Special care needed for poinsettias
MEDIA - Poinsettias,
ommonly thought of as the
;hristmas plants, have
iccome popular plants in
nany American homes,
liey were introduced to the
jnited States in 1825 by Joel
lobert Poinsett, first U.S.
jnbassador to Mexico. The
ommon name for the exotic
lant, poinsettias, came
•om his last name.
If one gets a poinsettia for
his home, he should place it
near a sunny window, where
it will get the most available
sunlight. A window which
faces south, east “or west is
better than one facing north.
No part of the plant should
touch the cold window pane
because this may injure it.
To keep the plant in bloom, a
person should maintain a
temperature of 65 to 70° F.
during the daylight hours
and move it.to a cooler place
at night. Since root rot
damage is more prevalent in
temperatures below 60°F.,
the poinsettia should never
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be put in a room cooler than
this. One should avoid ex
posing the plant to hot or
cold drafts, which may
cause premature leaf drop.
The sod should bejexamined
daily, and when the surface
is diy to the touch, one can
water the plant until the
water-runs freely out the
drainage hole in the con
tainer. If using a flower pot
container, a person should
discard the water which
accumlates in it. The plant
shouldn’t be left standing in
water or the soil will lack
' sufficient air, or will be too
wet - conditions which injure
the roots. A wilted plant may
drop leaves prematurely, so
one should try to keep it well
watered. If wilting does
occur, one can water the
plant thoroughly once to
moisten the entire soil mass,
and then again affp” f :vc
minutes.
Poinsettias can be
reflowere’d the second
Christmas, but unless a
Contact your nearest Rate dealer
HAMBURG
SHARTLESVILLE
FARM SERVICE
215-488-1025
KIRKWOOD
LANDIS t
ESBENSHADE
786-4158
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MARVIN HORST
272-0871
(VILI
SANER FARM
SYSTEMS
463-2606
MILLERSBURG
LANDIS
LABOR SAVERS
692-4647
year-long schedule of care is
observed, the results usually
aren’t good. For such a
schedule, one should con
tinue normal watering of the
plant until the first of March,
when the soil is allowed to
dry gradually. The soil
shouldn’t get so dry that the
stems shrivel, because this
is a sign of dying. Following
the drying period, the plant
should be stored in a cool
(60*F) airy location.
In the middle of April, the
stems should be cut back to
about six inches above the
soil level and replanted in a
pot one to two inches in
diameter larger than the
original pot. A good potting
soil mixture, such as two
parts soil, one part
sphagnum or peat moss and
one part medium to coarse
perlite is essential. One
should water thoroughly;
wait 5 minutes and water
again. The plant should be
put near a window facing
south. A person should keep
MILTON
LANDIS FARMSTEAD
AUTOMATION
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NEWVILLE
FRED. B. McGILLRAY
776-7312
iVILLE
MOYER
FARM SERVICE
766-8675
iMSBURG
LONGENECKER
814-793-3731
I. INC.
MARYLAND DEALERS
EASTON Ml
WALTER J.HARMSEN
301-822-3035
the plant at a temperature of
70 to 75° F. and water it when
the surface of the soil is dry
to the touch. After new
growth appears, it can be
fertilized every two weeks
with a complete-analysis,
water soluble fertilizer at the
rate recommended on the
label.
In early June, the plant
can be moved outdoors and
placed in a lightly shaded
location. ' Watering and
fertilizing should continue
while the plartt is outdoors.
Between August 15 and
September 1, the stems
should be cut back, leaving
three or four leaves on each
shoot; then one Should bring
the plant indoors again and
place it in a window facing
south. If the plant is not cut
back, it will grow too tall and
be unsightly. The plant
should Jbe kept at a tem
perature of 65 to 70°F. ancf
fertilizing and watering
should continue as before.
Poinsettias are short-day
HAGI
TRI-STATE
FARM AUTOMATION
301-790-3698
KENNEDYVILLE. MD
FINDER SERVICE CO.
301-348-5263
LINEBORO MD
WERTZ GARAGE INC
301-374-2672
NEW WINDSOR. Ml
TRI-COUNTY
FARM AUTOMATION
301-775-7356
TREET MD
WALTER WEBSTER
452-8521
Lancaster Farming, Saturday. December 24.1977-27
plants, meaning they flower
about 10 weeks after the
length of daylight shortens to
11 hours or less. Therefore,
to have a plant in full flower
by Christmas, keep it in
complete darkness between
5 p.m. and 8 a.m. A closet.
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opaque box, or cloth will
keep the plant in darkness
during these hours. One
should always remember to
put the plant near a sunny
window in the daytime and
continue fertilizing the plant
until mid-December.
row front end setups, and in
a 100 inch cradle width for 40
inch row front end setups.
For more information,
contact Bill Ferris, Ship
pensburg, Pa. at 717-532-
9226.
CHILDCARE
TAX BREAK
NOW A CREDIT
Here’s tax-saving advice
about child care costs: The
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during working hours has
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A public service of the
Pennsylvania Institute of
Certified Public Ac
countants.