About a month ago, I shared some poinsettia tips-and-tricks with you. Now, I’m back to tell you . . . they worked!
I didn’t obsess over my collection of poinsettias this year. Like . . . at all. But I did keep them appropriately watered, and I tried to make sure they got as much light as I could give them.
The lime green poinsettia? It was the first to go. It lasted through December – barely. It was losing quite a few leaves that last week, and generally failing to thrive. (It was the one that received the least amount of light, so I’m thinking that was the likely culprit.) Still. It looked pretty good . . . right up until it didn’t.
The grouping of red poinsettias (there were 4 of them) at the base of my twinkle-light birch tree lasted until just the other day – and looked great throughout the holidays. Very festive. They needed quite a bit of water each week (their placement = close to a heat vent), but they lasted much longer — and didn’t look nearly so “Charlie Brown sad” — than they had in past years. (They were shedding leaves like crazy by the time I moved them on to the compost bin on Monday, though.)
That speckled poinsettia (my favorite)? Oh, it thrived! In fact, it continues to thrive. (If you click in to my original post and then scroll down a little bit, you can see how small it was when I brought it home.) That photo up at the top of this post was taken just yesterday morning! I think it’ll last for a while yet, and I like having it around. The speckles are subtle and it doesn’t scream “merry christmas” like the bright red ones did, so it fits in well with my remaining twinkle lights here in January.
So. Overall, I’m going to say that just a little “watering attention” every couple of days really did the trick for keeping my poinsettias alive through the holidays!
Now . . .
I can focus my efforts on these babies!
Indoor gardening is almost as much fun and just as beautiful as your outdoor gardens (and far fewer weeds)!
I, too, have given my all to the amaryllis. I bought two, one bright orange (Naranja) and one red/white (Queen Flamenco). Each have two stems (so far) and they are, at this point, over a foot tall. February is looking bright. The Holiday Cacti were looking poorly, so out they went. I am plant free, which is bitter sweet, but I am happy to not have to baby anything and with my poor light it’s better this way.
Well done!
Enjoy the new plants.
The speckled poinsettia is beautiful! My amaryllis are behind but I think they’re livening up! I’m looking forward to seeing more of them…
I’m glad you’ll be enjoying that last poinsettia for a while longer! Our amaryllis are just starting to grow. Could be a nice welcome home!
I also was able to keep my poinsettia alive with your care suggestions. A few leaves are starting to drop but the rest looks healthy and happy. It does seem to like being damp all the time. Getting a poinsettia made me more aware of the rest of my houseplants and they are looking happier also. Norfolk Island Pines were on sale at our local Lowes for $20 and I couldn’t resist. It is close to 3′ tall and I love it!
That speckled plant is a real survivor! I have not had an amaryllis in years, but I remember the fun of watching and waiting.
The speckled poinsettia is so pretty! I didn’t bother getting any “holiday” plants this year since we were traveling to TX. I did, however, gift a waxed amaryllis to our neighbors who came over daily to feed Mabel. I haven’t seen them (thanks Covid and busy times), but hopefully it is working out…meaning growing and having a bud or two or three…or even blooming! Next year I plan to get me some amaryllis. I do enjoy them so. Also enjoyed last night’s discussion – thanks again for hosting us all!
Your speckled pointsettia is beautiful! My grandmother used to winter over pointsettias and they were huge! Around March she put them in a dark closet in her basement for a few months, then brought them out into the sun around July or August and they were always beautiful by Christmas. I’m glad when they last through February!
I enjoyed last night’s discussion, thank you for hosting!
What a terrific job on the indoor gardening. Here’s to the amaryllis making their entrance. May they be beautiful and bloom long. Thank you for hosting the discussion last night. I enjoyed it.
Thanks for reporting back on your poinsettia journey, I’m really glad they lasted through the holidays and beyond for you. And those amaryllis are coming along at just the right time, too!
Bravo to you on your Poinsettia success! And it looks like February will be a stellar month for flowers for you too! XO