Windsor Greenhouse Poinsettia Care Guide

Christmas is around the corner, and it’s time to fill your home with beautiful poinsettias and other holiday flowers. Thankfully, you don’t have to be a gardening expert to make poinsettias last all season! Here is our thorough guide to poinsettia care so that you can get the most out of your gorgeous festive plant, with additional tips on how to keep your poinsettias growing throughout the rest of the year. 

Poinsettias Love the (Spot) Light

Although we use poinsettias to create winter wonderland displays during the darkest season, these holiday flowers love all the sun. Poinsettias should be placed in direct sunlight for at least six hours per day, preferably near a south-facing window. By providing as much sunlight as possible, your poinsettia will produce blooms easier and live longer. Protect your poinsettias from chilling winds while you transport them, and then get them cozy at home in a room that stays about 21 degrees.

Well-Draining Soil Is Essential

Soil is the anchor of your poinsettia plant, offering it nutrients, oxygen, moisture, and a comfy place to live and grow strong. They like to be kept in loose, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Your ideal poinsettia soil mix will include organic matter like peat and drainage ingredients like orchid bark for added nutrients. 

Finding the perfect balance between optimal drainage and plenty of moisture is critical for your poinsettia soil; stagnant water can lead to root rot and damage your plant! Ensure that your container has drainage holes and that you dump out any stagnant water.

Don’t Overwater Your Poinsettia

Generally, water your poinsettia plant when the top couple of inches of soil are dry. Thoroughly soak the soil with tepid water about two to three inches down; avoid overwatering your plant, as this can result in root rot. Keep the saucer from collecting water, and allow the surface of the soil to dry before watering again. 

Poinsettias Like Christmas Dinner, Too!

In general, poinsettias love any high-quality, all-purpose fertilizer. Poinsettia fertilizer can be wet or dry, depending on your preference. Ensure you water your plant well after fertilizing your poinsettia flowers, especially after applying dry fertilizer. If you don’t, you may damage the plant by scorching the roots!

Fertilize your plants after their blooming season with a well-balanced fertilizer mix from your local garden centre; avoid fertilizing while they’re still in bloom. Keep plants healthy after the blooming season by applying fertilizer mix about once a week. 

How To a Keep Poinsettia Alive Year-Round

Not ready to say goodbye yet? Poinsettia bracts can last into the early spring months of March or April with proper care and serve as a splendid addition to your Abbotsford garden. You can even try to keep it going into the next season for a second year of festive holiday blooms! 

After the holidays, cut the plant back once the leaves start to fall, leaving about six buds on the stems. Continue to water and fertilize it; it should begin to leaf out by May. Cut back the plant in mid-July or early September to keep it compact and small, and it will also encourage new branches to form! 

Starting the first of October, provide the plant with 14 hours of darkness after the sun sets. During the day, you can store it in a dark closet. You will be able to enjoy it for another season when it starts to colour at the end of November!

Looking for more tips on poinsettia and other holiday plant care? Visit us at Windsor Greenhouse in Abbotsford for the season’s favourite plant!