comes from Mexico and is one of the most popular symbols of Christmas. In December, it visits almost every home to beautifully decorate the interior for the holiday season. With proper care, it can bloom again, which many people are unaware of, treating it as an annual plant. So what should you do to preserve the Star of Bethlehem for a long time?
The Star of Bethlehem, or rather it wilczomlecz nadobny or Poinsettia is an extremely spectacular potted plant, but also quite demanding. The needs and most important care issues require a lot of input and commitment so that the plant can fully enjoy its appearance.
Unfortunately, home conditions do not meet the needs of the star of Bethlehem, so the one you bring from the store starts to waste quickly. There may be several reasons for this state of affairs. First of all there is this too dry air, which causes leaves to fall. Moreover, poinsettia does not tolerate well too much wateringwhich in turn contributes to root rot.
In winter, unfortunately, long periods without sun are the norm, but this is not without significance for the star of Bethlehem, which does not rise due to lack of light. What’s more, low temperatures and drafts also cause the plant to grow poorly and waste away. However, the spectacular Star of Bethlehem during Christmas and its re-blooming are possible with proper care and simple tricks.
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After flowering, the star of Bethlehem begins to lose its leaves, which is a natural stage for it. Many people then decide to throw away this plant, although in fact it does it goes dormant to prepare for a new cycle and to bloom again. Therefore, the poinsettia, by losing its leaves, does not wither and with proper care, it can survive until the next holiday season.
You just need to take care of a few basic things. In addition to ensuring the optimal conditions already mentioned, the Star of Bethlehem should be pruned after flowering. It is best to prune the plant to 1/3 of its height, which will encourage it to produce new shoots. In addition it is crucial to remember the plant’s rest period. Therefore, you need to give the plant a rest by moving it to a cooler place and reducing watering.
As with other potted plants, when caring for the Star of Bethlehem, remember to properly fertilize the plant. During the growth period, it is a good idea to do this every two weeks, using fertilizer for flowering plants. If you have a poinsettia that is several years old, you should also take care of transplanting the plant into a larger pot and new soil.
This way, the plant will survive healthy until the next holiday season. After the rest period, watering and fertilization should be increased. To give it time to flower, you can cover the plant with cardboard or other material for about eight weeks to ensure it has short days.. Don’t forget to provide the right amount of light during the day. Although the star of Bethlehem is quite a demanding houseplant, its re-blooming will certainly provide great satisfaction.
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