Poinsetia is the most beautiful plant of the euphorbia genus. Under natural conditions, grows in Central America. Even the ancient Aztecs who lived in Mexico had a flower as 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 cream-colored flowers bunched. The bracts of bright colors - red, apricot, pink, white color, add variety to the variety. 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 optimum temperature for the development of poinsetia is 20 degrees. At lower bracts begin to lose color saturation, and at below 10 degrees the roots die.
The development of the plant is affected by air humidity, which should be about 90 percent when rooting cuttings, and 60% during the vegetative period. In addition, the flower does not like drafts, it needs sufficient illumination. During the growing season before lunch, sunlight should fall, after which the plant will need diffused bright lighting.
A Christmas star develops well with a
daylight duration
of more than half a day. With less prolonged lighting, the color of the bracts begins to change. At the end of September, it is required to isolate the plant from any lighting that can penetrate the room at night, and for two months the pointe should be in complete darkness at night.
Christmas Star: Watering Care
The roots of the plant are very sensitive to excessive moisture, but still a lack of fluid will do more damage than an overabundance. The frequency of watering depends on the condition of the soil. Moisturizing should be done with light drying of an earthen coma. The temperature of the water should not drop lower than that of the environment. If you water it with cold water, then the plant begins to drop 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 flower development, top dressing is required. Every decade, it is necessary to add calcium nitrate with the addition of iron and molybdenum. Folic dressings containing molybdenum are well suited for putansetia. Spraying with special compounds will prevent diseases that arise as a result of micronutrient deficiencies.
If a Christmas star begins to turn yellow, it means that it lacks nitrogen. With a molybdenum deficiency, the leaves curl in the plant, 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 a vegetative method. The best time for this is the spring months.