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April and August are good times to trim poinsettias
By Heidi Bornhorst
Dear Ms. Bornhorst: We received a miniature poinsettia as a door prize two Christmases ago. Fearful of doing damage to the plant, I refrained from pruning the plant all of last year. The plant produced its red petals again this past holiday season, though not as profusely as when we first got it. The petals continue to maintain their red color even now, though the plant, with branches drooping beyond the rim of the pot, looks like it needs a trim.
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I once heard that poinsettias need to be trimmed in the "Two A's" —April and August. Is that correct? Also, how should the plant be trimmed? Should the old branches be trimmed off at the main stalk? I notice that there are nodules along the branches. Should the plant be trimmed near the nodules like we do with roses? Last year I read your article on the watering of the poinsettia — once a week, and don't let it stand in water — and I'm sure that advice helped the plant survive into the next holiday season.
When repotting poinsettias, go one pot size larger and use a sterile, well-drained media with some organics in it.
Also, when repotting, should the plant be removed from its existing media or, so as not to disturb the roots, should it simply be placed in the next size pot with new media placed to fill the space? If I want to retain the present size of the plant, should I repot into a larger pot? — Joyce Najita, Manoa
Dear Joyce: It is great that you've kept it thriving all this time. Congratulations!
Yes, the "A" months are a good time to prune your poinsettia. You can prune poinsettias to the nodes (where the leaves come out on the stem), just as you would properly prune roses and other shrubs. Prune it to the shape you want. You can make them more compact, or more open. Points do benefit from pruning, especially when the plants are in pots.
Poinsettias that are in the ground, especially the old-fashioned large hedge type, will really benefit from a trim now, and a trim and shaping again in August. Try and envision the shape and size you would like for your winter time display and prune accordingly.
On repotting poinsettias, go just one pot size larger and use sterile, well-drained media with some organics in it. You do not need to get rid of the old planting media unless it is really soggy and full of algae. Gently remove the old pot, and put the poinsettia in its new, larger pot with fresh media in the bottom. The media should be about an inch below the rim of the pot so you can easily water the new transplant. Happy growing!
