How to plant the poinsettia flower
For concerned netizens, a detailed explanation of how to plant poinsettia flowers and the experience of green plant maintenance regarding poinsettia planting methods and timing, the editor will introduce next.
The poinsettia is a multi-year ornamental leaf plant of the Euphorbiaceae family, cultivated in most provinces, cities, and districts in China, commonly seen in parks, botanical gardens, and greenhouses for ornamental purposes.
Propagation methods
1. Cutting propagation: Poinsettias are mostly propagated by cuttings, which can be done in both spring and summer. Both tender branches and dormant branches can be used for cuttings, with tender branches being the most common. The cutting soil is a mixture of garden soil mixed with 20% rice husk ash. When cutting, last year's old branches are cut, the top tender shoots are removed, and the cutting branches are 10-15 cm long with 3-4 buds. Half of the leaves are cut off and immediately immersed in prepared clean water to prevent the white juice from flowing out. If the cut end of the cutting has juice flowing out, it should be dried before inserting or dipped in plant ash, or it can be burned with fire. Half of the cutting is inserted into the matrix. It is important to provide shade during the cutting process. After cutting, water thoroughly, and water in the morning and evening to prevent sun exposure, which can cause leaf curling and affect survival. Keep the temperature around 25℃ after cutting, and it will start to root after 15 days, and can be transplanted into a pot after a month.
2. Layering propagation: This involves taking a branch of the poinsettia close to the ground, making a ring-shaped剥皮 in a smooth area, with the width of the ring being approximately the same as the thickness of the branch, usually about 3-4 cm. The branch is then pressed into the soil, and after it has rooted, it is separated from the mother plant and planted as a new plant. Poinsettias usually take about two months to grow roots after layering, at which point they can be cut and planted in a pot to form a new plant. The best time for layering poinsettias is from April to July.
Cultivation and maintenance of poinsettias
1. Potting soil preparation: Potting poinsettias is limited to a special small environment, and no single type of soil can meet the needs of potted flowers for soil. Therefore, potted poinsettias must use potting soil. The potting soil for potted poinsettias can be made by mixing 2 parts garden soil, 1 part decomposed leaf soil, and 1 part compost.
2. Potting: Pot or repot before Qingming Festival, or change the soil or pot. It is best to choose a clay or purple sand pot for planting poinsettias, and the size of the pot should correspond to the length and number of the plant's roots. Seedlings should be potted in a small pot with a diameter of 10 cm and then transferred to a 17 cm pot as the plant grows, and finally planted in a pot with a diameter of 20 cm. New pots should be soaked in water for a few days before use. First, cover the bottom drainage hole with broken pot pieces, then add coarse sand, fine sand, and potting soil. After planting, the central part of the pot soil should be slightly raised. Initially, place the pot in the shade and after 5-7 days, provide ample sunlight.
3. Water and fertilizer management: In spring and autumn, when evaporation is low, water should be controlled. In summer, water once in the morning and once in the evening, usually when the potting soil is dry. In winter, water should be done before noon to prevent the potting soil from being too dry or too wet, which can cause leaf yellowing and falling. Fertilize with some base fertilizer when potting, and start fertilizing with a thin liquid fertilizer every 7 days about 10 days after pinching the top. Apply phosphorus fertilizer during flowering to make the bracts more colorful. It is important to control fertilizer and water to prevent leggy growth, especially before the plant's shape is established in autumn, as too much fertilizer and water can cause internode elongation, tender leaves, and affect the plant's shape.
4. Winter management: Poinsettias are short-day flowers that prefer warm and humid climates, growing well in loose, fertile, well-drained, and slightly acidic soils. They are not cold-tolerant. When temperatures drop in autumn and winter, they should be moved into a greenhouse. Artificial heating is needed when the temperature is below 15℃, and lowering the temperature to 12℃ after flowering can extend the blooming period.
Shaping poinsettias
After the cutting seedlings of poinsettias are potted, they can be pinched after 3-4 weeks of growth, counting 4-5 leaves from the base and cutting off the top to encourage the growth of 3-5 lateral branches, forming a plant with 3-5 branches.
Poinsettia branches grow quickly and can easily become leggy, making the plant too tall. Therefore, it is necessary to train the branches to curl. This can start when the branches are 15-20 cm long. It is important to do this in a timely manner, otherwise the branches will become too hard and easy to break. During the operation, a rope is fixed at the fork of the main stem, the branches are pulled down with the hand to form an arch shape, and the rope is tied at the node of the branch. After 8-9 days, as the branches continue to grow 15-20 cm, they can be bent in a parallel direction to the edge of the pot. The previous downward bend is now made into a horizontal bend, secured with a rope, and then pulled up. This way, the branches form a circle. If the flowering time is still early and the branches are still growing vigorously, this method can be used to curl the branches again.
The above is a specific introduction to how to plant poinsettia flowers and the planting methods and timing, hoping to bring some knowledge of flowers to green plant enthusiasts.