If live poinsettias have been a bright addition to your Christmas season holiday décor, it’s now time for you or your garden helper to start maintenance to keep the plants strong and healthy for next winter.
The poinsettia—known locally at Nochebuena—is a hardy bush that thrives in Mexico, its natural habitat. But getting them in shape to show off all their scarlet glory at the end of the year requires adequate timing of pruning practices.
The first pruning should be carried out once the plants lose their luster at the end of January, and no later than mid-March. This is when the bush is best cut back radically to its main trunks, leaving no nodules on the stems.
A second pruning should follow in June, leaving a few new leaves on each branch. The final cutting and shaping of the bush is due in mid-August.
Procedures for transplanting potted poinsettias to the garden are a bit tricky to optimize survival. Consult printed or online garden guides for useful tips, or better yet, rely on wisdom of native jardineros whose knowledge has been handed down through generations.