How to Care for a Poinsettia Long After Christmas
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Inside: Having a poinsettia for Christmas is a tradition for lots of people but how do you care for them so they last long after Christmas?
If there’s one plant that screams Christmas (well, apart from the Christmas tree) it’s the poinsettia. Those big red flowers that look like leaves and the rich green leaf leaves underneath. The classic look of a poinsettia on the table surrounded by the Christmas spread.
But there’s one big problem. They look great for a few weeks but then they die off. And let’s face it, they aren’t usually cheap to buy! So let’s look at how to care for a poinsettia long after Christmas, keep those blooms going and enjoy our investment for longer!
A bit about poinsettias
Fun fact: poinsettias originally came from Mexico and there are over 150 different varieties including colours like cream, pink, orange and even white as well as the classic red.
Poinsettias (Latin name Euphorbia pulcherrima) have gained the name Christmas Stars in many languages and are far and away the most popular Christmas plant. They were first introduced to the US in 1828 by the first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett. From there, they have spread around the world.
There are various cultivars (varieties) in different colours including:
- Peterstar Red – red
- Peterstar Pink – pink
- Cortez Burgundy – dark red
- Glitter – bicolour red and pink
- Marble – bicolour pink and creamy white
- Pink peppermint – peppermint spots
- Ruby frost – red and white
- Snowcap – white
With their red ‘flowers’ that are actually leaves and tiny yellow berry-like centres called cyathia, they are a perfect holiday plant. But they do have a bit of a reputation as being hard to care for.
The truth is that this isn’t really the case but lots of us just don’t quite know how to care for them. Shall we change that?
How to care for a poinsettia
Okay, let’s dive into the basics of caring for a poinsettia so it lasts past Christmas and maybe even into the following one.
Choosing the best plant
We’ve all done it. You walk into the supermarket and there’s this stand of gorgeous, bright red poinsettias with a special price tag attached. You just know they’ll look amazing in the window over Christmas so you grab one.
A week later, it looks like someone put it in the microwave – browned leaves, no shiny yellow bits, no flashy red flowers. The reason for this is simple – automatic doors. Standing at the entrance beside doors opening every few seconds, the poinsettias are being blasted by cold air. And that’s not good for them at all!
Tip 1: Don’t buy a plant from inside the doorway of a shop of any type
The next thing to look at when choosing a poinsettia is whether it has all of its red leaves and also the yellow buds in the middle. Remember, those buds are the flowers and a healthy plant should always have flowers.
Tip 2: Don’t buy a plant if it doesn’t have yellow buds in the middle and plenty of red leaves around them.
When you find one that seems to tick the boxes, take a peek in the pot. Is the soil really wet or totally dry? If it is either, then this means the plant hasn’t been well cared for and won’t last the longest time.
Tip 3: Look for moist soil to show the plant has been well maintained and is healthy.
Having selected your plant, there’s one last thing to do to help it get off to a good start. If it is cool, chilly or windy outside, wrap it in paper for the trip home. This will protect it from the weather until it is safe inside your home.
Tip 4: Protect the plant with paper until you are safely home.
Watering the plant
Hands up if you have picked up a houseplant and the pot is half full of water because you’ve overwatered it? Or the soil in the pot looks more like what you’d find in the desert than in your garden?
Getting the right balance of watering is one of the trickiest and most important parts of having plants, especially in the house. Water evaporates quicker because we have central heating and air-con.
So what’re the best tips on watering a poinsettia?
- Poinsettias don’t like too much water so ideally have the soil a little moist but not too wet
- Only water the plant when the soil is noticeably dry. When this is depends on the plant and its location – near a radiator will dry out quicker than in a window. Lift up the plant carefully and if it feels light, it will need some water.
- Yellow leaves or ones falling off means the plant isn’t receiving the right amount of water so adjust your regime either up or down depending on how often you water
- If in doubt, add water to a tray under the plant pot and make sure the pot has holes in it. That way the plant can absorb the water it needs through its roots and you don’t need to water from above unless it is particularly dry
Room temperature water is the best bet for watering the plants. The size of the pot will give you an idea of how much water to give. For example:
13cm pot = 0.2 litres of water at a time
Fertilising the plant
You can also use some fertiliser to boost the plant’s health and longevity. Add some fertiliser once a week from about four weeks after you buy it. Use a commercial liquid fertiliser designed for flowering houseplants and follow the package for dosage.
Where to put it to last after Christmas
Another factor that plays into how long your poinsettia lasts is where you put it. Like most plants, these pretty Christmas blooms need warmth and light. Being near a radiator is fine but being near an open window or other draught is a bad idea. Draughts are the enemy of plants from warm climates!
Ideally, a room temperature between 15-22 degrees will work perfectly for poinsettias so they are ideal for bedrooms and living rooms. Make sure they get sunshine so a south-facing window is a lovely spot for them to thrive.
How to get a poinsettia to rebloom next year
Once you have got through the main Christmas period, don’t give up on your poinsettia. With a few steps, you have a great chance of it lasting until next year and blooming again.
In April, prune the flower to about 10cm (4 inches) and keep it somewhere with a temperature around 13 degrees. In May, repot it and place it somewhere cool and light during the summer, ideally 15-18 degrees.
In November, it’s time to kick the plant into action. Give it 12 hours worth of bright daylight then 12 hours of complete darkness. This tells the plant it is time to start creating those red leaves and yellow flowers.
If all else fails – cut flowers
If you don’t feel up the challenge of keeping the plant going throughout the year, then the best option is often to cut the flowers and get that perfect show over Christmas.
Trim the stems below the bracts (leaves) and dip the ends in boiling hot water for a few seconds. This removes the white sap. Then pop the stems straight into cold water. If you keep refreshing the water, poinsettias will last for around two weeks so if you want them for Christmas, just cut them about a week before.
You can also get creative with your poinsettia cut flowers. The white ones are brilliant to add in a garland around a staircase or up a bannister. You can add them to Christmas trees or even make a wreath for the door.
While poinsettia are a gorgeous addition to the Christmas table, remember these are not edible flowers! They can upset pets if they eat them so try to keep them out of reach when you aren’t around.
Enjoy your poinsettia for longer
Because poinsettias are from a tropical climate, they need a little more care than a normal northern hemisphere plant. But with a bit of the right attention and care, they can create a stunning Christmas feature and easily last into next year – and even next Christmas!
Where’s your favourite place to put a poinsettia over Christmas? Tell us in the comments below!
