How to Propagate and Care Poinsettia Plants from Cuttings

The poinsettia is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Poinsettias are not very long-lived plants in the best of circumstances, but you can certainly extend poinsettia pleasure beyond one Christmas season with appropriate plant care.

Successfully propagating a Poinsettia can bolster your confidence and encourage you to experiment with other plants. Poinsettia plant propagation can provide your home with a continuous supply of lovely holiday favorites. Read on to learn about poinsettia propagation from cuttings and care.

Cuttings Propagation

Before you get started, you may want to slip on a pair of gardening gloves or rubber dish gloves. Take special care not to get the sap in your eyes-whether you have a latex allergy or not. Using your sterilized pruners or scissors, cut off a three to four-inch section of stem from one of the branches. Leave at least two or three leaves on the top of the cutting so that it can take in the moisture it needs through the foliage.

Insert the cutting into the hole you made in the growing medium, making sure the bare leaf nodes go all the way into the medium. Spray the leaves of your new plants with a mister or spray bottle. Those cuttings crave indirect sunlight and a touch of humidity, like a tropical vacation on your windowsill. After few weeks roots will grow properly.

Care for Poinsettia

Water only if the surface of the soil is dry, and continue to water sparingly. Increase humidity by spraying gently with water every few days. This will help keep the leaves and bracts in tip-top condition. Dust the leaves as and when you need to, to keep your poinsettia looking its best but also ensuring its leaves can photosynthesis properly, so it remains as healthy as possible.

71 total views, 1 views today