Poinsettia Care
Contributed by Julie Cascio
University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service
Poinsettias are a popular flower during the holiday season. Poinsettias (Eupitorbia pulcherrima Wild.) need consistent temperature and care. Keep them out of hot or cold drafts and they will do much better!
The colorful “flowers” of poinsettias are actually modified leaves called “bracts.”
When buying your poinsettia, choose a plant with well-expanded, well-colored bracts. Foliage should be medium to dark green with uniform coloring. Flowers should be present in the center of the bracts, but ideally still mainly closed with little pollen present.
Poinsettias are not poisonous, but the sap may cause dermatitis.
“Poinsettias are not poisonous” Steve Brown, University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service agent states. The plants are intended for ornamental purposes. Some people are allergic to the milky sap and may develop a rash when exposed to the sap. Avoid breaking the leaves and stems, as this will release the sap. It is wise to keep any houseplant out of the reach of small children and pets.
Poinsettias grow well in moist soil and temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F.
Temperature - After you purchase your plant, protect it from chilling temperatures or cold drafts of air. Wrap the plant when taking it to your car. In the home, avoid cold drafts and excessive heat from heating ducts, or large incandescent lamps.
Keep the plants away from windows, as cold glass may injure it.
Water the poinsettia thoroughly when the top of the growing medium is starting to feel dry, but do not too dry. Slight wilting of the plant is not harmful, but avoid severe wilting, which will cause leaves and bracts to drop faster shares Mike Schnelle Extension Specialist, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.
Make sure a small amount of water drips through the drainage holes of the container. If the plant is wrapped with decorative foil, punch a hole in the foil beneath the pot to allow excess water to escape. The plant should be placed on a saucer to prevent damage to the furniture or carpet.
Do not water the plant too frequently when the soil or growing mix is already wet or this may result in roots suffocating from lack of oxygen, causing the leaves to wilt, yellow, and drop. A carefully chosen plant should remain attractive in the house for a minimum of eight weeks.
Poinsettias bloom when the days get shorter.
Light - The plant survives best in an area where it receives at least six to eight hours of direct natural or artificial light. This is similar to good desk lighting in an office.
Poinsettias can be displayed with other houseplants. The adjacent plants raise the humidity and allow poinsettias to last longer. Also, the regular houseplants can be spruced up for the holidays.
https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/poinsettia