No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeHow to plant and care for a classic holiday gift: the poinsettia

How to plant and care for a classic holiday gift: the poinsettia

Recommended: Squash that tastes like canteloupe? Welcome to the tropics

Most of us are familiar with poinsettia plants (Euphorbia pulcherrima). If you look closely, you can see that what many people think of as big red flowers are actually bright red leaves that surround a group of small yellow flowers. Poinsettias are  native to Central America, but are now found around the world as a leading ornamental, particularly at Christmas.  They are primarily grown as potted plants; however, tropical gardeners can plant poinsettias outside in the garden.

Nurseries offer different varieties of poinsettia as potted plants, or gardeners use stem cuttings about 10-15 centimeters long that are taken from mature plants to propagate new ones. These cuttings should be planted in sandy loam prepared potting soil in containers that are placed in a shady area and watered weekly to prevent them from drying out.  When the cuttings begin to sprout new foliage, they can be moved into the sunlight.  Later, when the plants are well-established, they can be transplanted to larger pots or planter boxes, or planted in the ground outside.

These plants flower best in full sunlight, in well-drained soil fortified with compost fertilizer.  After a year of growth, trim the plants back after blooming to keep them compact. Small insects such as scales, mites and thrips may attack the foliage, but can be controlled with soapy solution sprays. Potted poinsettia plants need watering in the dry season, but hardy outdoor plants can be mulched during the dry season, so they need little or no water at this time.

When it comes to finding a gift this year for your neighbors, why not try a living poinsettia?

Read more of Ed Bernhardt’s monthly Home Gardening columns here.

For more information on tropical gardening – naturally – visit Ed at http://thenewdawncenter.info/blog.html or contact him at thenewdawncenter@yahoo.com. 

140724EdBernhardtcolumnfooter

Trending Now

5 Top Costa Rican Restaurants on TripAdvisor’s Best List

Costa Rica's restaurants have landed spots on TripAdvisor's global list of top dining spots this year. Five local places made the cut in the...

El Salvador’s Bukele Skips UN Meeting, Shares Last Year’s Speech Online

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele chose not to attend the United Nations General Assembly this year, calling the event pointless and a waste of...

Costa Rica’s Fiscal Discipline Earns Higher Moody’s Rating

Costa Rica's credit rating just got a boost from Moody's, moving up to Ba2 with a stable outlook. This change points to stronger handling...

Update: Costa Rica Shark Bite Victim is a Renowned Marine Biologist

Days after our report on the shark attack near Cocos Island, new details have emerged about the incident and the man involved. The diver,...

Costa Rica’s Tourism Adapts to Demands for Authentic Experiences

Costa Rica's tourism sector keeps shifting as travelers look for deeper connections with local life, moving past basic stays to hands-on involvement in food,...

What to Expect from Costa Rica’s Weather in October

October heads into a rainier stretch than usual for most of Costa Rica, based on the latest from the National Meteorological Institute. For those...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica