Download The Do`s and Don`ts of Poinsettia Care

The Do’s and Don’ts of Poinsettia Care
By Lynn Lang
Polk County Master Gardener
The poinsettia is a beautiful plant associated with the Christmas
holidays. The poinsettia is native to South America and was given
the name Euphorbia pulcherrima, which means “very beautiful.” Its
popular name honors Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S.
ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant here in 1925.
Poinsettias make beautiful decorations inside and outside the
home.
The colored part of the plant is not really the flower. The colored
part which look like petals are really modified leaves called brats.
There are many different colors of poinsettias from deep red, pink,
white, yellow, and many new cultivars that are mottled and
splashed with mixed colors. Plant structures can be tall and narrow
or wide and full.
A large poinsettia in the landscape
Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not poisonous! The Poisindex information service,
the primary information resource used by most poison control centers, states that a 50 pound
child would have to ingest over 500 poinsettia bracts to surpass experimental doses. No toxicity
was demonstrated at even at this high level.
Poinsettias are not for human or animal consumption and
certain individuals may have a mild allergic reaction to the
poinsettia sap, but it is still a safe plant. In fact, in 1992,
the poinsettia was included on the list of houseplants most
beneficial in removing household pollutants from indoor
air! So, not only is the poinsettia a beautiful plant for you
holiday décor, it can keep the inside of your home’s air
clean!
A poinsettia behind a fence
Now, that you have placed your poinsettia in your home or
on the porch, to keep it looking festive throughout the holidays and beyond, follow these very
easy tips:

Do place your plant (inside the home) in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day.
If you cannot avoid direct sun, diffuse the light with a shade or sheer curtain. Also, keep
it away from heat or AC vents.

Do water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch.

Do provide room temperatures between 75-80
degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night.
Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is
your plant.

Do be careful while transporting your plant home,
it is easy to break off a branch. Wrap your plant
with paper or place it carefully in a bag.
Red and white poinsettias in a display

Do fertilize your plant, after the blooming season, with a balanced, all-purpose
fertilizer.

Don’t expose outside plants to temperatures below freezing. Poinsettias are sensitive to
cold, so avoid placing them outside during the winter months. If you want to plant them
in the landscape, wait until the threat of frost to plant.

Don’t overwater your plant, or allow it to sit in standing water. Always remove the plant
from any decorative container before watering and allow it to drain (unless the
container has a drain hole.)

Don’t water the poinsettia’s leaves: apply water directly at the base of the plant to the
soil.
When the holidays are over and you want to plant it in your landscape, find a sunny spot where
the plant can receive full sun for most of the day and no artificial light at night. They like moist,
well drained, fertile soils. You can cut back any leggy old growth just before new shoots start to
sprout. Pinch back several times during the summer months to encourage a full plant with lots
of blooms. Poinsettias become leggy if not pruned regularly during the summer. When you
prune try to leave at least 4 leaves on each shoot. Do not pinch or prune after the summer
months (prune before September 10), you may cut off your holiday blossoms.
Remember your plant is cold sensitive and need protection from
winds, frost and freezing weather. Also, keep your poinsettia
away from artificial lights during the fall because it can delay or
prevent your plant from flowering.
For further information on growing and taking care of poinsettia
see
the
following
article:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP34900.pdf .
With proper care, your poinsettia will stay colorful throughout the
holiday season and beyond. Happy Holidays!
A nice use of poinsettias for display