Poinsettia care tips
POINSETTIAS, Why Florists are the best retailers for them!
We Care – pass the message on!
With the plants being the undisputed stars of the festive season we must highlight the reasons why florist should be the number one choice for consumers, we are the expert retailers lets share this.
We all know that with the wrong care they can be ‘tricky’ or to put it another way; can drop ever leaf or droop and callapse! So, make sure everyone in your shop is clued up on the care tips they must give to customers, share them as necessary and of course, follow them yourselves!
Care guide – Temperature
Poinsettias need warmth and light and must be kept away from draughts. That means they must be kept away from fireplaces, doorways, open windows, and breezy hallways. Poinsettias originate from Mexico, hence their sensitivity to the cold and wind. Share this with your customers and make sure they Just keep it somewhere that has some natural daylight. They’re most happy in temperature between 15 and 20°C, so it will be completely at home in most living rooms.
Pass on the essential buying tips…
We should share the message that If the retailer hasn’t handled your poinsettia correctly, it may well not last at home. No doubt we’ve all had customer explain the disasters they’ve had with Poinsettias – enquire a little, explain; you should never buy a poinsettia that’s been sitting next to a set of automatic doors that open every 30 seconds, because it will have been damaged by chilly winter draughts, they don’t appreciate the cold blast of air, then a hot blast from air heaters!
Care guide – Watering
Poinsettias don’t like a lot of water. The plant’s root ball should neither dry out nor be drenched. Overwatering can quickly lead to waterlogging, which in turn causes the roots to rot and leaves you with a dead plant.
The easiest way to care for them is to either immerse the whole pot and root ball in water once a week in tepid water and let it drain before popping it back in the pot. Similar to how you would a phalanenopsis orchid. The alternative is to give it a small amount of water every few days.
Pass on the essential buying tips…
Plants shouldn’t be too light or heavy – it should be neither soaking wet nor totally dry before being bought. Other information worth sharing is how you can spot how healthy a plant is feeling by just looking carefully at it; dense foliage and yellow-green budding flowers in between the coloured bracts are sure signs of quality.
Safe Journey Home…
Finally, make sure poinsettias are all wrapped up to protect it from the cold on the journey home. Don’t let any Poinsettia’s leave your shop without adequate protection – and explain to your clients why you insist on doing this!
