- Do not over-fertilize poinsettia
- Provide poinsettia with long-term fertilizer
- Fertilize poinsettias during the growth phase
- Fertilize during the flowering period
Many poinsettias often don't survive more than a few days because they are kept too moist or fertilized too much. When fertilizing, you should therefore keep a sense of proportion and prefer to give fewer nutrients than too many.
When fertilizing poinsettias, less is more
Do not over-fertilize poinsettia
A poinsettia planted in fresh soil does not initially need to be fertilized. Sufficient nutrients are present in the substrate. You should only fertilize it regularly if you want to grow the houseplant for several years.
In principle, fertilization is carried out at longer intervals throughout the year. Only from August to October should you take a break or give less fertilizer. The poinsettia needs different nutrients during the growth phase than in winter during the flowering period. So you need to get two different liquid fertilizers.
- Growth phase: every three to four weeks
- potash fertilizer
- Before flowering: every two weeks
- phosphorus fertilizer
Never add more fertilizer to the irrigation water than stated on the package. It is even better to reduce the quantities to half.
Provide poinsettia with long-term fertilizer
Instead of liquid fertilizer you can also use fertilizer sticks (4.48€). Depending on the variety, these are planted in the ground in spring. Additional fertilizers are not required.
However, using liquid fertilizer provides greater assurance that the poinsettia is getting the nutrients it needs at each stage of growth.
Fertilize poinsettias during the growth phase
After flowering, start carefully with the first doses of fertilizer. During this time use a fertilizer that contains a high proportion of potash.
Fertilize every three to four weeks.
Fertilize during the flowering period
From November, the poinsettia is made darker or temporarily covered with a paper bag to make it bloom again.
Five weeks before blackout, fertilize the poinsettia with a fertilizer high in phosphorus. It stimulates the formation of the bracts and above all the strength of the colour.
Until the first bracts have appeared, feed it with this fertilizer every two weeks. From the flowering period, use fertilizer with a potash content again.
tips
The poinsettia usually lasts longer if it is planted in new soil after purchase. Plant substrate for poinsettias can be easily put together yourself from peat, garden soil, lava rock and quartz sand (€15.85).