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Agricultural
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Dale Bumpers College
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In the News - October 2008
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| RICH VARIETY Fall is the time to think about prepping your poinsettia, whether its red, pink, white or a combination of those, for full holiday color. (Cooperative Extension Service photo by Jim Robbins) |
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| FLOWER POWER October is a good time to think about getting the holiday cactus ready to bloom in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas. (Cooperative Extension Service photo by Jim Robbins) |
SEARCY, Ark. October is not too early to be thinking about holiday cacti and poinsettias, says Sherri Sanders, White County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
"In the case of poinsettias, starting in early October, you must give the plants total darkness at night and bright sunlight during the day," she said. "For poinsettias, that means at least 12 hours of every 24 must be uninterrupted dark."
The first six weeks of 12-hour uninterrupted darkness are critical.
"For every night you miss during the first six weeks, add two days before the expected bloom time," Sanders said. "Don't forget that they need bright sunlight during the other 12 hours to have the energy to produce flowers."
After six weeks of 12-hour dark treatment, the buds should have set and the dark treatment is no longer needed. With a routine dark/light phase, and normal watering and fertilization, the plants will begin to show some coloring in eight to 11 weeks.
"While this can be a fun experiment, I always buy new ones every year since commercial greenhouses do such a fantastic job and usually give a better floral display," she said.
Holiday cactus is a somewhat easier project and can be a Thanksgiving cactus or a Christmas cactus, depending on when it blooms.
"If left outdoors, they will naturally set flowers with the shorter days of fall and the cool nighttime temperatures," Sanders said. "Cool evening temperatures seem to have more to do with flower set than short days."
Once the buds are set, the plants should be brought indoors under bright, but indirect, lighting. Be sure to keep the plants away from heating and cooling vents and drafts.
Left indoors, the plants may never bloom, she said.
For more information on horticulture, visit your county office, or www.uaex.edu. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
October 3, 2008
Edited by Elizabeth Hill
Media Contact: Lamar James
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207
ljames@uaex.edu
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