PetalPal
Mildly toxic to cats and dogs. The branches have thorns. Don't let pets chew on it.
Light
Full sun. The more, the better.
Water
On the dry side. Water only when it's bone-dry.
Temperature
20-35°C. In winter, not below 5°C.
Feed
More phosphorus and potassium before it blooms
Do this when you get home
- Put it in the sunniest spot on the balcony or outside. Indoors, weak light makes it drop leaves and skip flowers.
- While it's blooming, keep it a little dry
Day to day
- After flowering, prune hard. Shorten the long branches so new ones come.
- To make it bloom: hold back water until the leaves go slightly soft, then water, and use a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer
- The color is the bracts. The real flowers are the little white ones in the middle.
Common questions
Lots of leaves, no flowers?
Three reasons: not enough light, watering too often, or too much nitrogen. More sun, less water, and switch from nitrogen to phosphorus and potassium.
It dropped flowers and leaves as soon as I brought it home?
That's a normal reaction to a sudden change. Put it somewhere sunny. It usually settles in a week or two.
