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How to Select and Care for Poinsettia Plants

Every year I buy poinsettia plants and every year they look awful by the time Christmas comes. What am I doing wrong? How do I pick a good poinsettia and how do I care for it?

Hi Sandy,

Red poinsettia plant

Poinsettia Plant

Selecting the right poinsettia is definitely the first step in having a poinsettia last for weeks and even months. Many people mistakenly think the colorful bracts are the flower petals of the plant. Although these bracts are quite attractive they are not part of the flowers. The real flowers are quite inconsequential and are located inside the small yellow center part of the Poinsettia. These real flowers should be barely open, and there should be no pollen on the bracts of the plant.  Ideally there should be green leaves all the way to the soil line. The plant should be well balanced and not top heavy. Once you’ve chosen the right poinsettia, then you need to care for it properly.

Light: Poinsettia Plants need very bright indirect light but no direct sun. If you place your Poinsettia close to a window be sure none of the leaves touch the glass or the cold will damage them.
Water: Poinsettia Plants are members of the Euphorbia family and should not be over- watered. Always allow at least the top 50% of the soil to dry out before watering to prevent root rot. Over-watering a Poinsettia Plant causes green leaves to fall off leaving bare stems topped by a few colorful bracts. Severe under-watering in which a Poinsettia Plant badly droops results in both green and colored leaves dropping off. When in doubt, do not water! Be careful not to get the leaves of a Poinsettia Plant wet when watering. Water drops cause unsightly white marks on the plant.
Fertilize: Fertilize a Poinsettia Plant monthly in the spring and summer after the plant has finished blooming.
Temperature: Temperature is a very important factor in Poinsettia Plant care. Poinsettia Plants last longer and look better when the temperature is between 65-70 degrees during the day and around 60 degrees at night. Temperatures that are too hot or too cold damage the  leaves and may cause leaf drop. Keep Poinsettia Plants away from drafty doors and windows, fireplaces, heaters, and the tops of appliances that give off heat.
Humidity: A Poinsettia Plant does well in basic household humidity.
Flowering: Please contact me and I’ll be happy to send you the complete and lengthy instructions on how to turn a Poinsettia Plant red again the following year.
Pests: Houseplant pests that may infect Poinsettia Plants are: whitefly, fungus gnats, mealy bugs, and spider mites.
Diseases: Avoid over- watering and keep the leaves of a Poinsettia Plant dry to prevent plant diseases.
Soil: Use a good, quick-draining, acidic potting soil for Poinsettias. Do not rush to re-pot.
Poisonous Plant Info: Poinsettia Plants, despite all the rumors, are not Poisonous Houseplants. The milky sap of a Poinsettia Plant may cause minor skin irritations especially for people who are allergic to latex.
One last warning, shake the plant gently before purchasing it to be sure there are no whiteflyWhiteflies are small gnat-like insects, covered in a powdery white wax; they feed on the sap of plants. This causes leaf-drop and weakens the plant in general. Whiteflies secrete a sticky substance called honeydew while they feed. The flying adults lay eggs on the tops of leaves, but it is the immature nymph stage, feeding unnoticed on the underside of the leaves, that does the real damage. Yellow sticky cards are a good way to trap the flying adults and prevent new eggs. Spray the Green Solution to get rid of the feeding nymphs on the underside of the leaves.s lurking on the leaves or in the soil that you can’t see.




Great gift for plant loving friends who want to learn which houseplants are poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children  Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants

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