Poinsettia Care Tips
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poinsettias are a favorite holiday plant. mine in the past keep their color until way past easter. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)
Poinsettia Care Tips
The most surprising fact TikTokers have picked up from my poinsettia posts is that these are tropical plants. I remember them from our days living in Mexico City; in their native habitat, they can grow into small understory trees.
Poinsettas were first discovered in the 1800s in Mexico City and plant starts were shipped to South Carolina. In Mexico, the shrub is considered the Christmas Eve flower.
These colorful tropical woody shrubs are beautiful and quickly turn any room corner into a bright holiday spot. They also can have a life long after Christmas with some care.
How to Care for Poinsettias
1.When shopping for a poinsettia, look in the center for tightly-closed yellow buds. Those are the actual flowers. Poinsettias without yellow centers are older and won’t last as long.
2.One of the biggest mistakes I see people making, especially in temperatures below 70F, is taking poinsettias out from a warm environment into cold. If you are purchasing poinsettias, ask them to be wrapped. Better yet, have brown bags, a lightweight blanket or cotton shirt you can place around the plant(s) as you move them to a warm car you drive close to the retailer entrance.
3. If they have decorative foil over the pot, remove the tin foil and add a saucer underneath. You can also place the plants in baskets with a saucer. You don’t want to keep the tin foil; tin foil can cause poinsettias to die from too much water.
4. Don’t overwater. Check the soil and water when the top one inch is dry.
5. Poinsettias emit a white sap when cut or broken. For some time, it was assumed the sap was poisonous to pets but it isn’t. Well, depends on how much the pet consumes. My cats don’t bother my poinsettias but I would keep the two separate if they did.
6. Place in the Right Spot.
Place your poinsettia in a spot with bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, and too little light will cause it to drop leaves prematurely. Don’t place it on top of a TV or anything that generates heat. A spot near a window with sheer curtains is ideal.
Poinsettias prefer temperatures between 65°F and 75°F (18°C–24°C). Avoid placing them near drafts, heat vents, or fireplaces, as fluctuating temperatures can lead to leaf drop and poor growth.
During the growing season (spring through summer), fertilize with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. Avoid fertilizing during the bloom period (fall and winter) to prevent encouraging too much leafy growth at the expense of the colorful bracts.
Keep the humidity around your poinsettia moderate. If your home is dry, especially in winter with indoor heating, place the plant on a humidity tray (a shallow tray filled with water and pebbles) or use a room humidifier. Just be sure the plant isn’t sitting in standing water.
7. Deadheading and Pruning
After the colorful bracts or leaves fade, you can prune back the stems to about 4 inches to encourage new growth. Trim off any yellowing or dead leaves. If you plan to keep the poinsettia beyond the holiday season, regular pruning will help maintain its shape.
If you want your poinsettia to bloom again the following year, light control is crucial. Poinsettias require 12-14 hours of complete darkness each night to trigger blooming. Starting around late September or early October, place the plant in total darkness (such as a closet or box) each night for about 8 weeks. During the day, ensure it gets plenty of bright, indirect light. After this period, the bracts should begin to show color.
8. Avoid Overcrowding
Crowding or placing poinsettias near other plants can lead to fungal or pest issues.
Keep your poinsettia a few inches away from other plants to allow for air circulation. This will help reduce the risk of pests like aphids and mealybugs, and it’ll keep the leaves dry to prevent mildew or mold.
9. Post-Holiday Care or Disposal)
After the holidays, you can either continue caring for the poinsettia and try to get it to re-color its leaves bloom or dispose of it. If you decide to keep it, prune back the plant and continue providing light, water, and moderate temperatures. One friend plants hers out in the summer in shade. I've kept mine in pots in shade on my deck; they will grow back bushy after pruning.
If you don’t want to keep it, consider composting it rather than just tossing it in the trash.
10. Poinsettias are not just Christmas plants. Poinsettias are available in many colors from red, pink and white and may continue to bloom into Valentine’s Day and Easter. Enjoy these lovely plants through other holidays.
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Charlotte
