A Holiday Poinsettia Can Move Outdoors
Question: I would like to save the poinsettia I got for Christmas and plant it in the yard. Is that possible?
Answer: Yes. Many people don’t know that potted poinsettias given as gifts during the holiday season can be replanted in the garden and will bloom every winter for years to come.
If you want to plant a poinsettia in the garden after the holiday season, make sure to keep it healthy while indoors. This means placing the plant in a sunny, draft-free location and watering it when it is approaching dryness.
When planting poinsettias in the garden, choose a well-draining location in full or partial sun. They are native to Mexico and like lots of heat.
In the ground, poinsettias tend to get fairly large and rangy--up to 10 feet and even higher.
With this growth habit in mind, they look best up against a southern exposure wall. This will also protect them from strong winds, which will quickly tear up the leaves.
To start their flower bud formation in the fall, which will lead to a change in color, poinsettias must get 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness for at least two weeks. Because our days don’t shorten until the end of October, this makes it necessary to shelter them from light in mid- to late September, if you’d like blooms for the holiday season.
To do this, cover the plant with a black plastic frame. Otherwise they will bloom in January or February.
When color begins to show, feed poinsettias every two weeks with a high nitrogen fertilizer. Prune the plant once it is done blooming.
*
Have a problem in your yard? University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners are here to help. These trained and certified horticultural volunteers are dedicated to extending research-based, scientifically accurate information to the public about home horticulture and pest management. They are involved with a variety of outreach programs, including the UCCE Master Garden hotline, which provides answers to specific questions. You can reach the hotline at (714) 708-1646 or send e-mail to ucmastergardeners @yahoo.com. Calls and e-mail are picked up daily and are generally returned within two to three days.
