These poinsettia care tips will keep your plant thriving during the holiday season.
Poinsettias are beautiful, festive, and easy to take care of.
Keep the temperature between 60F-70F, andwatch out for chilly drafts around windows.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Some can hold their color for months instead of just a few weeks.
Where to Plant Poinsettia
Poinsettias are tropical plantsthat hail from southern Mexico and Central America.
Poinsettias grow best in well-draining soil that has been enriched with organic matter.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Freezing temperatures kill poinsettias.
check that the area receives no artificial light from street lights, floods, or porch lights.
Poinsettias need darkness at night; lights interfere with the blooming cycle.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Before planting, cut the poinsettia foliage back by half.
Dig a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the container.
Backfill the hole with soil, pressing down with your hands to remove air pockets.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Water the plant well.
In warmer areas, they can also be grown outdoors.
Here’s how to care for them in the garden.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Light
Poinsettias grow best in six to eight hours of bright, indirect light.
Soil and Water
Poinsettias need well-draining soil enriched with organic matter for the best growth and blooms.
Water as needed to keep the soil damp but not wet.
Temperature and Humidity
When it’s colder than 50F outside, poinsettias suffer damage.
Freezing temperatures kill poinsettias.
These tropical plants enjoy warmth and humidity in the 50-75 percent range.
Stop fertilizing when the plant goes into dormancy.
Pruning
In early spring, prune the poinsettia back by one-third.
During the growing season, pinch it to promote full growth.
Poinsettias growing in warm and humid environments may developbacterial leaf spot.
(If the plant ispatent-protected, it shouldn’t be propagated at all.)
Put on gloves to protect your skin from the sap of the plant.
The flat or pot must hold at least 3 inches of planting medium.
Poke holes in the medium where you plan to put the cuttings.
The leaf nodes are where the roots will emerge.
Firm the medium around the bottom of the cutting.
Here are some of the most common types of poinsettias.
These plants are especially eye-catching alongside classic, all-red poinsettias.
Choose a spot that gets bright, indirect light.
You should notice some new growth, but they’ll stay green all summer.
Feed them about once a month with half-strength, balanced liquid fertilizer.
In August, pinch off about an inch from each growing tip to encourage the plants to branch out.
This is the trick for triggering new flowers and for the bracts to turn red.
If you’re successful, you should start to see the poinsettias developing color by early to mid-November.
Frequently Asked Questions
Putting the poinsettia in a room at 55F-60F at night extends the bloom time.
Avoiding big temperature fluctuations helps too.
Decrease watering until the soil goes completely dry and the plant enters dormancy.
If it is a houseplant, put it in a cool dark location.
When new growth begins in spring, cut the plant back to 4-6 inches tall.
ASPCA
Are Poinsettias Poisonous?National Capital Poison Center.
