So, you’ve brought home a poinsettia. Whether you invited it into your home or it was entrusted to you by someone else, there are some things you should know about keeping your poinsettia happy!
Bright, Indirect Light
If the sun beams are directly touching your plant, that light is too direct and can scorch poinsettia leaves. Indirect light is usually accomplished with a south, east, or west-facing window.
Essentially, you want to make sure some outdoor brightness is reaching your plant, but without being directly illuminated. If you can score your poinsettia 6 to 8 hours of indirect light, you’re doing great!
This is an Indoor Plant…in Idaho, anyway.
Poinsettias are native to Mexico, so they simply aren’t built for an Idaho winter. Although this year’s weather is doing a 180 on us so far, it is better to keep this one a houseplant and avoid complications altogether.
Fertilizer, Bloom Time, and Longevity
Fertilizing your poinsettia is an excellent idea – just make sure you do it AFTER it is done blooming. The bracts should fall around April, and that is a sign that fertilizing time is arriving. Basically, you don’t want to fertilize when the plant is not in an active growing phase, and when it does its Christmastime bloom it is NOT in this growing phase.
NOTE: If you aren’t planning to enjoy this plant after the immediate holiday season, you can skip fertilizing altogether. Just water it moderately and let it be in that indirect light.
Longevity will depend on how you care for it. If you pay attention to watering and light needs as outlined above, it will last fairly well. If you want that rebloom next winter, fertilizing is going to really increase those chances.
There are different kinds of fertilizers you can choose from. We really like an all-purpose/balanced formula where the numbers in the ratio are all the same (5-5-5 or 10-10-10, for example). You could use liquid or granular fertilizers, just pay attention to the instructions on the bottle/container so they release properly in the soil.
Oh No! Leaves Are Falling Off!
There are a number of reasons this can happen. Diagnosing the problem and making amendments will reduce stress on a plant that causes leaf fallout. Common issues include:
- overwatering (drainage holes are crucial, does your container have them?)
- not watering enough (super dry soil and wilting leaves can indicate this)
- temperature fluctuations (aim for environment between 65-75 degrees F)
- new environment shock (can occur when you move it from the garden center to home and the temperature, humidity, or light changes drastically from what it is accustomed to)
- Pest infestation (aphids and spider mites can sometimes invade your plant. If you find them, know that your other plants likely have them too and you should check them all!)
Addressing the Controversy
Yes, poinsettias are considered mildly toxic when ingested in large amounts. The key word being “LARGE” amounts because you do not need to sound the alarm if little bite marks appear on one leaf. Your pet or child may experience some mild gastrointestinal discomfort if this happens.
You know your pets and small children best, and if you don’t expect them to sample the plants you can make that call. It never hurts to either keep them up out of reach or simply keep them out of your home. We have many pet-safe houseplant options in our Garden Center, so you don’t have to go plant-less.
Have more questions about poinsettias? Our Garden Center experts know their stuff. You can call or come on by Franz Witte Garden Center and we’d be happy to get you everything you need to succeed.
Merry Christmas!
