Lowest temp before bringing in plants for winter in Florida.
If the temps are going to drop below 55 degrees F., I would certainly consider bringing the poinsettia plant inside. They are very susceptible to cold and will not do well if left outdoors in temps that fall below this, even with coverage.
Sorry, I was not specific – I would like to know the temp at which POINSETTIAS need to be protected from the cold ... either taken inside or covered in Florida.
Thanks
It depends on the plant. Some tropicals do not like temperatures below 55, and show it very quickly by leaf loss, leaf droop or curl and leaf discoloration. Some plants are slower to show cold shock, and you may not see these signs immediately. Some tropicals will tolerate brief periods of cold temps, but not prolonged or repeatedly. Again, it depends on the plant.
I received a lovely poinsettia plant last Christmas. I tended the plant after the flowers died, and today it is a very healthy plant. But there is no sign of new flowers. What can I do to get flowers?
This article has excellent poinsetttia information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/poinsettia/how-to-make-poinsettia-turn-red-make-a-poinsettia-rebloom.htm
Other articles are listed at the end of above article.
I wou ld suggest that while poinsettias are a bit paradoxical in that they are "tropical succulents", one should not let the plant dry out. It has been my experience with growing poinsettias and other euphorbias, the first thing they do is drop leaves when stressed. Don't over compensate and keep them too wet, or you will encounter root problems.
I have had my poinsettia plants covered for more than 12 hours and they still are green. How long do you keep them covered before the plant turns red? I am trying to get my poinsettia plant to turn red for Christmas. What do I do next?
The link has good info, and since you don't say how long you've been doing the 12-hour-darkness thing, maybe you just need to keep it up. But you might want to be aware that they don't always rebloom, no matter what you do. If this one doesn't work, keep trying.
This link will take you to a very informative, detailed article on 'reblooming' poinsettias: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/poinsettia/how-to-make-poinsettia-turn-red-make-a-poinsettia-rebloom.htm
Indoor poinsettia should not be in direct sunshine. If I stickytape clear plastic to the windows, will that protect the plant from the sun?
No, clear plastic will not work. You need something to diffuse the direct light, like a frosted plastic.
I was given a poinsettia plant in mid-December, and most of the bright red leaves are still intact (mid-April). There is quite a lot of new growth, but I don't know if that means that the plant is necessarily doing "well." I have it near a window at all times, and I lightly water it twice a week. Should I repot the plant in anticipation of it doing well through the end of the year? It is in the small pot still that I received it in. Do the new leaves turn red later on? Some of the leaves started dropping off only a week ago.
These articles should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/poinsettia/poinsettia-care-how-do-you-take-care-of-poinsettias.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/poinsettia/how-to-make-poinsettia-turn-red-make-a-poinsettia-rebloom.htm
I have had a poinsettia for the last two Christmas seasons. Can I plant it outside?
My poinsettia is looking lovely but has started to get black spotting on the leaves.
It sounds like a fungal infection. Remove affected leaves, increase air circulation, decrease humidity if at all possible. You can try using a fungicide. You might want to contact the nearest botanical garden for advice, or to help you find a master gardener to advise you.