If you've ever seen a leggy poinsettia in bloom, with only a couple of sad looking leaves hanging on, it was probably exposed to temperatures that were too cool or to extreme shifts in temperature. Before purchasing, shop for healthy-looking plants that have been kept away from drafts and excessive heat. Spring and Summer Poinsettia Care. 'Tri-Color' has bracts in red, white, and pink. Lack of humidity during dry seasons, in particular, winter, is an ongoing houseplant problem. Provide semi-cool, humid locations in bright, indirect light with plenty of moisture once blooming occurs. Hopefully, your plant will have responded to all of the loving care you provided and will be a beautiful centerpiece in your home for Christmas. Transporting your Plant home. And, with good care, a poinsettia plant can maintain its beauty for much longer than the Christmas season. Most of the people change the place of pot from summer and cold its damage to the plant. Provided the poinsettia plant is given the proper environmental conditions, it should begin to regrow within weeks. If it has grown since the last check, trim the stems back down to 6 inches (15 cm) or to your desired size, leaving 3 or 4 new leaves on the stems. Hybridizers have expanded the range of colors from the familiar red to pastel yellow and vibrant bicolors. Make sure your plant is not in an area that gets cold drafts or is too close to a window where its leaves could touch a chilly window pane. To keep the poinsettia in bloom as long as possible, maintain a temperature of 65 to 75 F during the day. Besides the traditional red, you will find different colors to enjoy, including cream, yellow, and pink. Also, relocate the poinsettia plant to a cool, dark area until spring or around April. Poinsettia Plant Care. Here's a comprehensive Christmas plant care guide, containing all the common Christmas plants and their care tips! In spring, return the plant to a sunny area and water well. First, let’s start with how to care for poinsettias during their “blooming” season. Feed every three to four weeks. If your home is dry during the winter months, a humidifier or plant mister can help your plant stay hydrated. You can keep your poinsettia healthy and vigorous throughout the holiday season with the right care. Some stores sell poinsettias in cellophane cones that … From about September through November light becomes crucial in poinsettia plant care. After 10 minutes, remove any excess water from the saucer beneath the pot. However, cold drafts, allowing the leaves to touch a cold window, or more importantly, lack of decent light, can injure the leaves and cause premature leaf drop. Winter Poinsettia Care. There is no need to toss the plant, though, just put your poinsettia in a dark, cool area, decrease the amount of water so it dries out a bit, and wait until spring. They are also safe to put into the compost. A window that faces south, east or west is the best location to place your Poinsettia. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. Breeders are bringing us more varieties each year, different color combinations to add even more interest to the Christmas plant. How to Take Care of a Poinsettia During the Holidays Though they are popular as holiday plants, remember that poinsettias have tropical origins. They certainly are not meant to be eaten by humans, pets, or livestock and ingesting poinsettias would probably cause some stomach upset, as would eating almost any houseplant. POINSETTIA AUTUMN LEAVES - Size: 4 in Pot YELLOW - Qty: 95; POINSETTIA CANDY CINNAMON - Size: 8 in Pot PINK - Qty: 40; POINSETTIA ICE PUNCH - Size: 8 in Pot RED AND WHITE - Qty: 136; POINSETTIA MARBLE - Size: 8 in Pot PINK - Qty: 45; POINSETTIA PINK - Size: 4 in Pot PINK - Qty: 15; POINSETTIA PINK - Size: 6 in Pot PINK - Qty: 70 The bright bracts are designed to attract insects to the tiny yellow flowers in their centers. To keep the poinsettia in bloom as long as possible, maintain a temperature of 65 to 75 F during the day. Either way is fine. Check on your poinsettia once a month. In order to encourage blooming, poinsettia plants require long periods of darkness at night (about 12 hours). Likewise, avoid letting them sit in water-filled saucers, which can lead to root rot. If possible, check the soil before buying. A great way to water this plant is by placing it in the sink. Poinsettia care begins with proper light, water, and temperature conditions. Consuming a significant amount can lead to feelings of nausea and vomiting. Should also take special care of water, once the watering the plant wait when the soil begins to dry water again. Poinsettia Plant Care Keep your Poinsettia plant near a sunny window where it will have the most available sunlight. Fertilizing poinsettia plants is never recommended while they’re still in bloom. Allow plenty of light during the day so the plant can absorb enough energy for flowering. However, don’t let it dry out completely. Poinsettias like moist but not soggy soil, so you should water your poinsettia when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch. Environmental factors such as warm, dry conditions are most often the reason for leaf drop. South-, east- or west-facing windows are preferable to a north-facing window. Poinsettia care should begin immediately. Once flower bracts have fallen, you have the option of discarding the plant or keeping it an additional year. Poinsettias can be grown for years with proper care. While it may be easier to buy new plants each year, it is possible to get them to rebloom the next season. Poinsettia are pretty easy to care for. Warning poinsettia foliage contains a sap that can irritate the mouth and esophagus tissue if ingested. Hi, I love this plant and trying to grow Poinsettia from last 3 years but they died every year. Note that some fancy colors, such as blue, are produced using dyes and the plant won't bloom again with the same color of bracts. Many people are sensitive to this sap, which can cause an itchy rash. Touch the soil and make sure it is neither too wet or overly dry. DON’T Forget to Protect the Plant in the Car. If the pot is covered by the typical foil wrapping, remove the foil to allow the water to drain. If you want to save your poinsettia and bring it to bloom again next year, you can follow the repotting and reblooming procedure. So this time I followed all Poinsettia care tips and put plant in window under shady place with enough light. Stress can also be a factor. Keep the plant near a bright window, and you will begin to see new growth near the end of May. At this time, prune back the stems to around 7 inches. Think of milkweed, another common Euphorbia. Keeping Poinsettia Plants Beautiful In Season. Keep the plant near a bright window, and you will begin to see new growth near the end of May. Cut back all canes (branches) to about 6 inches from the pot’s rim. Color is initiated by exposing the plants to complete darkness for 12 hours a day, starting in October. Poinsettia plants should be watered thoroughly, taking care not to drown them by ensuring adequate drainage is available. During the holidays, while in full bloom, they typically enjoy semi-cool, humid locations in bright, indirect light with plenty of moisture. It’s important to pinpoint the possible cause in the event that your poinsettia plant leaves are falling off, as in some cases, this can be easily fixed. Be especially careful not to rub your eyes after touching the plants. It should be neither dripping wet nor totally dry, and if it is, … Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Keep it away from cold drafts and at temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees F to keep it healthy. If you thought that all Poinsettia plants had red flowers then think again. Remove leaves from the soil surface, … If the plant stands in water, the roots will rot. 8 Poinsettia Plant Care Tips. Give them enough sun, warmth, and water and your poinsettia will provide perfect seasonal color. The lower night temperatures help the poinsettias keep their brilliant color. Water your poinsettia whenever the top soil is dry to the touch. To be safe, wash your hands after handling a poinsettia plant and try to avoid pinching or pruning them with your hands. To keep them happy throughout the season, place them in bright indirect light. After the "blooming" period of six to eight weeks, poinsettias often lose their foliage as they enter dormancy. Make sure to water the poinsettia whenever the surface of the soil feels dry. St. Patrick's Day. However, with proper care, your holiday poinsettia should continue to put out blooms, or in the least remain attractive for weeks after. Overwatering will quickly damage the plant. A popular winter flower, the Christmas Star is not just an annual plant. Fertilize poinsettias only if keeping them after the holiday season. Prune off faded and dried parts of the plant. Water your poinsettia only when the topsoil feels dry to the touch. If your home tends to be dry and your poinsettia is in direct light, you will find yourself watering more frequently, but never water every day. holiday poinsettia should continue to put out blooms, Poinsettia Care Following Christmas: What To Do With Poinsettias After Holidays, Types Of Poinsettia Plants: Choosing Different Poinsettia Varieties, Transplanting Poinsettia Plants: Can You Transplant Poinsettias Outside, Giving To Food Deserts – How To Donate To Food Deserts, December To-Do List – What To Do In December Gardens, Farm Share Gift Ideas – Giving A CSA Box To Others In Need, Repotting Houseplants: How To Repot A Houseplant, Flowers On Christmas Cacti: How To Make A Christmas Cactus Bloom, Christmas Tree Care: Caring For A Live Christmas Tree In Your Home, How To Make Poinsettia Turn Red – Make A Poinsettia Rebloom, Recipes From The Garden: Pressure Cooking Root Vegetables, Gratitude For The Garden – Being Grateful For Each Growing Season, 7 Reasons To Do Your Garden Shopping Locally, Thankful Beyond Words – What Represents Gratefulness In My Garden. Water until it drains out the bottom, but do not let the plant sit in water. Once nights become longer in fall, bring the poinsettia indoors. How to Water Your Poinsettia. Look for these varieties: For years, poinsettias have had the bad reputation of being poisonous. Sunlight should be available for the Poinsettia for at least five hours a day. Yes. The best indoor spot for a poinsettia is in a west-facing or south-facing window. Dropping the temperature to about 60 F at night will not hurt the plant. Poinsettia plants should be watered thoroughly, taking care not to drown them by ensuring adequate drainage is available. Since poinsettia plants are from the tropics, they prefer surroundings that simulate that type of environment. A wilted plant can be revived and salvaged, but it will take another season to improve its appearance. Whether you are gifted with a green thumb or not, our guide will help you grow the perfect houseplants. While poinsettias can be kept indoors throughout summer, many people choose to move them outdoors in a sunny, but protected, area of the flower garden by sinking the pot into the ground. Water the plant until you see water begin to seep through the holes at the bottom of the pot. After new growth has reached between 6 to 10 inches, pinch out the tips to encourage branching. Give the plant a good watering, but don't flood or soak it — gravel in the bottom of the pot will help keep the roots dry. After choosing your plant, ask to have it wrapped in paper to protect its leaves. Year-Round Poinsettia Care In March or April, the leaves of your poinsettia will begin to turn muddy-looking, faded, and will soon fall off. Poinsettia plants grow best during the winter months, which is why they are the most popular potted plant during the holidays. Because poinsettias have been forced into bloom, they need some extra care to keep them in bloom throughout the holidays. Don’t fertilize your poinsettia when it’s in bloom. Therefore, move the poinsettia to a location where it will not receive any nighttime light or cover it with a box. With a little care it can be encouraged to return year after year. 'Jingle Bells' has red bracts dotted with pink. Wilting is a common cause of leaf drop. Keep your plant away from cold drafts and heat from appliances. Year-Round Poinsettia Care In March or April, the leaves of your poinsettia will begin to turn muddy-looking, faded, and will soon fall off. Punch holes in plastic containers with a hammer and nail. Choosing your Poinsettia. Now that you know how do you take care of poinsettias you can keep these lovely plants year round. In the right climate and with the right planting location and care, these bright Christmas favorites can shoot up to 10-foot (3 m.) shrubs in rapid order. Sign up for our newsletter. The bright colours on the plant … the first thing to do to make sure that your poinsettia Care after Christmas is it excess, is to make sure that you care for the plant well during the winter, and follow the poinsettia care tips above. Temperature: These plants prefer temperatures from 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and from 60 to 65 degrees at night. With proper poinsettia plant care, they will give you many years of beauty. However, poinsettias have undergone extensive testing and there is no evidence that they are toxic or unsafe to have in the house. Water in a sink, and let the excess water drain completely. All of our Poinsettias are British grown and we stock several different varieties, from the ‘Classic Red’ Poinsettia to burgundy, white and marble effect – the more unusual colours sell more quickly so make sure you get in early! For the longest-lasting Poinsettias, choose plants with little or no yellow pollen showing. Protect the plants from both cold and hot drafts … Water the plant whenever the surface feels dry to the touch. Warmer days (65-70 F./18-21 C.) and cooler nights (55-60 F./13-16 C.) are also recommended. Use organic fertilizer once a week. How do you take care of poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima)? At this time, prune back the stems to around 7 inches. By using The Spruce, you accept our, 10 Top Outdoor Garden Plants That Thrive Indoors. Remove all decorative coverings from your poinsettia after the holidays to allow good water drainage from its container. When keeping the plant through the year, begin fertilizing in the spring at half strength when there's no growth—not until then. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a master gardener and author with 13+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening, seed starting and saving, growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals, and sustainable and urban farming. Keep the plant in a cool, draft-free area and provide plenty of water. Basic Poinsettia Care. And that all begins with knowing a little about the plant, and it’s blooming cycle. Many people cast the plant away, mistakenly believing it has died. Make sure the container has a hole in the bottom. A loose, well-draining peat-based potting soil is best for your poinsettia. Poinsettia “blooms” are actually bracts, and not a flower at all. The poinsettia is a tropical plant and hates cold temperatures. Don’t fertilize your poinsettia when it’s in bloom. Poinsettia Easy care in a warm part shaded position, the Poinsettia is a colourful foliage plant that commonly appearing at Christmas time. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Poinsettia care begins with proper light, water, and temperature conditions. Poinsettias are tropicals and will appreciate as much direct sunlight as you can provide. The familiar red blooms have been joined by even flashier colors. As holiday plants, they are raised in greenhouses in cool temperatures (60 to 72 degrees) with high humidity and light intensity, it can be tricky to duplicate the ideal spot for poinsettias. And taking care of them properly will yield and maintain lively, colorful leaves. These finicky short-day plants require specific growing needs in order to retain their Christmas blooms. So in the case of a poinsettia plant, those pops of colors are actually leaves. But still I found upper new … Apply fertilizer every two weeks or once monthly using a complete houseplant fertilizer. If you wish to keep your poinsettia through more than one season and force reblooming, follow these steps. Your poinsettia should receive at least six hours of light each day, whether it receives sunlight or artificial light. Temperature: Keep indoor temperatures at 65 F and above during the day and 55 F and above at night. Place the poinsettia near a sunny window. Adding plants nearby can help increase humidity levels in dry rooms, as will humidifiers. A well-cared-for poinsettia can live for up to two years. Actually, they are not flowers but modified leaves called bracts. Basic Poinsettia Care Tips. Euphorbias, the plant family that includes poinsettias, exude a milky sap when broken. Poinsettia plants (Euphorbia pulcherrima) remain one of the most popular holiday flowers. Dropping the temperature to about 60 F at night will not hurt the plant. Do not fertilize poinsettias during the blooming period. I watered them when soil feel dry in touch. This can be done once a month until the middle of August. Carefully. During the holidays, while in full bloom, they typically enjoy semi-cool, humid locations in bright, indirect light with plenty of moisture. It may also be a good idea to repot the poinsettia using the same type of soil. Poinsettias love bright natural light, so find a sunny spot that receives at least 6 hours of bright, indirect sunlight. Poinsettias are not frost-tolerant. Water the poinsettia when necessary. If it’s your potted holiday plant that makes you ask about planting poinsettia outdoors, you have to start treating the plant well from the moment it arrives. If all else fails, the plant may need to be discarded. Your poinsettia plant should have a rounded shape, with dense and compact growth. poinsettia plant care christmas plant care tips my plant world how to grow poinsettias by cutting https://youtu.be/jZc_Kqgjzaw thanks for watching Follow these tips and you will enjoy your plant well beyond they festive season. Take care not to give your new plants a cold ride home if you are in an area with a chilly climate. However, cold drafts, allowing the leaves to touch a cold window, or more importantly, lack of decent light, can injure the leaves and cause premature leaf drop. Soon after the holiday season, the leaves (bracts) may start to fall off. Also, make sure the leaves are not touching a chilly window pane. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener. Getting a poinsettia to rebloom is not an easy process, so don't be disheartened if you don't have success your first try. For those choosing to continue with poinsettia care, decrease regular watering to allow the plant to dry out some. Prune often throughout the year to keep the poinsettias at this size. A more likely problem to watch out for is contact dermatitis. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. About the plant it receives sunlight or artificial light all decorative coverings from your poinsettia plant,. 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