Jim asks: I have heard that to produce beautiful blooms in December poinsettia plants need to be pruned twice a year. I think one of the pruning months is August. Should I prune my poinsettias now? If so, how?
Tropical Gardener Answer: You were smart to plant your holiday poinsettias or keep them in a pot. The plants grow well here and produce wonderful winter flowers. The colorful blossoms are actually the bracts (or outer leaves) that surround the tiny flower but they are lovely and make a nice addition to a tropical garden.
For the best winter flowers, poinsettia bushes and other Euphorbias, like her cousin the snowbush, should be pruned twice a year. The recommended pruning schedule is to prune in the spring, a few months after their bloom cycle ends and again in the fall, a few months before flowering. Pruning in April and August works well here in Hawaii.
The spring pruning is severe and essential to get great flowering. In the “hard” spring pruning all dead material is removed and branches are cut back to the woody stems leaving a few short uprights with several dormant buds along them. This pruning provides the framework for summer growth.
The fall pruning is less severe. This time of year, you’ll be thinning out bushy shoots and cutting back long branches to encourage side branch development. These side branches will produce flowers at their ends usually starting in early December.
Save the cuttings from your pruning as they can be propagated to create new plants. Use pieces that are 4 to 6 inches long with a few buds on them. Dip them in some rooting hormone and place them in a moist 50:50 mixture of vermiculite and perlite. Keep the medium moist (not wet) and the poinsettias should root and put out new leaves within a few weeks.
Once you are sure the cuttings have taken, you can plant them out in your garden and pot a few to decorate or use for gifts in December.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living on an organic farm in Captain Cook. Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by Certified Master Gardeners.Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.
Gardening Events
Today: “Kona County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting,” 5-7 p.m. at the Kona Hongwanji Mission at 81-6630 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua, 323-2993. Free to bureau members; $10 for guests. Presentation on hemp farming by Steve Sakala and annual KCFB report and Board elections. RSVP by email Kate@sunshowercoffee.com or leave a message at 324-6011.
Saturday: “Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden,” 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at the visitor center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Volunteers will be able to help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Call Peter at 323-3318 for more information.
Farmer Direct Markets
Wednesday: “Hooulu Farmers Market,” 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort.
Wednesday: “Sunset Farmers Market,” 2 p.m.-sunset at the north makai corner of the Kmart parking lot.
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market,” 8 a.m.-noon at Keauhou Shopping Center.
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market,” 7 a.m.-noon at Pukalani Stables.
Sunday: “South Kona Green Market,” 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook.
Tuesday–Saturday: “U-Pick greens and produce,” 10 a.m.-4p.m. Tropical Edibles Nursery, Captain Cook.
Plant Advice Lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu.
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m.-noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu, 322-4892.
Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 9 a.m.-noon at UH-CES at Komohana in Hilo, 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.ed.