Poinsettia: common mistakes to avoid to keep it vibrant

Achillea taygetea: a perennial that stands the test of time

Yarrow is one of the many talented plants, thriving in wild gardens as well as in well-maintained flower beds tended by the most conscientious gardeners. The Achillea taygetea, native to the Mediterranean basin, forms a small, upright, compact bush that is very decorative, reaching about 50 cm in height when in bloom. Its feathery foliage, more or less evergreen, is a beautiful silvery colour. From June to September, the stems are topped with dense pale yellow umbel flowers. Very easy to care for, it will thrive on a sunny bank or in a rockery, alongside Oreganos or Nepetas.

Hardy down to -15°C, as a true Mediterranean plant, it tolerates drought, requires full sun, and well-drained soil, even stony and calcareous.

→ Sophie’s tip: it can be easily multiplied by dividing the clumps in April.

Achillea taygetea

→ For expert tips on growing Yarrow, find Alexandra’s advice here: YARROW – PLANT, GROW AND MAINTAIN

Acanthus mollis: a decoration in its own right

Certain plants have such a presence that they create stunning scenes all on their own. Acanthus is one of them, known for the unique beauty of its foliage and flowers. Well-known for its leaves adorning Corinthian columns, the Acanthus is a beautiful Mediterranean plant that offers remarkable resilience and surprisingly frugal water needs for a plant of such size. Its large, stylised leaves, lush green and glossy, emerge in spring, and its majestic flower spikes laden with long white and purple flowers also make a significant impact in June and July.

It prefers a sheltered position from the sun from midday onwards. Like many Mediterranean plants, especially those with large foliage, the Acanthus protects itself from summer heat by shedding its leaves during the summer. Capable of withstanding brief frosts of around -12 to -15 °C in well-drained soil, it will remain lush and green elsewhere.

Ideal for dressing a wall base economically where the soil is often poor or a slightly bare hedge base, the Acanthus provides an elegant, simple, and quick effect.

Acanthus mollis

→ Find all the practical advice on this majestic perennial in Virginie’s article: ACANTHUS – TO PLANT, TO GROW AND TO MAINTAIN

Catananche caerulea: Azure Cupidone

You can find it alongside other garrigue plants that share its love for sunshine and dry soil. Cupidone or Catananche caerulea is a lovely perennial that blooms generously throughout the summer, while other Mediterranean plants rest to protect themselves from the summer heat. Belonging to the aster family, the Cupidone forms a rosette of evergreen, elongated leaves that are grey-green in colour, and its flowers, a beautiful intense blue, are followed by equally ornamental globular fruit. In the south, the Cupidone is nicknamed “cigalou” due to the sound these bracts make when rustling in the wind.

Plant it in light, well-drained soil. Wonderfully adapted to drought, it tolerates limestone very well and temperatures down to -12 to -15 °C.

Catananche caerulea

→ To learn all about the Cupidone, check out the article: CATANANCHE, CUPIDONE – PLANTING, CULTIVATION, CARE

Phlomis samia: an original

Poinsettia needs water: it likes its soil to stay moist but not waterlogged. Overwatering — watering that happens too often, or leaving water to stand in the saucer or outer pot — is another common mistake that can harm a poinsettia’s health. But underwatering, or soil that dries out, is just as detrimental.

To find the right balance, the trick is to feel the soil with your fingers: if the surface is dry, it’s time to water. Frequency will depend on room temperature. In winter, our homes are sometimes heated more than at other times of year because of radiators, stoves, fireplaces, ovens, etc. So watering every 5 to 7 days may be necessary. About 20 minutes after watering, remember to empty the saucer or outer pot. Finally, use water at room temperature: as mentioned, poinsettia does not like sudden temperature changes. Cold water could therefore encourage leaf loss.

If the leaves droop, this may be a sign of underwatering. If white mould or fungal growth appears on the surface of the soil, it is more likely a sign of overwatering.

Using unsuitable soil

In its natural medium, Poinsettia can reach several metres in height. But indoors it will only reach 50 to 80 cm. Two cultivation mistakes can impair its health at repotting :

• choosing a container without drainage holes ;
• placing the plant in a heavy, suffocating substrate.

These are indeed the surest ways to cause roots to rot. So be sure to choose a pot with holes that allow water to drain. Choose a potting compost for planters and pots or a potting compost for flowering plants. If you use garden soil, mix it with sand so that it drains well.

Allow parasitic organisms to establish themselves

Spurge are elegant and easy-going perennials. The Euphorbia myrsinites or Corsican Spurge is an essential groundcover plant for dry rockeries, gravel gardens, or the front of Mediterranean borders. Very graphic, it spreads its stems covered with leathery blue-green leaves into lovely cushions about ten centimetres high, spreading approximately 40 cm. The foliage is beautifully arranged in spirals along the stems, a strategy developed by the plant to withstand heat and drought. From March to May, it produces bright yellow-green inflorescences: a delight at the start of spring!

Very robust, Euphorbia myrsinites thrives in well-drained, poor, and stony soil, and it tolerates lime. Its hardiness allows it to withstand temperatures of -15 °C and below.

Euphorbia myrsinites

→ Discover the best tips on SPURGES: PLANTING, GROWING AND MAINTAINING

Neglecting care after the festive season

Poinsettia is not an annual that inevitably dies straight after the festive season. To keep a plant looking vibrant for a long time, don’t leave it completely without care. It will need a few specific actions to continue developing and to flower again the following autumn.

1. Once flowering has finished, prune the plant back to about 15 cm above soil level. This will allow it to retain a nice, compact silhouette. Use cutting tools disinfected beforehand.
2. Repot Poinsettia in spring into a new container about 2 to 3 cm wider in diameter than the rootball. Ensure the base has drainage holes. Place a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot made of gravel or clay pebbles. Then fill with a suitable potting mix (see paragraph above).
3. Apply solid or liquid fertiliser for indoor plants or to stimulate flowering in summer.
4. In autumn, for about 2 months, the plant must be kept in darkness, without artificial light, for at least 14 hours each day. This is the key for it to then develop beautiful colourful bracts and flower again. For this, you can cover it with a large outer pot.