Poinsettia in SoCal

[Hammer]

Any other SoCalians growing Poinsettia in your garden?  Any tips or tricks for getting one hardened off and growing outside without protection?  Soil? Water? Sun/Shade? Fertilizer? 

I have killed a couple trying over the years.  I have a new one that is pretty cool that I'd like to try again.

Thanks!

[sbpalms]

Don't grow it, but have seen a few specimens around SB.

[Hammer]

  On 7/10/2017 at 4:55 AM, sbpalms said:

Don't grow it, but have seen a few specimens around SB.

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I saw one today that was in full blazing, South facing, sun.  It looked great and was easily 6 feet tall.

[Tracy]

Living in Encinitas not far from the old Ecke Ranch, there are plenty of mature Poinsettias in the ground.  A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I did a quick tour of the growing area at Weidners' Gardens to see how they get their Poinsettia's ready for the late fall rush before Christmas.  They have a couple of large specimens on the property that have been growing for years, but pump out many for both wholesale and retail sales at their location just a few blocks from the old Ecke Ranch.  We had to pick up a couple to add some color to the front porch.

I haven't grown any in the garden, but remember the house from my earliest childhood had some that were about 6'-8' tall along side the house that my parents grew.  They were simple red leafed forms when in bloom, but I suspect much more hardy than the colorful hybrids available today.  When I asked the gentlemen giving the tour about secrets on growing them in the ground here, he advised you can, but they prefer we just toss them and buy new ones every year😜!

[Randall SD]

I planted one out last January and it's currently back in bloom. It's growing between my house to the west and a 4 foot wall to the east only getting part sun during the day. I kept it regularly watered and fertilized. Even so it was a bit slow to establish. I'm hoping for more growth next year. 12/03/23 San Diego CA

[iko.]

  On 7/10/2017 at 4:44 AM, Hammer said:

Any other SoCalians growing Poinsettia in your garden?  Any tips or tricks for getting one hardened off and growing outside without protection?  Soil? Water? Sun/Shade? Fertilizer? 

I have killed a couple trying over the years.  I have a new one that is pretty cool that I'd like to try again.

Thanks!

Expand  

Not South California but Eastern and Southern Spain climates are pretty similar. I have seen many people grow them in the garden as a small tree by "negligence". Meaning, it was planted in the garden and with no special care ends up growing a few metres tall. I did it too and can say that Poinsettia grow back from light and occasional frosts. I find new hybrids, whether miniatures, striking colours, ruffled leaves,... to be harder to keep them alive after Christmas. These seem weaker and may need more warmth and water. The small Princettia may be the exception to the rule. I have seen some nice sized ones around LA and also in Sydney (NSW) and proven to be hard to kill by me as well. 

As a general rule, the plant enters dormancy once it has flowered. During that time (Jan-March in the northern hemisphere) water is best kept at a minimum, specially if it's cold. It can go bone dry for a few weeks until the branches start to shrink. Don't panic if all the leaves have fallen. I always leave them in full sun but plants recently bought will need some time to acclimatize to hard sunlight. A safe method is to keep them in the pot they originally arrived until March, start watering more often in spring and by April new leaves would have sprout. Grows quite fast with regular watering during summer, prune as desired to avoid leggy branches and use those cuttings to propagate, keep away from artificial light (it really spoils the coloured bracts once days are getting much shorter, end of October) and no need to water in winter. From my experience, traditional big red leaves plants stand light frosts better than white and probably other colours too. 

I think these plants are great for winter colour in the garden and very exotic looking. The closest to a Mussaenda I can grow outdoors. 

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 12/12/2023 at 2:35 PM, iko. said:

Not South California but Eastern and Southern Spain climates are pretty similar. I have seen many people grow them in the garden as a small tree by "negligence". Meaning, it was planted in the garden and with no special care ends up growing a few metres tall. I did it too and can say that Poinsettia grow back from light and occasional frosts. I find new hybrids, whether miniatures, striking colours, ruffled leaves,... to be harder to keep them alive after Christmas. These seem weaker and may need more warmth and water. The small Princettia may be the exception to the rule. I have seen some nice sized ones around LA and also in Sydney (NSW) and proven to be hard to kill by me as well. 

As a general rule, the plant enters dormancy once it has flowered. During that time (Jan-March in the northern hemisphere) water is best kept at a minimum, specially if it's cold. It can go bone dry for a few weeks until the branches start to shrink. Don't panic if all the leaves have fallen. I always leave them in full sun but plants recently bought will need some time to acclimatize to hard sunlight. A safe method is to keep them in the pot they originally arrived until March, start watering more often in spring and by April new leaves would have sprout. Grows quite fast with regular watering during summer, prune as desired to avoid leggy branches and use those cuttings to propagate, keep away from artificial light (it really spoils the coloured bracts once days are getting much shorter, end of October) and no need to water in winter. From my experience, traditional big red leaves plants stand light frosts better than white and probably other colours too. 

I think these plants are great for winter colour in the garden and very exotic looking. The closest to a Mussaenda I can grow outdoors. 

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Yep, easily grown in places like S. Cal, possibly here ( if sited carefully ) if you treat them like Plumeria ..or many other plants from the dry tropics that rest ( and drop most / all leaves, 😱  in winter / grow like weeds during the hot / wet summers there..  

House i lived in as a kid in San Jose had one that was taller than the house, and " flowered " every year.  Pretty sure it was the 1990 freeze that took it out, rather than someone yanking it.

Like most other plants, " older ",  less interbred " types " are much hardier / tougher than the more " modern " hybridized weaklings.

One of these days, i want to see ..and grab a few cuttings off of these in Camarillo..

From Pinterest:


And a little diddy written about these particular specimens by San Marcos Growers, back in 2016 on their Facebook Page...



57 second " drive by " of the same specimens from 3 years ago on YT
 

 

[iko.]

Thanks @Silas_Sancona! I never heard of this road and is such a great sight with all those Poinsettia. I should stop by next time I visit LA. It can also be seen "in flower" in Google Street View.

Edited December 12, 2023 by iko.

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 12/12/2023 at 11:00 PM, iko. said:

Thanks @Silas_Sancona! I never heard of this road and is such a great sight with all those Poinsettia. I should stop by next time I visit LA. It can also be seen in flower in Google Street View.

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Camarillo / Ventura / Santa Barbara area is a MUST visit for anyone visiting the overall Los Angeles area.. All sorts of neat stuff to see ...and that is before you'd visit any of the bigger gardens ( Lotusland, Santa Barbara Botanical / Alice Keck Park -near downtown S.B. ) Some great nurseries to check out too, esp. if into Orchids.

Heading south down the 101 towards S. Cal from the S.F. Bay Area,  greeting the ocean as you round one final hilly curve,  after breaking through the mountains near Gaviota ( just west of Santa Barbara ) was always a nice treat.

[greattay]

Here are a few tips for growing poinsettias outdoors in SoCal:

Provide morning sun and afternoon shade. Too much direct sun can scorch their leaves.

Make sure the soil drains well. Poinsettias like evenly moist, well-draining soil. Add compost to improve drainage if needed.

Water deeply and infrequently. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry between waterings.

Feed monthly in spring/summer with a balanced fertilizer diluted to package instructions.

Hardening off is key. Gradually expose to more sun/wind over 1-2 weeks before planting outside permanently.

Watch for pests like aphids and treat with neem or insecticidal soap if needed.

Bring back inside if nights will dip below 50F to protect from frost.

Hope this helps your poinsettia thrive outside this year!