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Holiday Flower Care

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Holiday Flower Care

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Poinsettias are easy to care for if you start by removing the foil cover around the pot. Removing the foil allows the water you provide to adequately drain to provide necessary oxygen to the roots. Water regularly when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch, provide a saucer under the pot and drain the saucer when excess water collects. Soggy soil that does not drain can quickly kill a poinsettia. Keep your poinsettias in a bright area never in full sun or under hot lights, keep away from drafts. When the holiday is over, you can plant your holiday poinsettia into your South Florida garden to enjoy for years of seasonal color. Choose a sunny spot that will not receive any artificial light to establish your poinsettia. Poinsettias prefer a sunny, well-draining soil area. Poinsettias respond well to good care, regular irrigation and fertilization. Apply a slow release fertilizer every three months. Prune poinsettias regularly as new growth develops. Pruning in this manner will produce a nice compact plant with many showy flowers, rather than one with few long, un-branched canes. Discontinue pruning after September 10th.  Ideally, as the days become shorter in the fall, the poinsettias set their flower buds. However, poinsettias may not flower if their day length is extended by artificial light. This can occur when a poinsettia is growing near a street light or near a house where it receives light from a porch, window or door. In such cases, either flowering will be delayed or the plant may not flower at all.  For information on caring for all your holiday flowers contact the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service Master Gardener Volunteers at 233-1750 M-F 9-4

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