Poinsettia care

The Poinsettia , poinsettia or Christmas plant is one of the typical Christmas flowers and plants , but not only does it last at Christmas time, but it can last from one year to the next with the correct care. This is a summary of basic care (we offer a more complete and practical guide later).

• For it to grow healthy and strong it is necessary to place this plant in a well-lit place , but not directly in the sun, since if it were, it would be removed.
• The poinsettia plant withstands low temperatures well, but not frost, so it is ideal as an indoor plant , although it can be outdoors in places where there are no frosts.
• Humidity is an important factor in the development of this plant. For this, it is very important to create a humid environment around the plant, but avoiding that it has direct contact with water, so it is advisable to spray water around it.
• The waterings must be constant, especially when we notice that the earth begins to stay dry.
• As soon as flowering occurs, the frequency of watering should be reduced, since this way the plant rests and gains strength for the next flowering.
• During the flowering season , it is also very important to fertilize the soil so that it flourishes well. Liquid fertilizer is suitable for the poinsettia plant and must be incorporated with watering approximately every 15 days.
• Avoid any friction or blow that could break any part of the plant, especially during the flowering season.
• It is also important to place the plant in a clean environment , since poor air quality can cause its leaves to dry out or wrinkle.

Next, we are going to comment in more detail on how to care for the poinsettia , paying more attention to each aspect of the care of the poinsettia or Christmas flower.

It should be located in a place with abundant luminosity , since the leaves will end up falling in case of not having enough light for a long time. It is also very important that the plant is not exposed to drafts nor is it located very close to a stove or radiator, since excess humidity damages it (just spray). If your home is in a cold climate area, it is advisable to have the poinsettia inside the house.

A substrate must always be maintained with a certain degree of humidity, preventing it from drying out, but without overcharging. When watering in a pot, the flowers or leaves should not be wet. A good method of irrigation for this plant is watering by immersion , consisting of placing the plant in a bowl or plate of water that is not too cold and leaving it for 15 minutes. Once the 15 minutes have elapsed, remove it and drain the excess water.

Here you can learn more about when to water the plants , because we tell you what to take into account to know if they need more water or not, and in this other guide you can learn more about watering the poinsettia: how often and how to do it .

When should the poinsettia be pruned? The best time to prune will be when the plant runs out of leaves , which usually happens at the end of January. In this process, the stems should be cut until they are about 10 cm long and the wound sealed with wax from a melted candle or some product that helps the wound heal. For pruning, it is recommended to use gloves, because they have an irritating latex for the skin and mucous membranes.

In this other post we will talk more about when and how to prune the poinsettia .

It is best to place the plant in a place away from heating or outside but somewhat sheltered until the spring season begins . During this time you will have to continue watering the Christmas plant, although more widely in time.

When spring arrives , it is convenient to transplant the plant to a larger pot , in order to renew its substrate for a higher quality one. Our plant will begin to develop from its stems. We can improve this process by providing extra nutrients through a fertilizer.

Find more tips in these other articles about How to transplant a Poinsettia and Transplant a plant: when and how to do it .

The flowering of the poinsettia plant usually happens during the month of December , at which time it fills with its characteristic red leaves . For this, it is necessary that already from the end or beginning of October they spend between 12 and 14 days in total darkness, covering the plant with a thick cardboard, a dark plastic or a protective hood covered with aluminum foil during the afternoon-night.

For the Poinsettia , Christmas plant or poinsettia to flourish, it is necessary to meet all the requirements of its care to cover its needs and make sure it is healthy. Therefore, you can follow these tips to make the poinsettia bloom and see its small flowers and its characteristic red leaves in full splendor.

• Make sure you have it at a suitable temperature, away from drafts or heat that can dry out its surroundings.
• Keep your environment with a certain humidity, spraying water on the surface of your land and around it, without getting the leaves too wet, you will achieve it.
• Remember to prune the Christmas plant to keep it healthy and, thus, your efforts focus on developing healthy parts, avoiding fatigue the plant with half-dry or diseased branches and leaves. By allowing you to focus your energy on growth and development, you will be able to flourish much better.
• We recommend that a short time before flowering begins, when the plant is already preparing for it, you apply flowering fertilizer or fertilizer rich in phosphorus on its soil.
• Don’t transplant her when she is near flowering or just at that time.

A Poinsettia or Christmas plant at home can be dying for various reasons, from which we deduce that the problem is that we do not cover its care needs well. The main reasons are over-watering, under-watering, pests and diseases, and over-or under-natural light. Take note of these tips to know what to do in each case:

• If your poinsettia has flabby or soft leaves , it is a sign that it is dying from too much water . If you see the poinsettia with withered leaves, try to change the soil as soon as possible to provide a mixture of part of yours with a new and drier one and wait until it begins to recover before watering it again.
• If you see that its green and red leaves and its stems turn brown or yellowish and dry, it is because it lacks water . Water it as soon as possible and add more nutrients to the soil.
• If you only see part yellow or brown leaves you may have too much exposure to strong sunlight. In this case, find a semi-shady spot to place it.
• In case you see that its leaves are darker than normal and that it is decayed, it is likely that it lacks natural light . To improve its condition, find a place closer to a window or outside for more natural light.
• If you see white parts, brown spots, spots that indicate pests (black, brown, red, yellow, green …), etc., it may be that your plant has a pest or disease , such as aphids or fungi. We recommend this AgroCorrn guide on Plant Pests and Diseases: lists and how to eliminate them .

Therefore, if you wonder how to recover a poinsettia , keep in mind that first you will have to take into account all these aspects to detect the cause of it being sick or dying and, thus, you can solve the problem. For example, if you detect which pest is attacking it, you can treat it, if you see that the land is flooded due to excessive watering, you can change the land for a dry and adequate one, if it is burning due to excess sun, you will only have to locate it in a semi-shade or shade, etc.

After discovering all this about the care of the Christmas or Easter flower , we want to comment on some of the characteristics and curiosities of this Christmas plant. Among the curiosities of the poinsettia, Poinsettia or Christmas flower are:

• Although the poinsettia is widespread in many countries around the world, it is a plant native to Mexico .
• Its red color stands out in its bracts , specialized protective leaves, and not in its flowers, which are yellow.
• It is a plant for warm climates , although it can also be grown in cold climates, but in such a case it must always be indoors.
• It is a deciduous plant.
• It can become a bush up to 15 meters .
• Although it is a very decorative ornamental plant and we like to have it in view, it must be located in a safe place. This plant can be very toxic to children and pets , so you have to try not to leave it within their reach.
• Sometimes its leaves turn pale. If this happens to you and you want to know how to make them darken and red , we show you this other practical guide on How to make the poinsettia turn red .
• If you wonder ” what to do with the poinsettia when the leaves fall off? “, Remember that first you will have to make sure that it is not sick and once you are clear that it is not in bad condition, keep in mind that this plant can stay with this aspect but it will still live, so you can continue taking care of it and thus you will see how it continues to grow, it will grow leaves again and it will be able to accompany you for many Christmases.

We also recommend you watch this video below on the care of the poinsettia, poinsettia or Christmas plant .

If you want to read more articles similar to Poinsettia care , we recommend that you enter our Indoor Plants category .