At the end of the season, most of the plants are discarded. However, poinsettia is capable of a long life in your apartment - you just need to properly care for it.
From the life of the stars
"Christmas Star" has a very attractive appearance. This compact, branched bush is strewn with large scarlet inflorescences and beautiful dark green and white elongated leaves. Such a plant successfully replaces the traditional bouquet and is perfect for decorating the Christmas table.
Poinsettia is usually bought during the flowering period. When choosing a plant in the store, pay attention to the small central inflorescences. If they are not revealed, the "Christmas Star" will delight you with flowering longer.
The plant is undemanding - it loves bright diffused light and regular spraying. Flowering lasts for several weeks, then the leaves completely fall off. After that, many owners throw the flower away. But you can keep it and the plant will bloom again next Christmas.
Care features
Choose a suitable location for the poinsettia. In winter, she feels good at the window - the cool air provides a comfortable temperature not higher than 16 ° C. "Christmas Star" is afraid of drafts, overdrying and waterlogging of the soil - from this the plant can lose leaves ahead of time. Water the flower with soft, settled water and spray the leaves and stems daily. This will help keep the flower free from mealybugs and spider mites, which often affect poinsettia.
During flowering, it is worth feeding the "Christmas Star" with liquid complex fertilizer. When flowering stops, and the leaves begin to actively fall off, reduce watering. Move the flower to a shaded, cool place protected from drafts. The poinsettia should be in this state until the beginning of May. Then transplant the plant, increase watering, and start feeding. Wait for new shoots to appear - this will mean that the flower has entered a phase of active growth.
Remove excess shoots - they can be used for further rooting. Keep the plant exposed to light until early fall. In September, put it in the shade and cover it with a dark plastic bag overnight. The blackout period should be 14 hours. This program is designed for 8 weeks - it will give the plant an opportunity to gain strength for flowering.
In November, inflorescences will begin to form on the poinsettia. Place the flower on a bright window and wait for the early bloom. In this mode, the "Christmas Star" can live for several years. Every year the bush will grow taller. So that it does not grow too much, carefully prune it during the growth of the shoots, forming a beautiful crown.
