Cultural Problems
Lateral stem breakage on poinsettia
Sometimes poinsettias are prone to lateral stem breakage and some varieties such as Freedom may be more susceptible to this problem. The crop may look healthy and the roots look good, yet an occasional branch will wilt for no apparent reason. There are several possible causes of this condition.
- If too many nodes were left on the poinsettias during the pinch. Lower branches on these plants may be shaded and grow in a more horizontal position (as seen here), putting pressure on the junction of the branch and the main stem.
- Not enough calcium was used in the fertilizer program resulting in weak shoots.
- Poinsettias were pinched too early resulting in side branches growing too long.
- Low light levels during the vegetative growth phase after the pinch causing weak lateral branches.
- Lack of care when hand watering can cause a small physical break at the junction of the branch and main stem that is not observed until the branch wilts. The branch feels like a “loose tooth”, still attached, but the vascular system is broken.
Although this condition usually occurs late in the production cycle or during shipping, it can occur at any time. Once the branch is wilted, it will not recover. It will have to be gently removed.
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