poinsettias

I may be being niaive but does anyone know if you can grow these yourself as opposed to buying grown plants at Christmas. I know its probably too late this year but I cannot find out much about them!! Maybe they are too much trouble from seed etc! Just thought they'd make nice gifts one year.
Grateful for any advice
thanks
arbarax

 

Hello, plantaholic. I think they are very difficult to grow from seed as they need specific conditions, especially to bring their brachts into colour, not only the first time but in subsequent years if you manage to keep them alive.

In my environment, I grow them outside and they can go to 3 metres and more tall. I cut it back every year to a metre and cuttings root easily with the cut off woody stems.

We've had several discussions on them here but I don't recall anyone doing them from seed. In fact, I don't know that seeds are actually available.

They are not hardy so they would have to be kept in a house or better still conservatory or greenhouse as they require a lot of light.

Hope this helps.

 

I thought I was going to get seed fom mine earlier this year, but it didn't happen :(

If anyone has seeds it would be Chiltern Seeds

Or try googling on "poinsettia seeds" and see what happens! Good luck if you find any.

EDIT - just had a look for Euphorbia pulcherrima, and they don't, unfortunately - but they do have loads of other Euphorbias....

 

Hi, dendro, long lost friend. I had already looked in Chiltern's catalogue before I posted ...

To be honest, don't think you can do it from seed ... and surprise if you thought you were going to get some when I don't .... s**t! Only do it from hardwood cuttings here, not softwood I'm afraid.

Speak soon, my little Scottish thistle. xxxxxx

 

what a shame, seems they are a bit of a pain then! I usually buy a couple anyway for Christmas so nothing to lose if I have a go at cuttings. Many thanks
Barbarax

 

Hi, LoL! Don't think hardwood cttings will work for mine here - not the way I generally do them, sticking them in the garden and forgetting them for a while, that is.....

My main problem with them is that people keep on giving me them at Christmas, and they like the conditions, so they keep going! I have 3 going strong now! I'm thinking of asking for people to give me only cyclamens this Christmas...

Plantaholix, do report on how your cuttings go - that would be interesting, even if I daren't do it myself in case I end up with even more! :eek:

 

Hi dendro.

I wouldn't want more than one Poinsettia as they are invasive here ... once you uproot one, you have it for life, a bit like the Passiflora caerula. :eek: I only did the cuttings for friends and neighbours.

Cyclamen as a gift sounds nice. Mine are blooming again which is the first time this has happened, normally only winter. As I don't water them in the summer I felt guilty so have started watering them again, being the nice person I am.

 

Have a look here http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=98

I think the main problem is manipulating the light. Many Salvias will only start to flower once the days start getting shorter,and in a similar way it appears that Poinsettias will only flower (coloured bracts really) when the days start getting longer.

 

Hi, long lost friend, PeterS ...

In my situation, I have to disagree with the Poinsettia theory ... here they start colouring as the days get shorter.

Hope all is well with you up there.

 

It's all cack, sorry.

... they live in the poorest soil imaginable here ... 12-14 hours darkness daily for a minimum of two months ... one surely jests! Put the plant in a dark area? :D Here ???????

They call them two things here ... para a casa (the house one) and para a rua (the road one) but they are one and the same, you just have to get it used to the outside ... and they tolerate frost but will be cut back to the ground and spring back into life because you CANNOT get rid of them.

Marley, would you like some rooted cuttings to try out there? It would be the Spring before I could send them to you.

 

Hi LoL, I scanned your post, before mine, carefully to see if you said what month they flowered naturally. I felt you had the key, with them growing wild around you. I stand corrected about the days length. I read that they needed to experience short days for a long period before coming out, and interpreted this as responding to a lengthening period of daylight. What months do they flower with you?

By the way, your Leonotis cutting is looking very bushy and healthy, and Tecomaria seedlings are healthy but still small. They both send their love.