If it has grown since the last check, trim the stems back down to 6 inches (15 cm) or to your desired size, leaving 3 or 4 new leaves on the stems. Prune often throughout the year to keep the poinsettias at this size. All too often, people throw their poinsettias away once the holiday season is over, not realizing that the plant still has plenty of life in it. Basically, you want to treat poinsettias like any houseplant: Give them bright light, don’t over-water them and make sure to feed them with a liquid houseplant fertilizer. January to March: Keep watering the poinsettia whenever the surface is dry. What Makes Poinsettias Turn Red? Bold and beautiful, the poinsettia plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) has bright petals that contain small flowers of green and yellow at the center. Hannah O'Leary poinsettia.jpg. It's easy to spot sap oozing from a poinsettia plant because of the watery but white latex composition. This whiteness contrasts with the dark green of leaves, or the various colors of the bracts. It is actually the plant’s leaves that provide its color through a process called photoperiodism. I have 3 poinsettias in my office from last Christmas season. Check on your poinsettia once a month. The poinsettia plant is native to Central […] How to look after a poinsettia. DO Make Sure Your Plant Gets Adequate Darkness. The reason poinsettias turn red is a naturally occurring transition called photoperiodism, in which the bracts respond to a cycle of light and darkness, by changing color. Only on white- or cream-colored bracts would the sap be slightly camouflaged. There are new shoots of the plants growing and the new leaves are all green. Initially, the white sap bleeds and runs quickly if the wound is large. Not all poinsettias change from green to red, though it is the most common color transition. Get a poinsettia back to red in time for the holidays by keeping it in the dark. One was red, one white, on blue with glitter. April: Starting April 1, gradually decrease water, allowing the soil to get dry between waterings. Keep your poinsettia looking as stunning as the day you bought it with our care guide featuring everything you need to know and more. Many people wonder what makes poinsettias turn red. Poinsettias come in a range of colors from white to orange, but are most popular in their red variety. This process, in response to certain amounts of light or lack thereof, turns the leaves from green to red (or pink, white, and other shade variations). How to Revive a Dying Poinsettia. They are still very well alive and have shed most of their colored leaves, with the white one having the most remaining. Be careful that the stem does not begin to shrivel. Your poinsettia plant should have a rounded shape, with dense and compact growth. 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