How to Care for Poinsettias

How to Care for Poinsettias

Poinsettias add a lovely pop of color during the winter season, and can even be kept year-round if cared for properly. Get pointers from the experts on how to care for your poinsettia plant so that it stays vibrant throughout the winter season and beyond!

 

Water

We recommend bottom-watering your poinsettia every 1-2 weeks so that you fully saturate the soil. To do this, set your poinsettia in its pot (remove any decorative foil first) in a sink, deep saucer, or a dish with plenty of water. Let it soak up the water for 20 minutes, then drain. While poinsettias like soil that is moist, they can get waterlogged. Never leave your poinsettia in a saucer filled with water for longer than 20 minutes. Only water your poinsettia when the first 1-2" of soil feels dry to the touch.

If you prefer to water your poinsettias with a watering can, irrigate until you see water starting to seep out of the bottom of the pot. Be sure to empty the saucer after watering!

 

Sunlight

Poinsettias prefer bright, indirect sunlight. For vibrant foliage, keep your poinsettia near a window that gets plenty of sunlight.

 

Temperature

While you want your poinsettias to get plenty of light, they do not like drafty areas. A cold draft or cool temperatures can quickly kill this tropical plant. Keep them in a spot that maintains temperatures between 55-75 degrees Fahrenheit, and avoid drafty locations. 

 

Additional Care

Poinsettias are easy to maintain throughout the winter season when kept in the right conditions. Simply clean up any leaf drop and check it frequently for signs of stress or overwatering.

 

Want to keep your poinsettia for another season? Here's how.

Once your poinsettia begins dropping leaves, cut back the stems, leaving 4-6 buds.

Once temps remain about 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night, the poinsettia can be kept outside, where it will grow vigorously. It will quickly leaf out during the longer days. Bring it inside once nighttime temps begin dropping below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

To get it to color up again, keep the plant in complete darkness (like the back of a closet) for about 6 weeks. Once you start to see color again, bring the plant out to enjoy it for another season.

 

Fun Fact:

The red "flowers" of a poinsettia plant aren't actually flowers, they are brightly colored leaf structures called "bracts." These are designed to draw pollinators into the true flower structure of the poinsettia plant, found at the center of the bracts.

 

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