The attack of the 8-foot poinsettias
Right about now, many people are looking at their stressed-out
Christmas poinsettias and thinking,
”
Toss it in the trash.
”
Before you do that, though, you might consider the problem
facing Carmina Joseph. She’s wondering how to prune eight-foot-tall
poinsettia plants growing in a San Juan Bautista back yard.
The attack of the 8-foot poinsettias
Right about now, many people are looking at their stressed-out Christmas poinsettias and thinking, “Toss it in the trash.”
Before you do that, though, you might consider the problem facing Carmina Joseph. She’s wondering how to prune eight-foot-tall poinsettia plants growing in a San Juan Bautista back yard.
That’s right. Eight feet tall and flourishing outdoors in an area where many think poinsettias could not possibly survive.
The truth is that poinsettias growing outdoors are not particularly rare. It can be done with care and the right location.
Joseph’s poinsettias were planted several years ago by her mother outside her laundry room. The sunny location is protected by a wall, and the overhang of the roof shields them from heavy frost. During the past three years, Joseph says, a renter has tended them with loving care and now those tiny poinsettia plants are eight feet wide and eight feet tall.
“These are the tallest poinsettias I’ve ever seen,” she says. And the question worrying her now: How to prune them after the recent storms knocked them about?
There a two ways to prune outdoor poinsettias.
One way is to pinch new growth. This should be done every two months. Pinching the growing tips causes the poinsettia to become bushier and results in many small flowers.
The other way is to prune out entire branches. This should be done in the spring. Pruning out branches lets the grower shape the bush and remove dead or damaaged parts of the poinsettia. The result is larger flowers.
Joseph’s problem involves parts of the poinsettia plants laying on the sidewalk, knocked down by the storm. Cut back these fallen branches, clipping back to growing points.
If you would like to try growing your Christmas poinsettias outdoors, choose the sunniest south-facing location, against a wall that reflects heat during the day. Set the plants in the soil at the same depth they are growing in the pot. Plant it, don’t bury it. Be sure the soil drains well because soggy roots isa main cause of poinsettia death. Water as needed, every 10 days or so in winter, and more often in summer.
If everything works, an eight-foot-high poinsettia plant in your own yard is possible, too.
A Reader Wants to Know: How do I prune a matilija poppy plant? I inherited one when I bought this house and the branches are growing every which way. – Lee
Joan Says: The matilija poppy is one of California’s most beautiful native plants. The arching branches develop large papery white flowers with golden yellow center. The flowers look like large fried eggs and appear in summer.
The matilija poppy is a perennial that can grow eight feet high. . In winter, about this time, cut down the arching branches almost to the ground. During the rainy season, new arching branches will appear. The flowers develop on the tips of those arching branches.
If you are starting with a new matilija poppy, keep in mind that this plant can become invasive, so plant it away from other established plants in full sun. It is extremely hardy and is often used as freeway plants.
A Reader Wants to Know: I want to plant a tree that I can then prune by pollarding to control the size for my very small yard. I’ve heard that some trees do not do well with this kind of hard pruning. What are my choices? – Keith
Joan Says: First let me say that I am not a fan of pollarding – the act of cutting off branches at a certain point each year. You end up with these bulbous growths at the end of the pollarded branches. I prefer trees to grow naturally without this rape of the branches.
Having said that, pollarding needs to be renewed each year. If you pollard a few years and then let the tree revert to its natural growth, the tree structure is weakened. Rather than go this route, why not just buy a tree that naturally retains a small size?
With those thoughts and in answer to your question: plane and linden trees are two varieties suited to pollarding.
