Poinsettias: How to Care for Them All Year Long

Poinsettias are a popular indoor plant during the holiday season. They are beautiful, colourful, and easy to maintain. However, you can enjoy their beauty year-round if you keep them vibrant and healthy with some effort and dedication.

Taking care of your poinsettia begins with watering it correctly. Next, we’ll discuss how much sunlight your poinsettia needs and other tips and tricks. We’ll also discuss what to do if the poinsettia stops blooming or looks unhealthy. With simple tips, you can ensure your poinsettia will bring you joy for years!

Essential Poinsettia Care Tips for a Healthy Plant Growing

Choose a Healthy Poinsettia Plant

Choosing a healthy plant will ensure that it will last the year after. Before buying it from a garden centre or supermarket:

1. Ensure your poinsettia is in good condition and that no leaves are yellow.
2. Check if the bracts (the red leaves) are fully coloured and bright. You shouldn’t pick plants with green leaves or bracts.
3. Be aware of signs of insect infestation as well. Check the undersides of the leaves.

Place the Poinsettia in a Larger Container

When the holiday season arrives, place poinsettias in a larger container so they can grow properly. Fill the new pot with good-quality soil combined with organic matter.

Locating Your Poinsettia in the Right Place

A bright, indirect light source is best for growing poinsettias. Keep them away from sunlight, heaters, and cool area since they are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Additionally, turn them regularly so all sides receive the same amount of light – this will keep their shape symmetrical and prevent lopsided growth. Keep the room temperature around 20°C during the day and colder at night. Heat or extreme cold can damage plants and cause leaf loss. 

Watering Poinsettias Properly

Watering your plant is the right way to maintain it healthy and beautiful. A poinsettia plant shouldn’t be over or under-watered. To determine whether a poinsettia needs water, check its topsoil, which should be moist and cool. Water it if it feels dry but don’t drown it. As tropical plants, poinsettias need moisture to survive. Avoid getting water on the leaves to prevent yellowing. The potting mix of your poinsettia should never be dry. Water poinsettias slowly by placing them in the kitchen sink. In this way, you’ll ensure the soil is thoroughly wet. Your plant’s leaves will lose colour and fall out if you overwater or underwater it. If you overwater your plant, the roots will not absorb the nutrients and water they need, causing them to rot.

Fertiliser

Adding houseplant fertiliser to the soil monthly is essential to maintaining a healthy plant. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertiliser once a month during the growing season (spring and summer). Avoid fertilising during the winter months when the plant is dormant. 

You can always ask the local gardeners in your area what fertiliser is appropriate. They can give you advice on how to care for poinsettia properly.

Protect Your Poinsettia Form Infestation

Poinsettias attract tiny bugs, which you can treat with insecticides. Besides, a warm and humid environment may cause bacterial leaf spots. Watering plants at ground level and correctly spacing them are the best ways to prevent this.

Outdoor Poinsettia Care

Poinsettias are outdoor plants. They can live outside year-round in regions with temperatures not below 7 °C.

They are a great way to improve your outdoor space’s appearance. Poinsettias prefer areas with moderate temperatures. You should choose a location that is sunny to partly shaded. They can grow very tall in the fall and winter, filling your garden with colour.

You can place outdoor poinsettias in pots. It is convenient because you can move them anywhere according to the weather. During the warm months, expose them to the sun, and bring them indoors before it gets cold. Use a pot with drainage holes. Choose one that’s just enough to accommodate the potential size. Remember that in windy conditions, potted poinsettias will not survive. Consistent care and attention will help keep your poinsettia healthy and vibrant throughout the year.

How to Get a Poinsettia Plant to Bloom Again

After the festivities, the poinsettia bracts will fall off. However, with the proper care, the plant will flower again the following holiday season. With patience and dedication, you can help a poinsettia bloom again in time for the holidays. 

When your poinsettia gets too big, you may need to prune it. Even though it’s not always necessary, it can help the plant regrow and rebloom after flowering. Continue watering and exposing the poinsettia to sunlight until early April, after which you should reduce watering and let it dry out because it goes into the dormant period. Store it in a cool place. Trim the stems and plant in a large pot with fresh soil in May. In June, move your poinsettia to an indirect sunlight spot. Encourage side branching by cutting about an inch as the plant grows. When the weather cools down, you should bring your poinsettia inside. In October, your poinsettia plant will need more light and total darkness every day for 6  to 8 weeks.

Expert tip:

• During the day: place your poinsettia in the sunniest area;
• At night: place it in a dark place or put a box over it;

Takeaways

• Keep Away from pets because, if ingested, poinsettias are mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

• The poinsettia needs indirect sunlight at least six hours a day.
• Do not place your poinsettia near heating vents or doors. It should be in a room that is bright and draft-free.
• Keep the space around 20°C during the day and a little cooler at night.
• Do not overwater the poinsettia. The topsoil should always be dry before watering.
• Always water at the base of the plant, and avoid wetting the leaves and bracts.
• You should never apply fertiliser to the plant while blooming. Only fertilise it if you plan to keep it after the holiday season.
• Don’t worry if the poinsettia’s leaves turn yellow. A plant’s colour slowly returns as it adapts to changing conditions.