If you ask a gardener, “Why are my poinsettia leaves turning yellow?” – the most common answer is because of over watering. Poinsettia plants love moisture; they need it to thrive and grow to be healthy and bloom.
There are many factors that contribute to over-watering your poinsettia plants. First off, the more water the plants get, the more nutrients they receive. This is great because your poinsettia plants will start to grow bigger and healthier. Unfortunately, this also means your poinsettia plant gets too much water and drowns out its root system. When your poinsettia grows underwater, it’s just stuck floating around in water. This causes it to weaken and ultimately dies.
Over-watering can also cause the roots to rot and wither away. The natural way that poinsettia plants grow is by growing upwards out of the soil, just like any other plant. They begin by growing horizontally and then grow into the ground. With this type of growth, there is no need for water.
But if you over-water them, the roots of your poinsettia plant will drown and wither away. So it’s important that you water poinsettia the correct amount of time. The ideal water amount is between one and two cups for every square foot of your outdoor space. Of course, this will depend on the size of your garden. Your poinsettia plants can dry up and die if you do not water them enough.
Many poinsettia enthusiasts enjoy cultivating their own plants in a hydroponic garden. This is a method where you provide your poinsettia plants with organic materials that they can grow on, in addition to providing artificial water. There are many different fertilizers and organic products available at your local home improvement store or nursery. Be sure to read the instructions carefully. If you are new to this method, you may want to start off with a lower concentration so that your plants will have a healthier yield of blooms.
If you are interested in a completely natural growing environment, you can purchase seeds and starter plants from an online nursery or greenhouse. These types of starter plants require no water or fertilizer. You simply place them in the sun, harvest them when they are ready, and replant them in your garden. These seeds and plants are very easy to care for. And unlike a hydroponics system, they will not drown or wither away.
As mentioned earlier, some poinsettias prefer a cooler climate; therefore it is important that you determine what season your poinsettia prefers. If you want to give your poinsettia a warmer growing environment, you can simply provide it with indirect sunlight by allowing some of the branches of your poinsettia trees to go through the shade provided by a nearby tree. Just be sure to watch your plants during the winter as they will need extra warmth to turn color.
There are many other reasons why are my poinsettia leaves turning yellow. It really is best to ask other gardeners for advice before trying to answer this question for yourself. You can even search the internet for tips about caring for your poinsettia plants. If all else fails, there are many great books on poinsettia gardening available!
Most poinsettias, when in full bloom, will have several blooming stalks. As these blooms dry up, they will fall from the plant. This is natural and should not be discouraged. If you find a leaf that has dried up, simply pick it up with a leaf scraper and save it for next year. Do not attempt to pull a dying flower from the plant!
Unfortunately, some poinsettia plants do not display the flowers until they are fully grown and yellow. If you are lucky enough to have a garden that has these types of plants, you will need to water them frequently while they are in the flowering stage. They will also need fertilizer to help them grow, just as any other plant would. If you are not careful, the yellow tint may last for far longer than you care to let it. In fact, I think that sometimes it is fun to see the plants turning yellow – I often find myself searching for a shade over a full-grown poinsettia to use!
Although poinsettia leaves are not always as bright as they appear when new, they can turn a stunning shade of green if properly cared for. Even though poinsettia grows best in full sunlight, you can also try growing them in containers, especially during the spring when the soil is warm and dry. Be sure to give them plenty of water! Also, consider pruning your poinsettia plants frequently to keep them healthy and growing nicely. Good luck with your beautiful poinsettia plants!
