How to Transplant a Poinsettia to Your Garden

In cooler climates we are used to seeing Poinsettia plants during the holidays. However, what happens to the plants after the Christmas season? In most cases, people throw out their Poinsettias when the leaves fall off. By following this guide, you will be able to transplant your Poinsettias to your garden to enjoy their beauty all year.

1. When the temperature outdoors reaches an average of 50 F, you will be able to set the Poinsettia outdoors to adjust to the temperature change. You can leave the Poinsettia outside for approximately three days before performing the transplant.

2. The Poinsettia will grow the best when planted in a protected area, such as a south-facing wall. To begin the transplant you will dig a hole that is slightly bigger than the plant. Place the Poinsettia in the hole and replace the soil with a soil mix that contains a large percentage of organic matter such as peat moss.

3. After the Poinsettia is planted you may water the plant. Ensure that the plant is not packed too tightly with soil, because Poinsettias thrive in areas where they have good drainage. The best indicator of good drainage is when the soil is slightly dry when you touch it. Be sure not to over water the plant, because it can cause the roots to rot.

4. If needed, a few weeks later you may use fertilizer on your Poinsettia. Approximately a couple of weeks thereafter, you may have to trim back the plant to about 9".

5. During the daytime you can keep the plant uncovered. However, around the month of October you must keep it covered for 14 hours out of a 24 hour period of time. The majority of time that it is covered will during the night. Poinsettias are photoperiod plants, which means it begins to set buds and produce flowers as the winter nights grow longer. If you continue this method of Poinsettia care, then you will have new growth by next Christmas.