Poinsettia care
Poinsettia care One of the traditional and most popular holiday flowers is the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). The delicate, yet dazzling flowers (bracts) range from huge bushes to miniatures plants and come in assorted colors that are sure to make the holiday brighter.
There is nothing more impressive than the classic deep red Poinsettia. On the other hand, snowflake white given the right setting has a most elegant appeal; whereas delicate shades of pink (Monet), mauves (Plum Pudding) burgundy(Cortez, Cranberry Punch)can easily be coordinated to any home decor. Each year more colors and varieties are available to peak our interest. The new Freedom series are known for their vibrant color and large bracts.

When selecting a poinsettia look for dark healthy leaves, no yellowing bottom leaves. The bracts (leaves that work as petals) should be bright and completely colored. The true flowers are the tightly clustered, small, green or red-tipped flowers in the center of the bracts. Yellow pollen will shorten the life of the flowers. Do not choose a plant that is wilted or drooping.
Poinsettias are very sensitive to the cold so if the temperature is below 50 degrees outside make sure that it is wrapped for protection when you buy it. In order to maintain a healthy Poinsettia during the holiday season keep the plant in bright diffused light away from heating vents (hot dry air) and cold drafts. A temperature of 55-60 degrees at night and 72 during the day along with high humidity is ideal. The cool night temperatures will extend blooming time. Keep the plant evenly moist as moisture fluctuation, cold/hot drafts can cause premature leaf drop. When watering, do not let it stand in water, be sure to slip off the decorative foil cover (if there is one) or punch a hole in the cover to drain the excess water.
Contrary to beliefs, Poinsettias are not toxic. If you have a latex allergy, the sap from the leaves can irrate your skin. According to Poisindex, a 50# child would have to eat 500 bracts to get a stomach ache. Of course resulting reaction may vary with individuals. Poinsettia are not edible and as with all houseplants, should not to be eaten.
Have a safe and happy holiday!!
reblooming poinsettia
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Can I plant my poinsettia outside ?
Comment by Lynn — 4/15/2005 @ 12:08 pm
I have two Poinsettia potted plants that I have had since Dec. 2005. They were beautiful until I noticed a cluster of white looking things on the back side of the leaves and around the stems. Please advise if there is anything that can be done or should I just destroy the plants.
Comment by Bonnie Kimsey — 8/27/2006 @ 7:14 am
Is it possible to prune a Pointsetta? If so, how and when? I have one that is almost 3 years old and is getting very tall and scraggly. I have staked it, but now it is even growing taller.
Thank you! Shawna
Comment by Kris — 9/18/2006 @ 12:23 am
I have a poinsettia that’s starting to rebloom, but the leafs are turning brown and falling. Please HELP!
Comment by Thomas — 11/19/2006 @ 1:29 pm
why are the Pointsetta’s leaves turning yellow and dropping? with other plants I’d say it means overwatering, but I’ve been watering only when soil is dry, and there is good drainage (no foil), and a small clay pot. When we got the plant, the soil was very wet, but I don’t keep it that way. Please advise - thanks, Chris
Comment by Christa — 11/25/2006 @ 8:34 am
Is it possible to revive a wilted Poinsettia?
Comment by Arlee Reach — 12/13/2006 @ 4:49 pm
In the wild, do Poinsettias naturally drop their leaves, or does this occur only indoors?
Comment by Dinah Kapitan — 4/8/2007 @ 10:36 am
I have 4 poinsettia from the Holidays and are still blooming. I have them in a south window on a table where they get indirect light. I know I can put them outside after the frost is over, I live in Utah. Do I put the in an indirect setting out there? Like morning sun and afternoon shade?
Comment by Gladys — 4/9/2007 @ 10:24 am
I broke one of the branches off my poinsettia. Is there anything I can do to save it or should I just prune it?
Thanks
Comment by Pam — 9/13/2007 @ 8:29 am
I have a question, I have a poinsettia that is now in a box from 5pm-8am, and on the window sill during the day. I have so many new buds and leaves coming out but the other leaves are curling up and dropping off. I wanted to know if that is normal. I was not sure, as I have never tried to rebloom a poinsettia. Please help me, I want this to work so bad. It was such a beautiful poinsettia and I have never had one rebloom before. Please let me know if I am doing anything wrong.
Thanks…..Cathy
Comment by Cathy — 10/17/2007 @ 10:29 am
I am searching for information on a Poinsettia that is referred to as an Arubian Poinsettia. Could you please help me with care, propagating it, etc? Any knowledge is wonderful as I can not find any information on this.
Comment by chana — 10/27/2007 @ 8:56 am
I have a pointsettia it was beautiful and bright red leaves most of which fell off have many new leaves but they are green will they turn red again what can I do?
Comment by diane — 11/10/2007 @ 3:37 pm
Need spray to kill mealy bugs.
Comment by Edward Aubrey — 11/19/2007 @ 7:52 am
I have my poinsettia plants outdoors(FL) and early in Sept I noticed that the leaves were turnning black along the edge and look wilted. What is causing this? How do I correct this problem? Thanks
Comment by Judy Willoughby — 12/26/2007 @ 6:13 am
My poinsettia has large red blooms and is beautiful, but the leaves are curling and slowly falling off. It has not dried out and the leaves are not turning yellow. The soil stays moist. Do you have any suggestions.
The plant stays indoors. Thank you for any help. This is the most beautiful poinsettia I have ever had-it has been very healthly until the last 3 or 4 days.
Comment by Sandy Way — 1/1/2008 @ 10:15 am
I have had a Poinsettia that I bought for Christmas last yr. and The leaves are dropping off. What I mainly was wanting to know is when do I fertilize it? and can I use Miricle Grow instead of the 20-20-20?
Comment by Michelle — 1/23/2008 @ 10:44 pm
My house is quite cold because we try not to turn the heater on very often. We usually walk around in sweaters, and have a small space heater to warm our bodies when we need to. My poinsettia is wilting, though, as I guess it’s too cold for it… The soil feels damp and cool. If I gave it to a friend with a warmer home, would it revive, or is it dead? Or else, will it grow again when the weather starts warming up?
Thank you!
Comment by Emilie — 2/19/2008 @ 1:47 pm
Hi, I have a very old poinsettia in my yard in Los Angeles and it is about 15′ tall. It is next to the house where the water heater vents, and I would like to move it. Do you think it is transplantable?
thank you.
Comment by Laura Weekes — 4/7/2008 @ 1:51 pm
Can i plant my poinsettia outside during the summer? I am gong away and I have no one to look after them so I thought this might be a good way to have the sun and they would get watered.
Thanks
Comment by Kim — 7/2/2008 @ 8:26 am