Poinsettias are not just for Christmas!

Poinsettias originate from Mexico and are perfect for the WA climate. They are available in deep reds, to bright and pale pinks and whites.

How to grow poinsettias in the garden

• Choose a spot in the garden that gets full sun to part shade and is sheltered from strong winds.
• Prepare the planting area well by digging in soil improver and plant fertiliser.
• Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball.
• Remove the plant from the container and gently tease the roots.
• Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Water in well.
• Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips or pea straw, keeping it away from the base of the plant.

How to grow poinsettias in a pot

• Choose a pot at least 400 mm wide and deep.
• Position in full sun to part shade that is sheltered from strong winds.
• If keeping the plant indoors, ensure that it placed in a position that receives at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight per day.
• Fill the pot with quality potting mix. 
• Remove the shrub from its smaller container, gently tease the roots.
• Position in the pot and fill around it with more potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.

Did you know?

• The bright petals that most people think of as the flowers are actually the upper leaves of the plant called bracts (modified leaves). The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the centre.
• Poinsettias are one of the most popular houseplants in the world.
• They can grow up to about 4m when they are planted out in the garden.
• Poinsettias have to be forced into putting on a display of colour out of season in the Southern Hemisphere by being kept in the dark for at least 14 hours a day from mid spring.

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