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The festive season presents an opportunity to brighten your home with an array of seasonal blooms. Options include the Christmas cactus, amaryllis and jasmine. Another favourite is the poinsettia, celebrated for its eye-catching crimson foliage.
Although relatively straightforward to maintain, achieving the correct placement and hydration during the colder season can prove challenging.
Fortunately, Claire Bishop, senior houseplant buyer at Dobbies, has offered the following guidance for poinsettia owners or those receiving one as a yuletide gift, reports the Express.
Find a well-lit location
The specialist advised: “Finding the right place for your poinsettia is key. Poinsettias like a lot of light, so you should place them in a bright spot where they’ll get at least six hours of indirect sunlight per day.”
(Image: Getty)
She cautioned: “However, you should avoid direct sunlight as this could scorch the plant’s leaves.
“Being a tropical plant, poinsettias also like warmth, so you should keep them away from windows and other draughty spots as this could cause the plant’s flowers to drop.”
Hydrating your poinsettia
This seasonal indoor plant requires moisture only when the compost feels distinctly parched.
Frequency will depend on your home’s ambient temperature, meaning watering could be necessary several times weekly or just once every seven days, contingent on conditions.
(Image: ZoomTravels via Getty Images)
Bishop explained: “Poinsettias won’t thank you for waterlogged soil, so make sure they are planted in a pot with good drainage.
“They also like a humid environment, so a poinsettia’s leaves will benefit from regular misting, which should prevent them from drying out when you have your heating on in winter.”
Feeding your poinsettia
The plant specialist explained that poinsettias will benefit from feeding to keep them “thriving long into the New Year”.
Claire suggested choosing monthly feeds with a liquid plant food.
