Countless gardening enthusiasts are wondering “How do you start a new poinsettia plant?”. When the holiday ends, you might still want to keep your Christmas flowers.
It has indeed become a routine for some households to adorn their homes with poinsettias every Christmas. As their colors would not be as vibrant after the holidays, some choose to throw them away when they could have reused them for the next year.
As an alternative to purchasing poinsettias each Christmas, you can propagate them instead and start anew when the jolly holiday comes again in the succeeding years. That way, you can save resources and have a never-ending supply of poinsettias.
How to Propagate New Poinsettia Plants
Poinsettias are naturally short-lived plants. You cannot possibly have the same plant live for numerous years. However, you can extend its lifespan and cultivate replacements for it. With proper propagation and gardening methods, that is achievable.
How do you start a new poinsettia plant?
Propagating Poinsettias can be classified into the two most-used techniques, which are root cutting and seeding. You are guaranteed to have replacements for your Christmas Starflowers regardless of the method you use.
If the more common one would be cutting, then that method is easier and faster than the other, and you are sure to have a new growth that looks just like its parent. However, if you want a new variety, you will have that chance if you grow them from seeds.
How can poinsettia be propagated from cuttings?
Just like how you perform root cutting on other crops, you should detach a minimum of three to a maximum of six inches of the stem. If you want the roots to emerge faster, you can try dipping the cut end in a rooting hormone before transplanting them.
Make sure that you use pasteurized soil for your plant for better results. Poke a hole into the moist planting ground and stick your poinsettia cuttings there. Perform this on the earlier days of summer and provide the plants the ideal conditions for them.
After about a month, the roots should have developed, and it would be time to separate the poinsettias into their individual pots. This is so that the neighboring roots won’t interfere with their growth, more so if you planted numerous cuttings in one container.
How are poinsettia seeds cultivated?
Growing them from seeds, on the other hand, can be comparatively tricky. Before you start with the propagation process, looking for them can already be difficult. You can get seeds from the grown ones or order them online, although they are not easy to find.
On the bright side, there are no other processes. You do not have to freeze them or let them sit in seed-friendly solutions. You only have to sow them, and unlike with the root cuttings, you should only place one seed in every container.
However, just like with the other propagation techniques, keep them away from direct sunlight. Indeed, poinsettias need it to grow. However, exposing them to the sun can be disadvantageous to their development and quality of color.
If you don’t have any space indoors, make sure to provide a shade for it if you place them outside. While direct light can be harmful, lack thereof can also be lethal. You can either cover it with a plastic bag or put it under a shed.
The Benefits of Growing Poinsettias and Other Plants Inside a Mini Greenhouse
There are so many benefits of growing poinsettias and other plants in a mini greenhouse. However, many people get hung up on the cost of buying or building a greenhouse. Mini greenhouses are cost-effect yet could provide the same benefits as a regular-sized greenhouse.
Greenhouse gardening allows you to plant beautiful flowers and other plants and crops that you can grow in it. Here are a few advantages of using a mini greenhouse:
Mini greenhouses are great for starting seeds
A greenhouse is a great place to start planting seeds before transplanting them into your garden. You can ensure that your greenhouse will provide them with the warmth and protection they need to grow. You won’t have to start your seeds in your basement, mudroom, or garage.
Mini greenhouses keep pests away
The threat of pests can be daunting for gardeners. Rabbits, raccoons, deer, animals, aphids, cabbage worms, thrips, and other animals and pests can easily damage your garden if left unattended. You can use a greenhouse to protect your plants from these pesky animals.
Extend the growing season of your plants
One of the main reasons why gardeners use mini greenhouses is to extend the growing seasons and grow more plants. Greenhouses allow you to control the growing environment by adjusting the temperature inside. You’ll be able to create a warmer environment if you live in colder regions so you can plant warm-weather plants. Your plants will grow longer, and you’ll have more plant options to choose from.
The Bottom Line: How Do You Start a New Poinsettia Plant?
Regardless of the propagation method that works best for you, only knowing how do you start a new poinsettia plant is not guaranteed to work. Remember, keep the light and water in appropriate amounts, and don’t ever skip maintenance.