Show poin poinsettias settius as need water warmth ti t I 1 to retain vigor X i go r the beautiful poinsettia la Is a temperamental pe plant it must have the proper amount of sunshine darkness water and warmth or it will die but the brilliantly colored flowers it has at christmas time will more than repay the efforts needed to keep the plant alive strong healthy plants and fine blooms will result it if the flower is understood and pampered just a little it is a tropical plant from mexico that is accustomed accustoms d to t the he conditions of its original home constant warmth is required bequir ed by the poinsettia the temperature y J should be kept between 70 and 80 degrees during the day and about 65 degrees at night sudden temperature changes and drafts will cause the plant to drop its leaves abundant water is important but it should be applied only once each day so that the soil can become moderately dry between w watering ate r 1 n g this is necessary to permit peri n 1 t needed e e ded oxygen to reach the roots high humidity in the air surrounding the plant will also contribute to its vigor when it is impossible to maintain a high humidity a daily syringing of the foliage will be beneficial if applied during the forenoon it is b best est to give the plant the sunniest funniest sun niest spot available occasionally fertilize it with a good commer cial food tablet when flowering is over and the leaves are dropped withhold water until the soil becomes dry place the pot on its side on the floor of the basement where the temperature hovers around 50 degrees and let it remain there for the next three months early in may repot the plant in a mixture of good garden loam coarse sand and leaf mold and cut the stem about four to eight inches from the soil level so that two or three joints are retained place the plant in a sunny window after potting and water carefully until there is new growth when t the he quantity of water should be in increased the plant may be placed outdoors when the temperature becomes balmy but it should be taken indoors early in fall fail before the arrival of cool nights the first colored bracts braats will appear late in in november and the plant will bloom about christmas |