A poinsettia has its main blooming period in winter. It is grown in the room during this time and creates a Christmas atmosphere with its colorful bracts. In summer the plant takes a short rest. This is how you summer poinsettias.
How can I successfully summer a poinsettia?
To oversummer a poinsettia, place it in a warm, bright, draft-free location, reduce watering, and protect it from direct midday sun. In summer it can also be left outside on the balcony or terrace, but should be brought into the house in good time before temperatures drop below five degrees.
Poinsettia on the windowsill over the summer
Basically, you can grow a poinsettia on the windowsill all year round if the location is favorable. It should offer the following conditions:
- warm
- bright
- protected from drafts
- not too much direct midday sun
After flowering, however, only green leaves form. If you have enough space, you can keep the poinsettia a little cooler over the summer. During this time, water less than during the main flowering period.
Bringing poinsettias outside in summer
The poinsettia looks even better than on the windowsill if you keep it outside on the balcony or terrace over the summer.
Place the pot in a place protected from drafts where it is warm and light. However, too much direct midday sun is not suitable.
To prevent the substrate from becoming too moist, protect the poinsettia from heavy rain. In dry conditions, only water it when the top layer of soil has dried out. Do not place the pot on a saucer. Then excess water can drain away and you avoid the plant becoming waterlogged.
Get it back into the house in time
Poinsettias do not tolerate any frost. They prefer temperatures between 20 and 26 degrees. When it gets cooler outside again, you will need to bring the plant back indoors. At less than five degrees the poinsettia will die.
No colored bracts without dark phase
In order for the poinsettia to develop colorful bracts again, it needs a longer phase with little light.
He should no longer get eleven or twelve hours of light per day. Place it in the dark for six to eight weeks or cover the plant occasionally with a cardboard box or an opaque bag.
Tip
Some hobby gardeners swear by planting the poinsettia in the bed in summer. All you have to do is remember to dig it up before it gets too cold outside.
