The poinsettia is a popular holiday plant. Its bright red leaves and white flowers create a beautiful display that impresses friends and family. Poinsettias are easy to grow, but they do need proper care.
If you follow these tips for watering your poinsettia plant, it will stay healthy and beautiful for months after the holidays have passed. This Christmas, poinsettias are the UK’s top-selling houseplant (botanical name: Euphorbia pulcherrima).
The poinsettia is a Mexican perennial that blooms in December and January, second only to the Christmas tree as the ultimate home decoration during the holidays.
Poinsettias don’t require a lot of maintenance, contrary to popular belief. Poinsettias need to be watered every day or every three days. It can be composted or recycled once Christmas is over, used as cut flowers, or replanted next year. Dive in to learn about poinsettia and its care guide-
About poinsettia
Poinsettias are native to Mexico and are also known as the Mexican flame leaf. They are a member of the Euphorbia family, named for the Euphrates, a river in Iraq. Poinsettias are named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced them to the United States in 1825.
Poinsettias, like their cousin the Christmas cactus, are native to Mexico. They’re part of the Euphorbia family and have become one of North America’s most popular indoor plants.
In addition to being drought tolerant, they can grow in various conditions, including shade or full sun. While poinsettia plants are popular as ornamental houseplants and landscaping plants, they can also be used as cut flowers when they bloom during wintertime.
Types of poinsettia
Poinsettias are a popular Christmas plant with many different types available. The most common type is the double-flowered variety, but there are also single-flowered varieties, bicolor (red/green), and variegated. Here are some of the types-
Double flowered poinsettia
The most commonly grown poinsettia is the double-flowered poinsettia. These poinsettias have two large, showy flower clusters on each stem. Double-flowered poinsettias are usually sold in pots, making them easier to transport than other poinsettias.
Single flowered poinsettias
Single-flowered poinsettias are less expensive than double-flowered poinsettias because they produce fewer flowers per stem. However, the single-flowered poinsettia has more flowers per stem than the double-flowered poinsettia.
Bicolor poinsettia
A bicolor poinsettia is a hybrid between a double-flowered poinsettia and a single-flowered poinsettia. It produces both large, showy flowers and small, inconspicuous flowers. Instead of double-flowered poinsettsias, bicolor poinsettias are often offered.
Variegated poinsettia
A variegated poinsettia is a hybrid between a single-flowered poinsettia and a double-flowered poinetsitai. Variegated poinsettias have some flowers that are colored differently from others. Variegated poinetsitai are sometimes called “pixie” poinsettias because of their tiny size.
Ice Punch
This year, poinsettias are all about marbling. This Ecke Ranch version has holly leaf-shaped bracts encircled in white lightning streaks.
Jack Williams of Ecke points out that the ‘Ice Punch’ bracts look like they have landed in frost. And it keeps getting better; the central streak is surrounded by more white each week.
How to buy the right poinsettia?
A popular Christmas plant is the poinsettia. In fact, there are about 2.5 million poinsettias sold each day during the holiday season. And while many people love buying poinsettias, some things to keep in mind when selecting and caring for your poinsettia include:
1. Buy from reputable sellers. Check the seller’s reputation online. If you find complaints, contact the seller directly and ask why.
2. Look for a healthy-looking plant. Avoid wilted, browning foliage.
3. Be mindful of the temperature inside your house. Poinsettias like warm temperatures around 65°F. They do best in rooms where the air conditioning isn’t running.
4. Don’t place your plant near heating vents or air conditioners.
5. Provide adequate light. Plants grown under bright lights tend to grow faster. A good rule of thumb is to provide 10 hours of natural sunlight daily.
6. Water regularly. Keep soil moist, especially when the weather turns cold.
Tips for caring for poinsettias
- Growing poinsettia at home is easy if you follow this guide attentively.
- The first thing is to choose the right pot for your plant; a good pot will help it to grow healthy and strong.
- You can use any type of pot, but I recommend using clay pots as they are durable and long-lasting.
- After choosing the right pot, ensure that the soil in the pot is not too dry or wet; also, ensure there is enough space for the roots to spread.
- To protect it from draughts and temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius, wrap it up in paper for the journey homes.
- Even though poinsettias are delicate plants, taking these extra precautions will help protect them from damage that is initially invisible but can result in premature leaf loss after a few days.
- The soil around the root ball should be moistened well after planting poinsettias to prevent them from drying out. Poinsettias need to grow in soil that has a pH range of 5.8 to 6.2, with three parts soil to 1 part grit. This will ensure they get plenty of oxygen from the soil.
- Poinsettias can stay in their original pots during winter because they do not require repotting.
Keep the plant away from direct sunlight as much as possible
Watering should be done regularly, once every two weeks or three times a month, depending on the plant’s size. If you notice that the leaves start turning yellow, then water the plant immediately. If you notice that the leaves turn brown, then don’t worry. Just give it a little bit of fertilizer.
Fertilizers should be applied only once in a while, as over-fertilization may cause the plant to wilt. When watering, keep the soil moist but not soggy. Do not let the soil dry up completely. Poinsettia needs regular pruning to maintain its shape. Pruning helps to remove dead branches and encourages new growth.
It is important to prune poinsettia when it starts flowering as it will stop growing after flowering; in order to prevent the plant from becoming leggy, cut off the top few inches of the stems. Also, trim back the old foliage to encourage new growth.
Make sure to leave one or two buds on the main stem. Remove all the dead flower heads before winter sets in. As soon as the weather turns cold, take the plant indoors and place it in a cool room with bright light.
Once the plant is inside, continue to provide it with plenty of light and water. During the winter months, keep the plant warm and humid. Bring the plant outside again during the spring season and expose it to the full sun.
Continue to water the plant during the summer months. In autumn, when the days begin to shorten, and temperatures drop, cover the plant with a blanket or plastic sheet.
Place the plant in a dark location where it won’t receive direct sunlight. In case the plant doesn’t bloom within a couple of years, you can try to propagate it by taking cuttings.
This method requires some patience and skill
- Select a healthy branch that is approximately 1/2 inch thick and firm. Then carefully slice off an equal length of the branch.
- Insert the end of the branch into a small container filled with fresh compost. Cover the container with a clear plastic bag and wait until the tip of the branch has grown roots.
- Transplant the rooted cutting into a larger pot containing rich, fertile soil.
Give the plant plenty of sunshine and water it regularly.
Now you have successfully propagated poinsettias at home.
How long can you keep poinsettia?
How long can you keep a poinsettia? It depends on the type of plant you buy. Poinsettias purchased from a florist or home center will last longer than those purchased from the grocery store because they’re freshly cut and haven’t been sitting on shelves for weeks or months.
Even so, dried poinsettias won’t last as long as healthy plants. However long your plant survives past Christmas Day is how long you should keep it around before putting it in the water again.
If you want to prolong its life as much as possible, place it in indirect sunlight, where it will get some natural light but not too much heat (like near a window). Then water thoroughly until all of the soil is moist but not soggy before placing back into its pot with fresh potting soil or in another container filled with fresh potting soil if possible.
This will help prevent root rot from occurring during storage periods when watering isn’t necessary yet still important for helping maintain overall healthiness within each individual branch structure so long as there aren’t any signs indicating otherwise such as discoloration which would indicate possible infection by mold spores present inside those tissues due to either over watering/not enough drainage space inside pots/containers used during transportation when traveling outside ones home country without proper care being given towards keeping the plant alive while traveling abroad…”
It’s possible to keep your holiday plants healthy after the holidays have passed.
You can keep your holiday plants healthy after the holidays have passed by remembering a few simple rules
Keep it sunny. Don’t forget to place live poinsettias in a sunny spot, but do remember not to leave them out during the day when temperatures are too hot or cold.
If you’re worried about keeping your plant healthy and don’t want to move it indoors or keep moving it outdoors, consider investing in a sun-tracking light that will follow the sun’s path throughout the day so that your plant gets just enough sunlight exposure without overheating or freezing.
Keep drafts from blowing on them all day long with this trick: Place crumpled-up newspapers around and under pots as mulch (or even inside pots if you have small cuttings) for added insulation against changing temperatures outdoors.
This will help prevent moisture loss much faster than dirt alone would—and it’ll save time, too, because there won’t be any re-mulching needed every few weeks either.
What is the best time to water poinsettias?
The most important thing to know about watering your poinsettia is how much to water it.
When to Water Poinsettia
If the soil feels dry, give it a good soak. The top inch or so of the soil should always be moist during your poinsettia’s growing season (generally from fall until spring). Be careful not to overwater, which can cause root rot and other problems for your plant.
If the soil is wet, don’t water it yet. It’s common for indoor plants’ roots to be kept too wet in winter—the cold air causes condensation that pools on top of the surface of their potting mix, which means they’ll stay consistently damp even if you’re not giving them regular watering.
This makes them susceptible to pests like fungus gnats, spider mites, and root rot—all of which are bad news bears for your beloved holiday flower. So let that dirt dry out completely before watering again; just check back every few days until you see excess moisture evaporating up through its leaves instead of pooling on top like before
How much water do poinsettias need?
Poinsettias require about 1.5 inches of water per week. To determine if your poinsettia needs water, simply inspect the leaves for signs of wilting or yellowing. If you see either one of these symptoms, it’s time to give your plant a good watering.
If you’re looking for an easy way to check whether or not your plant is getting enough water, try this trick: put on some music and turn up the volume (the louder, the better). Then, place your ear near the base of your poinsettia and listen carefully—you’ll be able to hear when it needs water.
What is the recommended watering schedule for poinsettias?
To ensure your poinsettia plant stays happy and healthy, you need to give it the right amount of water. This is especially important when you first get the plant home from the store. However, if you keep a few simple rules in mind, watering your poinsettia will be easy from here on out.
Water poinsettias daily or three times a week if the soil appears to be dry. Mini poinsettias must be watered constantly during full bloom, especially if the soil appears to be dry.
Can you give poinsettias too much water?
If you’re wondering whether or not it’s possible to give poinsettias too much water, the answer is no. In fact, overwatering is one of the most common problems with poinsettia plants.
If your plant has been given too much water, you might see symptoms like:
- Leaves turning yellow
- Mold growing on the leaves and soil surface
- The plant shriveling up and eventually dying
Overwatering can be just as damaging as underwatering. Unfortunately, Overwatering is a common mistake when it comes to houseplants. Many people think they should water it more if their plant is thirsty.
However, overwatering can cause root rot and kill your poinsettia. This is especially true during the winter months when the soil is already moist from snow melt or rain runoff from gutters.
In addition to killing your plant, overwatering will also make your poinsettia look bad by causing the leaves to turn yellow and drop off the plant prematurely.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. Are poinsettia Safe?
There was no toxicity at this level.
2. What is the Christmas plant?
The best Christmas plants are poinsettias.
3. What are the best light conditions for your plant?
In order to initiate flowering, the plant must be exposed to only eight to nine hours of good bright light each day beginning at the end of September.
4. How do I get rid of the sap?
In order to prevent sap from running when cutting poinsettia stems for flower arrangements or wreaths, dip the cut ends in boiling water for a minute or singe them with a match.
5. Can poinsettias live for a long time?
If your potted poinsettia is properly cared for, it should last for two to three months in your home. Although some home gardeners are accustomed to caring for poinsettias long after Christmas in hopes of a second bloom next year, some may find it challenging.
Conclusion
Remember, it’s always better to under water than over water. If you’re unsure if your plant needs more water or is time to replace its potting soil, stop by your local greenhouse or nursery. Poinsettia is no different. I hope the above helped you understand poinsettia, and now you can grow it without any worries.
