Home Care Tips for Your Poinsettia

In Canada, poinsettias are the most popular of all Christmas houseplants. Millions of poinsettias are purchased each year during the Christmas season by people who enjoy the colour and warmth they provide to the home. Proper selection will help to ensure a long-lasting plant that you will enjoy throughout the Christmas and winter months.

Purchase Tips
Choose plants that appear strong and healthy. Check for signs of insects by looking at the underside of the foliage and avoid plants whose leaves are spotted or yellow. Next, check to see if the small yellow flowers are still on the plant. Remember, the red colour of the poinsettia is provided by modified leaves called bracts. The small yellow flowers should be located at the centre of the red bracts. Finally, never buy a plant that is displayed with a paper or plastic sleeve pulled right around the plant. The leaves will turn yellow and may fall off if the poinsettia is sleeved too long.

Taking your Plant Home
The garden centre where you purchase your poinsettia will provide the plant with some protection for the journey to your home. Never expose the plant to a cold temperature for more than a few minutes; a chilled or frozen plant will drop leaves very quickly. When you have the plant at home, remove the protective wrapping immediately.

Taking Care of Your Poinsettia

With proper care, your poinsettia will last through the holiday season and right into late winter. Pay close attention to the following tips:

• Place in a room where there is bright natural light but not where the sun will shine directly on the plant.
• Keep the plant away from locations where it will receive hot or cold drafts.
• Place the plant high enough to be out of reach of unmonitored children and pets.
• Set the plant in a waterproof container to protect your furniture.
• Water the plant thoroughly when the soil surface is dry to the touch. Discard any excess water which remains in the saucer after 10 minutes.
• The bright colour of the bracts will remain longer if temperatures do not exceed 22°C.

Re-flowering your Poinsettia
If you cannot bear to throw your poinsettia out when it is finished providing colour, you may want to try your hand at re-flowering your poinsettia next year.