pointentilla

[barber]

anyone know what i do now the leaves are dropping and will it keep till next year...

also do i dry my amarylis bulb off when if stops flowering or leave it to grow?

[logman]

Hi barber, Your poinsettia requires plenty of light but will tolerate light shade. Water regularly but allow soil to dry out inbetween, tepid water is best,be careful not to over-water.Ideal tempreture around 60f, keep away from draughts and avoid dry air. Feed with baby bio once a fortnight. Cut back all stems to about 3" in spring and move to a mild shady position. Repot in may 2" larger in levington. In early september cover plant in black bin liner and remove each morning at 8am, keep this up until november,discard bag and care for the plant as normal.

Amaryllis, The most important thing to remember is to let the central stem to wither naturally before cutting off. Allow to dry out, repot and gradually increase watering and liquid feed once a fortnight and it should begin to flower in the autumn. All the best..

[reddoggy]

If you mean a poinsettia, the red leafed plant that's everywhere at Christmas, then the red leaves will drop off and be replaced by green ones. It's very difficult to grow the red leaves in a home environment. Water it regularly with tepid water but never overwater and keep it out of draughts and away from direct sunlight and it should survive, albeit green and not red.

Cut the flowerheads off the amaryllis but leave the leaves on and place it in a dark, dry place until the autumn, then pot up again.

[reddoggy]

We differ in our advice, logman but I've treated my amaryllises like that for years and they're still with me. I'm sure both methods are fine. Interesting about the poinsettia, I'll try that!