Poinsettia

How to care for Poinsettia

Light

Poinsettias require bright, indirect light for most of the year, with some gentle winter sun being beneficial rather than harmful. They should be placed near a south- or east-facing window but shielded from harsh summer midday sun, which can scorch the bracts and leaves. Crucially, to initiate the bract colouration cycle for a second flowering, the plant must receive a strict regime of 14 hours of complete, uninterrupted darkness each night for approximately 8 to 10 weeks in autumn.

Watering

Water thoroughly when the top centimetre of compost feels dry to the touch, then allow excess water to drain freely; never allow the pot to stand in water as waterlogged roots will rot rapidly. During the display period in winter, watering requirements are relatively modest. Reduce watering further after the bracts drop, keeping the compost barely moist during the rest period, then increase again when new growth appears in spring.

Soil and potting

A free-draining, peat-free multi-purpose compost is suitable, ideally with added perlite at a ratio of around 1 part perlite to 4 parts compost to improve aeration and drainage. Poinsettias are sensitive to waterlogging, so good drainage is essential. Slightly acidic to neutral pH (around 5.8 to 6.5) is preferred.

Feeding

Do not feed during the winter flowering display. Once the coloured bracts have dropped and new vegetative growth is evident in spring and summer, apply a balanced, water-soluble fertiliser at half the recommended strength every two weeks. Switch to a low-nitrogen, high-potassium feed in late summer to encourage bract development. Cease feeding again once the darkness regime for reflowering begins.

Humidity and temperature

Poinsettias prefer moderate humidity and will suffer in very dry indoor air, particularly near radiators or other heat sources. Temperatures between 15 and 22 C are ideal during the display period. Avoid placing the plant near cold draughts, open windows, or doors in winter, as sudden temperature drops below 13 C cause rapid leaf drop. A consistent, draught-free position is important to prolong the life of the bracts.

Repotting

Repot in spring once new growth is active, moving the plant into a container only one size larger to avoid excessive soil moisture retention. Use fresh, free-draining compost and ensure the new pot has adequate drainage holes. If you are attempting to reflower the plant year on year, repotting annually in spring is advisable to refresh the growing medium and provide additional nutrients.

Pruning

Once the bracts and leaves have dropped after the winter display, cut the stems back to roughly 10 to 15 cm above compost level in early spring. This encourages vigorous new growth and maintains a compact, bushy habit. Wear gloves when pruning, as the milky white latex sap can irritate skin and eyes. Pinch out the growing tips of new shoots in early summer to promote branching and a fuller plant.

Is Poinsettia toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Softwood stem cuttings

In late spring or early summer, take tip cuttings of around 10 cm, allow the cut end to dry for 30 minutes to reduce latex bleed, then dip in rooting hormone and insert into a moist, free-draining propagating mix. Maintain warmth (around 21 C) and humidity under a propagator lid until roots form, typically within 3 to 5 weeks.

Semi-ripe cuttings

In midsummer, take cuttings from slightly firmer, semi-ripe growth and treat as for softwood cuttings. Success rates are slightly lower but the firmer stem is less prone to wilting during the rooting process.

Where Poinsettia comes from

Native to southern Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela.

Story and origins

The genus name Euphorbia honours Euphorbus, the physician to the ancient Numidian king Juba II of Mauretania, who reportedly used a related plant medicinally. The specific epithet pulcherrima is Latin for 'most beautiful' or 'very beautiful', a superlative of pulcher, reflecting the striking ornamental appearance of the plant. The common name 'poinsettia' derives from Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779 to 1851), the American diplomat and botanist who brought specimens back from Mexico to the United States, after which the plant was taxonomically honoured in his name.

Euphorbia pulcherrima has been cultivated in Mexico for centuries. The Aztecs valued it for practical purposes, using the bracts as a source of reddish-purple dye and the latex medicinally to treat fevers. A Mexican legend associated the plant with Christmas, telling of a girl named Pepita who, too poor to provide a gift for Jesus on Christmas Eve, gathered weeds from the roadside; when placed at the church altar the weeds transformed into the brilliant red-bracted plant. Franciscan friars in Mexico incorporated it into their Christmas nativity celebrations from the 17th century onwards. Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced the plant to cultivation in the United States in 1828, and by the 20th century it had become firmly established as the quintessential Christmas houseplant across Europe and North America, a status reinforced by the large-scale commercial production that began in the mid-20th century.

Varieties to know

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Prestige Red'

One of the most widely sold commercial cultivars, with large, vivid red bracts and good longevity as a houseplant display

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Ice Crystal'

White to creamy bracts with a marbled appearance, offering an alternative to the traditional red

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Jingle Bells'

Red bracts splashed with pink and white speckles, giving a distinctive mottled appearance

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Cortez Burgundy'

Deep wine-red to burgundy bracts with a velvety appearance and vigorous habit

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Princettia'

A series bred in Japan producing smaller, more compact plants with delicate pink to hot-pink bracts; marketed as less toxic than standard types, though caution is still advised

Fun facts

• In Mexico, Euphorbia pulcherrima is known as 'La Flor de la Nochebuena', meaning the Flower of Christmas Eve, and it grows wild as a large shrub or small tree up to 4 metres tall.
• The plant is a short-day (or more precisely, long-night) species: bract colouration is triggered by nights longer than approximately 12 hours, meaning even a few minutes of stray light during the darkness period can prevent the bracts from developing colour.
• Poinsettias are one of the best-selling potted plants in the United Kingdom and United States, with tens of millions sold in the weeks leading up to Christmas each year.
• The colourful parts of a poinsettia that most people call 'flowers' are actually modified leaves called bracts; the true flowers are the tiny yellow structures (cyathia) at the centre.
• Euphorbia pulcherrima was named in honour of Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant to the United States in 1828.

Poinsettia FAQ