What is a photoperiod poinsettia?
Photoperiod. Poinsettia is what is a called a short day photoperiod crop, which means that it naturally flowers when the nights become longer than the days. In commercial production many growers use black cloth to either produce earlier crops or make the entire crop more uniform.
Are poinsettias Thermoperiodic?
Poinsettias are both photoperiodic and thermoperiodic. Photoperiodic means they respond to day length. Poinsettias are short-day plants and will naturally initiate the formation of flower buds when nights reach 11 hours 50 minutes of darkness.
How does light affect poinsettias?
Photoperiod and Temperature: Poinsettias are quite sensitive to light so that exposures of low intensities (on the order of less than 2 footcandles) will nullify the effect of darkness. Following 10 to 14 days of inductive photoperiods, raising the temperature to 67-68oF will favor rapid bract development.
How many hours of sunlight does a poinsettia need?
Poinsettias need six hours of light daily (fluorescent light will work). Keep your plant away from cold windows, warm or cold drafts from furnaces or air conditioners, and open doors and windows.
What is the photoperiod of a plant?
Photoperiod: The recurring cycle of uninterrupted light and dark periods a plant is exposed to; usually 24 hours, with varying ratios of uninterrupted light and dark periods. Long-Day Plant (LD): A long-day plant requires >12 hours of sunlight, or <12 hours of uninterrupted darkness, to produce a bloom or flower.
How do you flower a photoperiod?
Most modern cultivars will happily flower under 13.5 hours of light. An effective lighting strategy to achieve this goal is to shift the photoperiod to a 12/12 IP for six to eight days to ensure a fulsome flowering response.
Can poinsettias survive without sunlight?
Avoid direct sunlight. Because poinsettias are tropical plants, they do require some sunlight. But, placing the plant in direct sunlight can cause damage to the plant’s leaves. Extreme low or high temperatures and drafts should also be avoided.
Is poinsettia a short day plant?
Poinsettias are what horticulturists call “short-day” plants. This means that to produce flowers, they must experience days with less than 12 hours of daylight. Most varieties of poinsettias require eight to 10 weeks of short days to flower. For color by December 18, short days need to start on October 9.
Do poinsettias need fertilizer?
Poinsettias do fine with any good quality, all-purpose fertilizer. A water-soluble fertilizer is easiest to apply, but a dry fertilizer will also satisfy poinsettia fertilizer requirements. Be sure to water the plant thoroughly after fertilizing poinsettias, especially if you use a dry fertilizer.
Do poinsettias need lots of water?
Poinsettias prefer bright, indirect light and should be watered when the soil is dry to the touch. Avoid placing them in drafty areas or where there is excessive heat (a general rule for all of your houseplants), and remember not to place them near a fireplace or on appliances (again, a heat issue).
How often should you water a poinsettia?
about once a week
In your home, put the poinsettia in a well lighted area away from drafts and heat vents. Water the poinsettia when the pot becomes lightweight or when the soil becomes dry to the touch, about once a week. Water the plant thoroughly in a sink, letting it drain, before putting it back where it was.
What is the lifespan of a poinsettia?
“Home gardeners generally keep their poinsettias one or two years. If they’re really dedicated, maybe a little longer. But the life span for interior plants when you live in the North is measured in months, not years.”