Plant Care & Gardening Tips@ HortChat.com©

Poinsettia care

Filed under: — admin @ 1:36 pm


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.

red poinsettia

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 poinsettia

Tell a Friend or Foe about this 'Poinsettia care article'
Bookmark this thread on Poinsettia care
previous post: Cut flower tips
next post: Stargazer lilies

19 Comments on Poinsettia care»

  1. Can I plant my poinsettia outside ?

    Yes, when the danger of frost has passed(May) since it is a tropical plant. It will bloom in the summer when the days are long. If you have frost where you live you will need to bring it back in for the winter.

    Comment by Lynn — 4/15/2005 @ 12:08 pm

  2. 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.

    It’s possible that you have mealy bugs. Check the article on Mealy bug for treatment.

    Comment by Bonnie Kimsey — 8/27/2006 @ 7:14 am

  3. 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

    The best time to prune your pointsettia is in the spring(May), when the plant is ready to move outdoors. You can cut the stems by half or cut back the old stems 4-6 inches above the soil line to stimulate new growth. Fertilize lightly once a month with a 20-20-20 during the growing period. Also, to control the height pinch back in early July and August to get more branching.

    Comment by Kris — 9/18/2006 @ 12:23 am

  4. I have a poinsettia that’s starting to rebloom, but the leafs are turning brown and falling. Please HELP!

    Make sure that the plant is not by a heating vent or cold draft and is getting enough humidity. Fluctuation in soil moisture, cold temperatures can also cause leaf drop. Another important possibility is watering, either too much or too little will cause the tips to turn brown.

    Comment by Thomas — 11/19/2006 @ 1:29 pm

  5. 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

    The problem could have started when you bought the plant. If it was very wet, chances are that whoever cared for it, overwatered it causing root rot problems. The plant may recover depending on how extensive the damage is to the roots.

    Comment by Christa — 11/25/2006 @ 8:34 am

  6. Is it possible to revive a wilted Poinsettia?

    It depends on what is causing it to wilt. If it is wilting because the soil is dry, then it should respond to watering. On the other hand, if it wilted because it has been watered too much, then the roots are rotting and the plant most likely will not revive. You can tell if it is overwatered when the soil is wet and the plant is still wilted. Let the plant dry out and water when the pot feels light.

    Comment by Arlee Reach — 12/13/2006 @ 4:49 pm

  7. In the wild, do Poinsettias naturally drop their leaves, or does this occur only indoors?

    Poinsettia do drop their leaves in the wild but not all at the same time and replace them with new growth.

    Comment by Dinah Kapitan — 4/8/2007 @ 10:36 am

  8. 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?

    You can set your pointsettia in a partially shaded area in your flowerbed or patio. Filtered sun and are protection from the afternoon sun, should be fine.

    Comment by Gladys — 4/9/2007 @ 10:24 am

  9. 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

    No, there’s nothing you can do to save it. Prune it off so that the wound can heal.

    Comment by Pam — 9/13/2007 @ 8:29 am

  10. 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

    It’s probably dropping some old leaves and from lower light conditions indoors. Be sure you water it regularly, feed it and give it enough sunlight during the day. See reblooming poinsettia for more info.

    Comment by Cathy — 10/17/2007 @ 10:29 am

  11. 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.

    I have not found any cultivar by that name. You must be referring to a Poinsettia from Aruba. It would most likely have the same general care as any other poinsettia. To propagate a poinsettia- take a 3-4 inch tip cutting from a side shoot with 2-3 mature leaves, dip in water to seal in the latex then dip in a rooting medium (optional) and plant in a soil mix of peat moss, sand or perlite. Keep soil mix moist (not wet), maintain high humidity(mist) and temps at 70-80 F during the day and 70-60F at night. Cuttings should be in a shaded area to avoid wilting and take 3-4 weeks to root. Best time to take cutting is in early-mid August.

    Comment by chana — 10/27/2007 @ 8:56 am

  12. 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?

    Unless they go thru a long night/short day treatment, they will not turn red. See reblooming poinsettia

    Comment by diane — 11/10/2007 @ 3:37 pm

  13. Need spray to kill mealy bugs.

    Look at the Mealy Bugs article for spraying suggestions.

    Comment by Edward Aubrey — 11/19/2007 @ 7:52 am

  14. 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

    One of the problems that poinsettia can get growing outdoors is a magnesium deficiency. It is characterized by symptoms of yellowing leaves, marginal scorch(black edges)or tip burn starting at the base of the shoots and advancing to the tip. It is usually prevalent in sandy soils. An application of magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) twice a year will correct the problem. Apply once in Feb-March and June-July - 3 tBl per square yard.
    source: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

    Comment by Judy Willoughby — 12/26/2007 @ 6:13 am

  15. 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.

    The leaves will curl and fall off from low humidity and dry indoor air. Increase the humidity by placing it on a pebble tray. Make sure the soil is evenly moist. Poinsettia will also drop it’s leaves if it is allowed to go dry and exposed to hot/cold drafts.

    Comment by Sandy Way — 1/1/2008 @ 10:15 am

  16. 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?

    You don’t need to fertilize until the spring (March-May)-after you cut down the plant and if it remains in the original soil. If you repot it in fresh soil, then you don’t need to fertilize until you set the plant outdoors (May). Fresh potting soil usually has enough nutrients to feed the plant for a few months. Miracle grow should be fine. For more info see Reblooming Poinsettia

    Comment by Michelle — 1/23/2008 @ 10:44 pm

  17. 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!

    It is possible that is was too wet for the cool conditions and has some root problems thereby causing the plant to wilt. Let the plant dry out between waterings, also make sure it doesn’t sit in water - that may give the roots time to recover. The warmer environment should also help. Poinsettia will start to wilt and drop leaves this time of year but will start a new with warmer weather. See reblooming poinsettia for additional info.

    Comment by Emilie — 2/19/2008 @ 1:47 pm

  18. 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.

    It should be transplantable. I have never transplanted it outdoors. It should be in a “dormant stage” not actively growing to have the best success. If you’re going to move it, do so before it sends out new growth and trim it down. Get as much of the root ball as you can. A plant uses a lot of energy to send out new growth making it difficult to adjust to root damage incurred in transplanting.

    Comment by Laura Weekes — 4/7/2008 @ 1:51 pm

  19. 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

    Hi Kim,
    Yes, you can plant your poinsettia outside. A shady area would be best, that way it won’t scorch or dry out as easily while you’re away For more info.see reblooming poinsettia.

    Comment by Kim — 7/2/2008 @ 8:26 am

Leave a comment

Please search before posting, we might already have what you are looking for on the site.
 
HortChat.com© Web

(required)


(required, but not displayed)

authimage


Please note: Comment moderation is currently enabled so there may be a delay between when you post your comment and when it shows up. Patience is a virtue; there’s no need to resubmit your comment.