Taking Care of your Poinsettia…The Christmas Flower

By: Eddie Ayers, County Extension Agent

Did you get a poinsettia this Christmas? If so, did you know it can not only live well into this new year but it can bloom again this Christmas?

A native of Mexico, the poinsettia has become the traditional Christmas plant in the United States. It was first introduced by Joel Robert Poinsett who sent plants to his home in Greenville, South Carolina shortly after assuming the office of first U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1825. By the late nineteenth century, the plant was being grown commercially for Christmas sales.

The poinsettia is a member of the genus Euphorbia. The yellow center is the actual flower and is known as a cyathium. The showy part of the plant is composed of bracts. A wide array of bract colors can now be seen because of recent introductions of new varieties. These new varieties have also made it possible to enjoy the plant in the home for several months, but proper care must be followed.

Place the plant in bright light. Minimum night temperatures should not fall below 60 degrees F. Optimal day temperatures are around 70-75 degrees F. Avoid drafts and extremes in temperature that can occur near heating vents and doors. Put the plant in or on a waterproof container to protect furniture. Water thoroughly when the soil is dry to the touch about an inch below the surface. Discard the excess water. Do not let the plant stand in water. Many poinsettias are sold wrapped in foil to make the pot more attractive. Punch a hole in the bottom to allow for drainage.

Poinsettias can be re-flowered and enjoyed this Christmas, but it is not easy. When the bracts age and discolor, cut the plant back to about eight inches and grow it as a foliage plant. Give the plant as much light as possible. Move the plant outdoors when night temperatures no longer fall below 50 degrees F. Fertilize regularly and prune lightly to shape the plant. Bring the plant indoors when night temperatures drop below 55 degrees F. The poinsettia is a photoperiod sensitive plant that flowers as the nights become longer. The plant must be kept in darkness for 14 continuous hours every day starting October 1 and continuing until the bract’s color. Night temperatures during this period should not fall below 60-65 degrees F. The dark period can be accomplished by placing the plant in a dark closet in the evening or covering it with a cardboard box. Any artificial light at night will delay or inhibit flowering. During the day, provide as much light as possible.

As with other house plants, insect and disease problems can occur. The two most common insect pests are white flies and mealy bugs. Most disease organisms cause stem and root rots in poinsettias. At the first sign of damage, treat the plant with an insecticide that controls these pests and is registered for use on houseplants. If you were not successful in treating the plant or catching the damage in time, it is generally best to destroy infected plants.

For more information on caring for your poinsettia, contact me in the Gilmer UGA Extension office.

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