Is My Poinsettia Sick?

“Charlotte, hi, I was given a poinsettia as a gift but I think it’s sick. It’s red with white blotches. What can I do to save in?” — Anna Marie

Is My Poinsettia Sick?

Hi Anna Marie, lucky you to be gifted a poinsettia, they’re one of my all time favorites.

Traditional poinsettias are the solid red color we all associate with these holiday plants. However, there are more than 100 hybrids of this tropical plant including “candy cane,” which is what I’m guessing is the poinsettia you were given. Candy Cane Poinsettia is red with blotches of white on the bracts (or leaves), making one worry if there’s something wrong with the plant.

Water it only when the top inch is dry, keep it away from heat sources in indirect light and you should have this lovely plant keeping its colors through spring.

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Charlotte

How to Get Plant to Flower

“How is my plant doing how can I get it to rebloom with flowers? cactus christmas” — Michelle

How to Get Plant to Flower

Hi Michelle, first let’s get the plant correctly identified. The plant in the photo you sent is not a Christmas cactus, it’s a night-blooming cereus, a cactus that blooms once a year usually in June.

The flowers are normally white or light pink. The fragrant flowers open after dark and last one day.

Night-blooming cereus have a gangly growth pattern, like the one in the photo so from what I see it’s doing fine.

this cereus has been growing for a good 20 years in this pot. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Secondly, the plants commonly-referred to as “Christmas cactus” are actually Thanksgiving cactus. I placed one of mine in this photo with my cereus so you can see the difference.

Night blooming cereus, back, and Thanksgiving cactus in basket, front. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

My cereus has bloomed in this shaded spot in the past so I know this is a good place for it.

Yours may need a little more growth before it blooms.

Charlotte