Poinsetia is the most beautiful plant of the Euphorbia genus. Under natural conditions, it grows in Central America. Even among the ancient Aztecs, who lived in Mexico, the flower was a symbol of purity, as it grew in compost heaps. And in modern society, for the natural beauty and flowering on Christmas Eve, the plant is called the "Christmas Star".
It has small bunched cream-colored flowers. Bracts of bright colors - red, apricot, pink, white color give decorativeness to the variety. The bracts at the top of the plant are collected in bunches that resemble a star in shape. The plant was very fond of the poet Boris Pasternak.
Christmas star temperature and care
The optimal temperature for the development of poinsettia is 20 degrees. At lower temperatures, the bracts begin to lose color saturation, and at below 10 degrees, the roots die off.
The development of the plant is influenced by air humidity, which should be about 90 percent when rooting cuttings, and during the vegetative period it should be60%. In addition, the flower does not like drafts, it needs sufficient illumination. During the growing season, sunlight should fall until noon, after which the plant will need diffused bright lighting.
Christmas star develops well with daylight hours of more than half a day. With less prolonged illumination, the color of the bracts begins to change. At the end of September, it is required to isolate the plant from any light that may enter the room at night, and for two months the pointe set must be in complete darkness at night.
Christmas star: care watering
The roots of the plant are very sensitive to excessive amounts of moisture, but still, a lack of liquid will cause more damage than an excess. The frequency of watering depends on the condition of the soil. Humidification should be done with a slight drying of the earthen clod. The water temperature must not fall below that of the environment. If watered with cold water, the plant begins to shed its foliage. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the liquid does not stagnate in the pot. Minimum moisture should be between January and March.
Christmas Star Fertilizer
For the development of a flower, top dressing is required. Every decade it is necessary to make calcium nitrate with the addition of iron and molybdenum. Foliar dressings containing molybdenum are well suited for putansetia. Spraying with special compounds will prevent diseases,that result from micronutrient deficiencies.
If the Christmas star has begun to turn yellow, it means that it lacks nitrogen. With a deficiency of molybdenum, the leaves of the plant curl, with a lack of sulfur, young leaves turn yellow, and with a small amount of zinc, the growth of new leaves slows down, and it turns completely yellow.
Christmas Star Breeding
At home, the culture is propagated using the vegetative method. The best time for this is the spring months.
