Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Poinsettia. How do I make it go red?

13 replies

MrsDoolittle · 08/11/2005 08:17

I've had one growing larger and larger for two years now and it hasn't turned red since it was given to me at Christmas time.
Someone told me there was a trick to making them go red again.
Does anyone know? This one has got so big now that it would look fabulous.

OP posts:
Blondeinlondon · 09/11/2005 12:11

Any ideas anyone?
I have one too that's just staying green

zippitippitoes · 09/11/2005 12:14

You've done really well to keep it alive never mind healthy, as they generally die off after Christmas (a bit like windowsill herbs)

i used to work in a nursery growing them but it was so long ago I don't know the answer

Lonelymum · 09/11/2005 12:20

Not sure what the difference is between flowering and red leaves (I believe they are not the same thing) but this website might help or lead you to your answer.

poinsettia

KristinaM · 09/11/2005 13:31

There is a very complicated regime of keeping them in the light for so many hours per day for so many day. Its way too complicated and expensive unless you are a professional nursery. You need to either learn to love it green or chuck it out and buy a new one.

Sorry!

Twiglett · 09/11/2005 13:32

I used to keep poinsetta in the bathroom .. I think they like heat and humidity

I know b'gger all about gardening

BahHumbugBadgerBadger · 24/11/2005 16:26

I think they're a weed (sorry, wild plant) from mexico or something? The process of making them go red (or white or pink) involves regeime, routine and bin bags and I can't remember quite what it is.

The flowers are absolutely minute and totally nondescript. The red/white/pink are bracts. Another useless fact being that their sap can be an allergen to people allergic to latex

If you want a bit of colour you'll probably be best of getting one each festive season but I am in absolute awe that you've managed to keep one alive for two years!! When worked as a florist I had trouble keeping the darn things alive for the two days it took to sell them

BahHumbugBadgerBadger · 24/11/2005 16:28

Sorry, the latex thing isn't a useless fact, I meant the rest!

twirlaround · 24/11/2005 16:31

pull its pants down

BahHumbugBadgerBadger · 24/11/2005 16:32

ROFL twirlaround

WigWamBam · 24/11/2005 16:35

This might help - too late for this year though.

Blondeinlondon · 13/12/2005 21:28

I have decided to leave it alone and let it remain green

SantaClausFrau · 13/12/2005 21:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

colditz · 13/12/2005 21:36

Spray paint.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page