December 19, 2002

Make Your Christmas Poinsettia Last

With the proper care, poinsettias can last into March and April, and even be planted outside as herbaceous plants for the summer, according to Ron Smith, Horticulturist for North Dakota State University’s Extension Service.

"To keep them from looking like they should be relegated to the garbage heap, give them the normal care that you would with any houseplant from the tropics," Smith says. He offers the following tips:

• Avoid drafts. This includes not only cold air, but also direct blasts from forced air heating systems.
• Provide direct light every day. Place the plant by a window facing south or west.
• Allow the poinsettia container to drain. This may mean removing the decorative wrap or simply slicing it. About 20-30 minutes after thoroughly watering the plant, dump out the excess from the saucer beneath the pot. This will help prevent root rot.
• Keep the plant in the coolest room in the house, as long as it stays above 60 degrees. Bring the poinsettia out only when it is time to show it off.
• If you need to transport the plant, protect it from the winter cold. Put a plastic bag over the top of the plant, and place the entire poinsettia in a grocery sack. Move it quickly into a warmed vehicle. It only takes about 20 seconds of direct cold exposure to injure a poinsettia.
• Begin fertilization in January with standard houseplant material, and continue monthly until spring planting. Use the material at about half the recommended rate until new growth is evident. Once outside, fertilize full strength at the time of planting. If foliage begins to yellow, give a second dose.

You may be hesitant to keep a plant in your home or yard that has been rumored poisonous, but Smith says that there is no need to worry. Researchers at Ohio State University proved once and for all in the mid-seventies that poinsettias are not poisonous.

Yet, Smith notes that it is not a bad to idea to use caution around these plants, as they do extract milky sap when the leaves or stems are broken that has been known to cause minor skin irritations. Furthermore, holiday plants are often treated with systemic insecticides that can be harmful if ingested.

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Source: Ron Smith, (701) 231-8161, ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Writer: Teresa Oe, (701) 231-8371, teresa.oe@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu