Poinsettia Care: How to Keep Your Plant Alive and Thriving

Poinsettia care made easy! Learn how to keep your plant alive and thriving year-round with this simple guide. Covers watering, light, and more.

Want to keep your poinsettia vibrant long after the holidays? You’re in the right place! Poinsettias are those gorgeous holiday plants with festive red, pink, white, and even marbled bracts (modified leaves) that bring so much cheer to the winter season.

I always pick up a few for my Christmas decor, and I know many of you do too! While we often associate them with Christmas, poinsettias can actually thrive year-round with the right care. This post will give you all the tips and tricks you need to keep your poinsettia happy and healthy.

(Posts on stacyling.com may contain affiliate links. Click HERE for full disclosure.)

Getting to Know Your Poinsettia

Poinsettia 101: A Festive Favorite with a Rich History

Poinsettias, known botanically as Euphorbia pulcherrima, are native to the deciduous forests of Central America. Interestingly, they weren’t always a Christmas staple. It was the Ecke family in the early 1920s who cleverly figured out how to grow these tropical plants indoors and market them for the holidays. Now, over 100 years later, they’re a beloved tradition! And with so many varieties available, from the classic red to vibrant pink and even speckled varieties, there’s a poinsettia to suit every taste.

Poinsettia Care: The Basics

In general, poinsettias can stay in bloom for 2-3 months, but many start to fade after 4-6 weeks. With proper care, however, you can extend their beauty and even get them to rebloom next Christmas! I’ll be honest, though, poinsettias can be a bit fussy when it comes to their needs. If you’re up for the challenge, this guide will equip you with everything you need to know.

close up of red poinsettia plants — Red Poinsettia Plants

Your Guide to Perfect Poinsettia Care

Light for Poinsettias: Bright, Indirect, and Just Right

Poinsettias love bright, indirect light. Think of their natural habitat – dappled sunlight filtering through a forest canopy. A south-, east-, or west-facing window is ideal. Just be sure to avoid placing them in direct sunlight, which can scorch their leaves.

Also, keep them away from cold drafts and those temperature fluctuations from doorways or heating vents, as these can cause premature leaf drop.

Soil

Well-draining soil is crucial for poinsettias. A good quality potting mix is perfect. If your poinsettia came in a flimsy container or you suspect the soil isn’t ideal, repot it into a slightly larger pot with fresh potting mix. This will give the roots room to breathe and help prevent overwatering.

Temperature for Poinsettias

These tropical plants prefer temperatures between 65-70°F during the day and slightly cooler temperatures at night (around 60-65°F). Avoid placing them near heat sources like radiators or fireplaces, as dry heat can cause them to wilt.

garden blogger stacy ling shopping for poinsettias at garden nursery

NOTE: Cover Poinsettias Well Before Transporting

If you are choosing your own poinsettias, make sure they are wrapped well before venturing into the cold. Poinsettias can suffer if exposed to a low daytime temperature or nighttime temperatures, even for a few minutes.

Don’t forget to unwrap the plant once you get it home. While they often come wrapped in festive foil that looks pretty, it is healthier for poinsettias to unwrap it from the foil and set it in a plastic saucer or re-pot it in fresh potting soil. Keeping the foil wrapped around the plastic pot will retain water and rot the roots.

Poinsettia Care: Recreating their Tropical Home

Poinsettias thrive in humid environments. Since our homes tend to be drier in the winter, especially with the heating on, it’s important to boost the humidity around your poinsettia. You can do this by misting the leaves with water regularly or placing a humidifier nearby.

poinsettias in the greenhouse at garden nursery

Watering Poinsettias: Finding the Perfect Balance

Watering poinsettias can be a bit tricky. They like to be kept consistently moist, but overwatering is a common cause of their demise. Here’s how to get it right:

Check the soil: Before watering, poke your finger about an inch deep into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water.
Water thoroughly: Water until it flows out of the drainage holes, but don’t let the plant sit in water.
Avoid soggy soil: Make sure the pot has good drainage to prevent root rot.
Consider the ice cube method: If you’re worried about overwatering, try the ice cube method. Place a few ice cubes on the soil surface. As they melt, they’ll slowly release water, keeping the soil moist without getting soggy.

For best practices about how much to water poinsettias, read this article that I wrote here.

Fertilizing Poinsettias: Nourishing for Long-Term Health

To keep your poinsettia thriving, feed it with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during its active growing period (spring and summer). Reduce fertilization in the fall and winter when the plant is dormant or preparing to bloom.

Pink and white poinsettia plants — Pink Poinsettia Plant

Poinsettia Care: Troubleshooting Common Problems

Why is My Poinsettia Wilting?

Wilting is often a sign of underwatering or low humidity. Make sure you’re watering your poinsettia correctly and consider increasing the humidity around it by misting or using a humidifier.

Poinsettia Losing Leaves? Here’s What to Do

If your poinsettia is dropping leaves, it could be due to several factors:

Temperature fluctuations: Drafts or sudden changes in temperature can cause leaf drop.
Underwatering: Make sure the soil is consistently moist but not soggy.
Physical damage: Be careful not to bump or bruise the plant when moving it.

Poinsettia Leaves Turning Yellow? Causes and Solutions

Yellowing leaves, especially the lower ones, are often a sign of overwatering. This can lead to root rot, which is fatal for poinsettias. Adjust your watering habits and ensure the pot has good drainage.

close up of colorful red and cream bracts on a poinsettia plant — Red and Cream Poinsettia Flower

Poinsettia Care Beyond the Holidays

Reblooming Your Poinsettia: A Step-by-Step Guide

Want to see those colorful bracts again next year? While it requires some dedication, reblooming a poinsettia is possible. Here’s a simplified approach based on recommendations from Rutgers Cooperative Extension:

Spring pruning: In the spring, cut back the stems to about 4-6 inches tall.
Regular care: Continue watering and fertilizing throughout the spring and summer.
Fall darkness: Starting in early October, give your poinsettia 14 hours of complete darkness each day (usually from 5 pm to 8 am). You can do this by placing it in a dark room or covering it with a box.
Reduced light: During the day, provide bright, indirect light.
Consistent temperature: Maintain a temperature of 65-70°F.

I’ve not done this before to speak to how well it works, because for me, these plants are too much to maintain and I don’t get joy out of growing them beyond the holidays. But if you are interested in encouraging your Christmas plant to rebloom, please follow the recommendations from Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

How Do I Get My Poinsettia to Turn Red Again?

To get your poinsettia to turn red again, it’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure its bracts will color up again at Christmas. This is where you’ll want to limit the plant’s sunshine.

According to Michigan State University Extension, keeping your poinsettia in complete darkness for about 14 continuous hours per day as outlined above can help its colorful leaves rebloom. Even a small amount of light for a short time can impact the growth of the flower buds, so it’s important to ensure there is complete darkness.

Do this for about two months before you want them to bloom. The light reduction and consistent darkness should help your poinsettia turn red again in time for the holidays. Remember, I’ve not done this myself, but I know people who have and would love to hear about your results if you try. Good luck – and let me know if it takes!

Summer Poinsettia Care: Taking Your Plant Outdoors

You can also give your poinsettia a “summer vacation” outdoors! Once the danger of frost has passed, move it to a shady spot that receives bright, indirect light. Water regularly and fertilize regularly during the growing season. This can help your poinsettia grow stronger and healthier.

red and white poinsettias at the garden nursery on a shelf

Poinsettia Toxicity: Important Safety Information

Poinsettias and Pets: Keeping Everyone Safe

According to the U.S. Poison Control Center, poinsettias were believed to be deadly for many years, but research has shown consistently that they are not lethal when eaten by humans. The milky sap can cause skin irritation, and ingesting the plant can lead to nausea and vomiting.

And there have been some reports of the plants causing a rash if touched frequently, so it’s recommended to wear garden gloves when handling the foliage, bracts, and other plant parts. For this reason, it’s best to keep poinsettias out of reach of children and pets, and wear gloves when handling them.

The ASPCA rates poinsettias as being mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, with the potential to cause nausea and vomiting too.

close up of red poinsettia -How to Care for Poinsettias — Red Poinsettia with Variegated Foliage

How Long Will a Poinsettia Typically Last Indoors?

In general, poinsettias can flower for about 2-3 months but most only last about 4-6 weeks before the colorful bracts start dropping. So much like my theory on garden mums, it’s a good idea to plan when you want to buy them to get the most out of them.

Final Thoughts About Poinsettia Care

Much like garden mums, I view poinsettias as a holiday plant that looks great with my Christmas tree and is meant to bloom through the holidays. So to me, they are better for holiday decorating than they are as a houseplant and I treat them as such.

I know several people who keep them for the following year and get them to re-bloom again for the next holiday season, but I’m not one of them. For me, the best way to enjoy them is during the holidays and then I’m happy to be done with them.

I don’t want them taking up the real estate in my house for other houseplants. And if I’m spending that much time caring for a houseplant, it’s going to be one that isn’t quite as fussy.

Do you enjoy live poinsettia plants around the holidays? Have you ever tried to grow them all year round? I would love to know more in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Enjoy your day! xoxo

Close up of red poinsettia plant - How to Care for Poinsettia Plant

Want to Learn How to Decorate With Fresh Greens for the Holidays?

Sign up here to get a discount on my ebook, 15 Easy Ways to Decorate With Fresh Greens for the Holidays which offers beautiful, budget-friendly, and sustainable holiday decorating inspiration using fresh greens from the landscape.

This 40-page guide is full of simple DIY holiday decorating ideas that include how to cut, care for, and design with fresh greens, as well as tips to purchase and incorporate faux greens with your holiday decorating style to create a cozy, beautiful, and organic vibe.

From porch styling to cozy centerpiece and tablescape inspiration, wait until you try these budget-friendly holiday decorating ideas using fresh greens for every room in your home.

hanging basket of winter greens on the porch

Looking For More Christmas Decorating Ideas?

I love looking through festive holiday inspiration to get ideas for this year’s decorating aesthetic, don’t you?

Wait until you see these holiday decorating, entertaining, and food ideas to create a cozy home for Christmas.

stacy ling purchasing poinsettias at garden nursery

close up of red poinsettia with pine cones in planter - How to Care for Poinsettias — Red Poinsettias

Rustic farmhouse Christmas Decorating in the Living Room with roaring fire, tv over fireplace, mantel decorated for the holidays with faux greens and white christmas stockings, and poinsettias with mini trees and fairy lights

red poinsettia plants in Las Vegas Hotel

red and white poinsettias at the garden nursery in the greenhouse -How to Care for Poinsettias

garden blogger stacy ling buying poinsettias at the nursery -how often to water poinsettia plant

various poinsettias at the garden nursery with houseplants - How to Care for Poinsettias

A variety of colorful poinsettia plants with different colored bracts at the garden nursery

What You Need to Know About Poinsettias Care

A luxurious chandelier hangs over a festive holiday display with greenery, poinsettias, and candles. A sign in the background adds to the cozy atmosphere. Text reads: "2024 Holiday Shop - My Top Finds to Deck Your Halls This Season.

The Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy Care Flower Garden

Have you never met a plant you couldn’t kill?
Have you dug around in the dirt with nothing to show for it except a sunburn and a sore back?
Do you currently enjoy growing flowers, but are looking for more tips and ideas to level up your gardening game?

Then the Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide is for YOU

Buy Now

7 Comments

Pingback: Weekly Rambles - Lora Bloomquist~Create & Ponder
Renae says:

November 22, 2022 at 9:08 am

Wow! Great info. I didn’t know this. In Florida, they plant their poinsettias outside in the garden. They grow into huge shrubs. They are beautiful.

1. stacy says:
  
  November 22, 2022 at 10:27 am
  
  Oh I’m sure because its so warm there! They are – I want to pick up a few this year!
  
Rachel Harper says:

November 22, 2022 at 3:34 pm

Stacy,
Thanks for your tips. I may give poinsettias another try.

1. stacy says:
  
  November 23, 2022 at 1:27 pm
  
  I’m so glad to hear that! xo
  
Linda says:

November 29, 2024 at 3:06 am

I’ve re-bloomed my poinsettia for three years now and, though it’s not as large as it was the first year, I’m very happy with it. I’ve found it quite easy to do and would encourage others who are interested, to give it a try. It’s a bit magical to see the bracts colour to a vivid red which contrasts so wonderfully with the deep green leaves.

1. Stacy Ling says:
  
  December 1, 2024 at 6:48 am
  
  I’m sure it is exciting! How amazing you’ve gotten yours to rebloom the last few years Linda! Do you bring them outside at all during the warmer months of the year?