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