Poinsettia is a wonderful choice if you are looking to grow a colorful flower.
If you want basic information about Poinsettia, read《What is a Poinsettia?》
If you want to know how to grow and care for these beautiful flowers, read on.
Breeding Methods
Cutting Propagation
The cutting propagation of poinsettia mainly has three ways: semi-hard cutting, tender cutting, and old root cutting.
No matter which kind of cutting propagation method is used, the cuttings of poinsettia should be cut in the morning. Because the moisture content of cuttings at this time is more sufficient.
Cuttings cut into a flat mouth or bevel, and strive to cut in the bud at the base of the section below 0.5 cm, so easy to root.
The white colloidal emulsion out of the incision should be cleaned with clean water, and the incision is coated with fresh clay or grass ash and then cuttings or dipped in the root powder to promote its rooting.
Also the available concentration of 0.1% potassium permanganate solution, the base of the cut poinsettia cuttings immersed in the solution for about 10 minutes, to improve the survival rate.
Based on the above method immediately after cutting, cuttings into the depth of the matrix are generally not more than 2.5 cm, if the cutting is too deep, easy to rot under the incision; Cutting line spacing to 4 cm ×4 cm is appropriate.
Semi-hard Cutting
Semi-hard cuttings of the poinsettia are carried out between March and May in spring when the general temperature is above 15℃.
Cuttings, cuttings annual lignification or semi-lignification branches, about 10 cm long, cut cuttings on the leaf and branch top, and the base incision cut into bevel and close to the section, dip in the grass and wood ash, to be cut after drying and then inserted into fine sand, inserted after pouring permeable, temperature maintained at 22-24℃, 20 days after rooting.
During cutting should pay attention to shade, prevent water loss, and wilting branches.
Tender Cutting
When the poinsettia that year branches grow to 6-8 leaves, take 6-8 cm long, 3-4 section of a tender tip, under the section cut flat, remove the base of large leaves, immediately put into clear water, to prevent milk outflow, and then cuttings, cuttings should ensure tender stems and leaves moist, and take sun-blocking measures.
Cuttings of most varieties can take root in 14-18 days. The cutting root of the poinsettia is faster and the survival rate is high. If the cutting propagation in the homemade greenhouse, as long as the indoor temperature is kept at about 22℃, in late March can be cut. It can be extended until September as needed.
Old Root Cutting
After many years of cultivation of poinsettia, its roots can also be propagated into new plants. Because in the spring of 3, April, poinsettia out of the house, to carry out a basin for soil planting, to supplement the nutrients of basin soil and repair stems repair roots.
In the process of operation, people tend to cut the old poinsettia roots and do not use them, but if the old roots of more than 0.5 cm can be collected, a large number of available reproductive material.
The specific method is to cut the old root of poinsettia into about 10 cm long root section and then dip in the cut place on dry charcoal powder or grass ash, dry soil powder can also be, to be a little dry after cutting in the culture soil (root section with a little root is easier to germinate new buds).
As for the cuttings of the container, generally if the amount of less available is a deeper pot, and if the number of more can be in the seedbed cuttings.
When cutting, the root section left unearthed surface 1 cm, north tilt, and the ground is about 80° Angle, can promote the root section as soon as possible germination of new buds.
After cutting does not need shade, about a month or so, can reproduce a new plant.
When the new plant grows tall to 10 cm or so, can be transplanted on the pot, about 5 days to 1 week of the slow seedling period, can carry out normal maintenance.
Layering Propagation
Layering propagation is the plant close to the ground branches pressed into the soil, the higher branches with moss and other wet materials wrapped cut (or cut) parts, after its root, and then separated and planted with the mother plant to form a new plant propagation method. The high-pressure propagation method is generally adopted.
Choose the branches of lignification above all, choose the branches of health and fullness of the first year in general, in the smooth part of the ring peeling, the width of the ring peeling with the ring of the thick of the branch is about the same, generally, 3-4 cm is appropriate.
Remove the branch phloem of the ring peeling place, the upper incision should be smooth, and then gently scrape cambium with a sharp knife.
After completion, cover the cut area with water moss or other loose and breathable material.
Generally, a 20-25 cm square polyethylene film has good carbon dioxide and oxygen permeability has a very low water vapor transmission, and can resist long-term climate change).
The upper and lower ends are tied with binding ropes (especially the lower end), if the binding is not tight, the matrix is easy to dry, thus affecting the rooting of the incision.
After layering poinsettia generally about two months can grow roots, at this time can be cut down and planted in the basin, you can form a new plant. The time of poinsettia layering is appropriate for April-July.
Cultivation Techniques
Soil
Poinsettia like loose, well-drained soil, generally with vegetable soil 3, humus soil 3, saprophytic leaf soil 3, saprophytic cake fertilizer 1, plus a small amount of slag mixed-use.
Temperature
Poinsettias like warmth and fear cold.
Every year in the middle and late September to enter the room, to strengthen ventilation so that the plant gradually adapt to the indoor environment, winter temperature should be maintained at 15℃ to 20℃.
At this time, the bracts were discoloration and flower bud differentiation. If the room temperature was below 15℃, the flowers and leaves were stunted. To the middle of December later into the flowering stage, to gradually ventilated.
Light
Poinsettia likes enough light, strong phototropism is a short-day plant.
Adequate light should be obtained all year round, bract discoloration, flower bud differentiation, and flowering period are more important.
If illumination is insufficient, the branch is easy to grow in vain, susceptible disease, color is dim, place shade for a long time, do not blossom, winter can be deciduous.
To advance or delay the flowering, light can be controlled, usually given 8 to 9 hours of light per day, 40 days can be flowering.
Fertilization
Poinsettia likes rich sandy soil.
In addition to the upper basin, change basin, add organic fertilizer and horseshoe pieces as the base fertilizer, in the growth and flowering season, every 10 to 15 days to apply a dilution 5 times fully decomposed sesame paste residue liquid fertilizer.
After autumn, 0.3% compound fertilizer can also be applied once a week for 3 to 4 consecutive times to promote bract discoloration and flower bud differentiation.
Watering
Poinsettia is not resistant to drought, and not resistant to water, watering should be mastered flexibly according to weather, basin soil, and plant growth, general watering to keep basin soil moist and not water for a degree, but to reduce watering after flowering.
Watering should pay attention to evenly, to prevent too dry and wet, otherwise, it will cause the lower leaves of the plant to yellow off, commonly known as “off the foot”, or uneven growth of branches.
Trim
When the dormant old plants will be replaced by POTS, cutting off old roots and sick branches, promoting its germination of new technology, in the growth process to pick the heart twice, the first time in late June, the second time in mid-August.
The cultivation should be controlled, especially before autumn plants finalize the design.
When waiting for the branch to grow 20 to 30 centimeters, begin orthopedic make a bend, the purpose is to make plant form short, the flower head is neat, even distribution, improve ornamental sex.