For most of us, it's not the holidays without a cheery, bright-red poinsettia plant or two as part of our holiday decor. Native to Mexico and Latin America, poinsettias are large and, to be honest, rather scraggly shrubs in their native environment. But in the 1950s, a small Southern California farm run by the Ecke family began modernizing breeding to make them more suited to growing in pots.
Poinsettia breeding means poinsettias don't just come in plain red nowadays: You'll also find them in shades of creamy white, pink, and burgundy, as well as in fun and funky varieties with speckles and splashes of white. "They're one of the top-selling plants in the world," says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, The Houseplant Guru blogger and author of Bloom: The Secrets of Growing Flowering Houseplants Year-Round. Read on to learn everything you need to know about poinsettia care with advice from Steinkopf and other experts.
When Should You Buy Poinsettias for Christmas?
You can buy a poinsettia anytime you start seeing them for sale at garden centers and nurseries—usually from mid-November onward. If you follow our expert tips below and buy one with nice, fresh yellow cyathia (we'll explain), it should last well past the holidays and into mid-January. On the note of healthy poinsettias, let's get into it....
How Do You Choose Healthy Poinsettias?
The colored parts of the poinsettia plant are modified leaves called bracts. The bright yellow bumps in the center, called cyathia, are actually the flowers. Look for a plant that has a lot of cyathia, which tells you how fresh it is. If they've fallen off, the plant is past its prime, so avoid it.
You should also look at the condition of the entire plant. "Pull back the plastic sleeve and look at the lower leaves," says Steinkopf. "If they're yellow or dropping off, the plant may have dried out or is too wet, and it won't recover."
Once you find a healthy plant, take it home right away, protecting it from cold air. (That means no running errands while your poinsettia sits in the frigid car!) At home, remove the plastic and foil pot cover. This will help ensure water doesn't pool in the bottom of the container and cause root rot. To spruce it up, you can pop it into a decorative pot if you'd like, so that it coordinates with the rest of your holiday decorations. Just make sure to empty any excess after watering.
Where Should You Keep Poinsettias?
Poinsettias like bright, indirect light. (Poinsettias bought during the holiday season were most likely grown in a greenhouse, so they don't necessarily need to be placed in a super sunny window—though varieties grown in the wild will tolerate it.) The good news is that you really can display them anywhere you'd like in your home, because they're meant to be temporary (not long-term) houseplants and, again, will look good until mid-January if you pick a nice, fresh plant in the first place.
What Temperatures Do Poinsettias Like?
Even though they're tropical plants, poinsettias don't like it hot. "We recommend keeping them in indoor temperatures between 65 to 70 degrees, making sure not to expose them to temperatures below 55 degrees," says Kelly Brown, cofounder of deVINE Plantery.
Basically, if it's comfortable for you inside your home, it's comfortable for poinsettias—but keep them away from drafts (i.e., open windows) or hot air blasting out of heating vents, which can cause leaf drop.
Can You Keep Poinsettias Outside?
If you live somewhere where nighttime temperatures don't drop below the mid-50s, you can keep poinsettias outdoors—in a location out of direct sunlight, such as under your front porch or portico. But in the rest of the country, you'll have to enjoy these tropical plants indoors!
How Often Should You Water Poinsettias?
Poinsettias don't like to be water-logged. Check the soil every week and water only when the soil surface is dry to the touch. Let the water drain out of the pot, then dump out any excess from the saucer, says Steinkopf.
For How Long Can Poinsettias Live?
As we mentioned, with proper care poinsettias can look good until mid-January—but they can last even longer if they're exposed to the right conditions. With that said, once they start to fade and look leggy, it's fine to toss or compost them.
For How Long Do Cut Poinsettias Last?
Cut poinsettias typically last for up to two weeks in a vase of water. Keep in mind: If you're displaying cut poinsettias in a wreath or centerpiece (more on that below), you'll need to use floral picks to keep them fresh.
Can You Plant Poinsettias in Your Garden?
Poinsettias can survive in USDA Hardiness zones 9 to 11. However, it can be difficult to get them to rebloom—and they're not the most attractive shrub because they tend to get leggy. If you still want to give it a shot, plant them in partial sun, fertilize them in the spring, and pinch back new growth to keep the plant more compact.
Here's the real challenge, though: In order to get poinsettias to rebloom, you must cover the plants (with a box or plastic bag) every night so they receive 12 hours of total darkness per night for eight to 10 weeks, starting in October. It's a fun experiment, but if you're not up for the extra effort, simply compost the faded plant and treat yourself to a new one next year.
Are Poinsettias Toxic to Pets?
Despite what you may have heard, according to the ASPCA, poinsettias are "overrated in toxicity." However, the sticky sap can irritate your pet's mouth and cause vomiting. Also, any plant, if ingested in large enough quantities, can cause GI upset, so keep poinsettias out of reach of pets if you know they like to nibble.
Poinsettia Arrangement Ideas
One potted poinsettia can decorate an end table or foyer table, but the pretty holiday plant can do so much more. As we mentioned, a poinsettia plant makes long-lived cut flowers, so if yours has started to drop leaves, just go ahead and snip the flower stem, cut off all the lower leaves, and place it in a vase to enjoy. (Heads up: The sticky sap can be irritating to skin, so wear gardening gloves while handling the cut stems.)
But there's even more you could do with the popular Christmas flower:
Line your holiday table with potted poinsettias.
Make individual poinsettia place settings in smaller vessels.
Create a centerpiece with poinsettia flowers. Don't forget those floral picks!
Fill your mantel with poinsettias.
Dot your staircase with potted poinsettias.
Embellish a wreath with poinsettia flowers. Again, remember those floral picks!
Make a mixed poinsettia arrangement with evergreen stems, pine cones, and decorative stems, such as red twig dogwood and birch branches.
