December 10, 2022

Keeping Your Poinsettia Alive

extending the life of your

poinsettia

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The Christmas Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is the most popular holiday plant in the United States. Its festive color will last the entire holiday season and stretch well into winter, if you provide the simple support it needs including the right mix of light, room temperature, and water. If you purchased a poinsettia or received a poinsettia as a gift, read on to learn how easy it is to keep it alive all winter so you can enjoy it as long as you like.

view holiday care tips view year-round care guide

How much light does my poinsettia plant need?

Supply 6 hours of bright, indirect light daily. Placement near a southern, western, or eastern window is great. It’s best to avoid direct sunlight, which can cause the colorful bracts to fade and the tips of the foliage to dry out. Poinsettias are not low-light plants. In a dark space with little natural light, the bracts will turn green and drop.

When should I water my poinsettia?

Water your poinsettia plant only when the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch. Thoroughly moisten the soil to the point that water is draining from the bottom of the growing pot. Discard any excess water that builds up in the saucer or decorative foil pot cover. If left to sit in excess water, poinsettias will develop root rot and die.

One helpful trick is to learn how to water poinsettias with ice cubes! With this technique, the ice cube waters the plant slowly and evenly as it melts. At the suggested rate of one ice cube per inch of pot diameter, a typical 6” pot would call for six ice cubes. Overwatering is the enemy of most houseplants during winter, so practicing good houseplant watering habits can make all the difference!

What room temperature is right for my poinsettia?

Set room temperatures at 60⁰-70⁰ Fahrenheit. Colder or warmer temperatures outside of this range can shorten the flowering and overall life of the plant. Also, be sure to prevent hot or cold drafts as best you can by placing your poinsettia plant away from cold windows, main entryways, or heating vents. Drafts like this can cause loss of moisture, leaf damage, and leaf drop. This is why, you’ll note, the plants are covered, sleeved, or otherwise bagged at the time of purchase – to prevent exposure to cold weather during the ride home! Once indoors, however, plants should be unwrapped immediately to prevent gases produced naturally by the plant from getting trapped, which hastens aging.

Should I fertilize my poinsettia plant?

Do not fertilize during the holiday season and subsequent winter months, especially while the plant is still flowering and displaying its colorful bracts.

If you decide to grow the plant year-round, a water-soluble or granular flowering plant food can be applied per package instructions April-November.

How long will my poinsettia stay in color?

Poinsettias typically flower anywhere from two to eight weeks, and some varieties display colorful bracts well into March with the best care. Once the flower bracts do fade, it’s best to put the plant into a state of dormancy, so it can rest up before the active spring growing season.

To induce dormancy, heavily prune the plant back to 4-8” tall, leaving one or two leaves per stem. Decrease the amount of water so that the top inch of soil is absolutely dry before reapplying water. Keep the plant in a cool location (60⁰F is best). Do not fertilize. Don’t worry if your poinsettia doesn’t show signs of fading until late March; every plant is different.

Caring for poinsettias

Curious to know what it takes to grow your poinsettia year-round and get it to rebloom next holiday season?

Watch this video with Noelle, Director of Education, all about poinsettias. In addition to sharing tips on how to be successful with your poinsettias during the busy holiday season, she also explains the care you can give your plant during spring, summer, and fall in order to trigger new blooms for next Christmas! Plus, she introduces 10 varieties we grow at our Casa Verde greenhouse growing facility in Columbia Station.

 

poinsettias for winter

With proper care and attention, poinsettias will add beauty to your home or office all winter long. As an indoor plant, all they require is the right balance of light, temperature, and water.

Learn More About Poinsettias

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