How long will poinsettias last?
Given the right light and warm temperatures, indoor poinsettia plants will last until March or April, continuing to put out colorful red leaves. If you choose to keep it alive year round as a houseplant, a poinsettia can last for 10 or even 20 years. Poinsettias don’t need to be watered often. As a rule of thumb, poinsettias only need water every week or ten days, but remember to check them daily as each home is different. Before you water, always check if the poinsettia soil is dry.Poinsettias can be kept year after year, and they will bloom each year if you give them proper care. When the leaves begin to yellow or when the plant is no longer desired as an ornamental, gradually withhold water.Pruning your poinsettia is important to encourage healthy growth and prepare it for the next flowering phase. After flowering, poinsettias lose their beautiful leaves and become bare. Cutting back the shoots encourages vigorous growth.Overwatered Poinsettia plants will have yellowing leaves that drop off the lower parts of the plant. If they start wilting as a whole, you may have root rot, which is caused by overwatering!
Do I water a poinsettia from the top or bottom?
These slowly fill with water, letting the plants drink from the bottom up—so the roots get exactly what they need without ever wetting the foliage. And here’s your at-home hack 👉 Place your poinsettia in a sink or basin with a few centimetres of water and let it absorb from the base. Works for most houseplants too! Protect the plants from freezing temperatures, especially when transporting them. Place them in a light-filled room away from drafts. They do best in rooms between 55 and 65 F at night and 65 to 70 F during the day. Keep poinsettias away from cooler locations and avoid exposing them to temperatures below 50 F.Poinsettias will classically drop their leaves if they are exposed to sudden changes in temperature, drafts or overly cool or dry rooms. They also will lose leaves and wilt in response to an extreme need for water.Poinsettias can be displayed with other houseplants. The adjacent plants raise the humidity and allow poinsettias to last longer. Also, the regular houseplants can be spruced up for the holidays.If you choose to keep it alive year round as a houseplant, a poinsettia can last for 10 or even 20 years. In its native habitat, it can grow into a 10- to 15-foot shrub and live for decades, but kept as a houseplant it will stay small.By late March or early April, cut your poinsettia back to about 8 in height. Continue a regular watering program, and fertilize your plant with a good, balanced all-purpose fertilizer. By the end of May, you should see vigorous new growth.
How many times a week do I water my poinsettia?
Poinsettias like evenly moist soil—never too dry or too soggy. Check Moisture: Water when the top inch feels dry. Drainage: Water thoroughly but remove any excess from the saucer. Frequency: Typically once per week depending on temperature and humidity. While coffee grounds can boost the health of your festive plant, it’s best to fertilize poinsettias only once every four weeks. When fertilizing, avoid piling on coffee grounds, especially if the plant is stressed, drooping, or overwatered, since they can hold extra moisture, Koether notes.Poinsettias like evenly moist soil—never too dry or too soggy. Check Moisture: Water when the top inch feels dry. Drainage: Water thoroughly but remove any excess from the saucer. Frequency: Typically once per week depending on temperature and humidity.You can also feed your poinsettia every two weeks with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food.Poinsettias need a minimum of six hours of indirect sunlight each day. Protect the plants from freezing temperatures, especially when transporting them. Place them in a light-filled room away from drafts.
Why is a poinsettia a Christmas plant?
The Star of Christmas The use of this plant in Christmas decor and celebrations dates back to the 17th century, when Franciscan monks in Mexico began using poinsettia in Christmas ceremonies. At that time, the legend of the little Pepita was born, forever linking red and green colors to Christmas. The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves resemble the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red-colored leaves represent the blood of Christ shed for the world. The white leaves represent His purity. In Guatemala and Mexico, poinsettias are called La Flor de Nochebuena – Flower of the Holy Night.The shape of their red leaves resembles a star, and for many Christians, the poinsettia flower came to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Thanks to the story of Pepita, poinsettias also have an association with miracles — yet another connection to the Christmas season and the miracle of the birth of Jesus.In that Mexican legend, Pepita brings a humble gift to Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve as the wise men visit the Nativity. The Christmas poinsettia later became a marker of holiday spirit. Long before this, the ancient Aztecs prized this native plant for purple dye and to treat fevers; its sap also served practical uses.December birth flower poinsettia has come to be associated with Christmas and winter festivities. They are frequently the focal point of Christmas décor because of their striking red color, which goes well with the festive color scheme.
Where is the best place in the house to keep a poinsettia?
Whilst a poinsettia prefers to be warmer, you should keep them away from any direct heat sources like fires and radiators to avoid burning the leaves. Pop your plant somewhere where there’s a steady room temperature and plenty of indirect natural light. One final caution: don’t over-water your poinsettia or let it sit in standing water. Holiday plants are often wrapped in shiny green or red foil, and this foil is often kept on since it makes the plant more attractive when the plastic pot beneath remains hidden.Poinsettias need warmth and plenty of natural, filtered light, so being close to a radiator shouldn’t be a problem. Don’t keep them near the fire, doorways or windows. Cosy temperatures are the way forward with this stunning red leafy plant.The most common problem when growing poinsettias is that the leaves wilt and drop off. This is a sign of cold conditions. Remember poinsettias are from Mexico and need to be kept at a minimum temperature of 13ºC, away from draughts (including near doors, fireplaces or single-glazed windows).Ventilation is important, but keep the plant away from drafts. Drafts, as well as low temperatures, waterlogged soil, and drought, can cause the lower leaves of the poinsettia to turn yellow and fall from the plant. Night temperatures of 60 to 65°F and day temperatures up to 75°F are recommended.So, if your poinsettia has lost its red colours, the best way to get it back is to give it at least 13 hours of complete darkness every single evening for a few weeks in the run-up to Christmas. It’s best to do this between October and mid-November.
Do poinsettias like sun or shade?
How much light does my poinsettia plant need? Supply 6 hours of bright, indirect light daily. Placement near a southern, western, or eastern window is great. It’s best to avoid direct sunlight, which can cause the colorful bracts to fade and the tips of the foliage to dry out. In the fall, around mid-September to early October, poinsettias need complete darkness between sundown and sunrise for them to flower. Any light can negatively impact the flowering process, so keep them in a dark closet that isn’t opened and closed during those nighttime hours.Light control begins when outdoor night temperatures dip below 60ºF. Move your poinsettia indoors in September. Provide bright light indoors for 8 to 11 hours daily and provide complete uninterrupted darkness for 13 to 16 hours daily until mid-November or December, at which time the bracts should show color.Poinsettias can live for longer than you think. Poinsettias typically stay colorful for six to eight weeks, so they’ll last the entire holiday season when properly cared for. They don’t have to be one-season wonders, and can last long after the holiday season—although they won’t look vibrant all throughout the year.Restoring a healthy green Poinsettia plant from last year back to its original red color is no problem if you follow a few simple rules. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) need total darkness, for 14 hours each day, starting about eight weeks before you want to display them.Make sure it has plenty of sunlight Place your poinsettia in a spot where the plant will get plenty of daylight – preferably near a window. Poinsettias are tropical plants, so they need about 6 hours of indirect sunlight a day to thrive.