How to Care for Poinsettias the Right Way, According to Experts

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Nothing says it's the holiday season quite like a cheery, blooming poinsettia plant! While bright red poinsettias have long been favorites for decking the halls, many new varieties have been bred in recent years in shades of pretty pink, creamy white, burgundy, coral, and even fun types that have white speckles on their bracts, or colored leaves.

Native to Mexico, poinsettia plants are typically large, gangly shrubs in the wild. Popularized as holiday plant in the '50s with modernized breeding, no holiday season seems complete without a display of this pretty flower on your mantel, in the foyer or living room, or anywhere else you need a splash of seasonal color.

Here’s everything you need to know to care for poinsettias during the holiday season and beyond:

How to Choose a Poinsettia

It starts with picking a fresh, healthy plant with even coloring on the bracts. “Choose plants that have little yellow flowers, called cyathia, in the center of the colored leaves,” says Gary Vollmer, technical support for poinsettias for Selecta One North America. “Plants in stores that are already shedding pollen or that the yellow flowers have dropped off are past their prime and won’t last throughout the season.”

You should also pull back the plastic sleeve and take a look at the plant’s condition overall. “If it’s dropped or has yellow lower leaves, avoid it,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturalist with Costa Farms. “Those lower leaves won’t grow back.”

In addition, make sure your plant is protected from cold damage when you purchase it. “Freezing conditions can damage bracts quickly,” says Vollmer. “Definitely don’t leave your poinsettias in your car as you holiday shop or run errands.” Use a plastic bag, reusable tote or floral paper to cover it as you transport it from the store to your car to inside your home.

Where to Display Poinsettias

For a holiday party, you can display them anywhere temporarily. But for the whole season, choose a spot where they’ll receive bright, indirect light, says Hancock. But keep them away from heating vents or drafty windows and doors.

Also, make sure to slip them out of their foil pot cover or plastic covering, if present, so that excess water can drain out properly. You don’t have to repot them, but you can slip the whole pot into a somewhat larger decorative pot for a more attractive display.

How Often Should You Water Poinsettias?

Depending on where you display your poinsettia, it may need watered from one to three times a week. “Moisture in the pot should be kept even, not too wet, not too dry,” says James Doukas, territory manager for Selecta One North America. “Too dry and leaves begin to get damaged when they wilt. Too wet and roots will be deprived of oxygen, creating an environment that’s conducive to root disease.

The best way to determine when to water is by weight. To get a sense of what a fully saturated plant feels like, “pick up the pot after watering,” says Doukas. “As the days go on, pick up the pot and feel the plant become lighter as water is used.” With practice, you’ll get more comfortable with this method. You also can poke your finger about three inches down into the pot to get a sense of the current moisture level.

When watering, make sure to water the soil—not the foliage. “The real key is to watering is to avoid water sitting on the bracts or leaves,” says Doukas. “Water sitting on the interior foliage in the cool, dark environment of your home can create the perfect microclimate for fungus like botrytis.”

What Kind of Light Do Poinsettias Need?

Poinsettias like bright, indirect light like most other houseplants. “Placing them in a cooler location, out of direct sunlight, will help them last longer,” says Hancock.

How to Get a Poinsettia to Rebloom

If you’re willing to give your poinsettia some TLC, you can save it for next year. Here’s what to do, with tips from Vollmer and Hancock:

• Place it in a bright window with maximum light levels after the holidays, says Hancock.

• After April 1, remove any colored bracts that remain, and pinch and shape the plant until early August so it will become bushier, says Vollmer. Wear gloves and be careful of the sticky sap, which may cause skin irritation in sensitive skin.

• Water as usual, but feed the plant every two weeks with any all-purpose houseplant fertilizer, says Vollmer.

• When light levels drop again in September, move the plant to a room where it gets only natural light with zero artificial light after sunset. “The lack of light is what triggers the re-flush of color,” says Vollmer.

• The darkness can be achieved by placing the plant in an unused guest room, or placing it in the closet every night and bringing it back out in the morning. “If you give the plant what it needs, you will get it to rebloom,” says Hancock.

• When the plant starts to re-color, you can move it back to your regular living area for seasonal enjoyment, says Vollmer.

How Long Do Poinsettias Live?

If you choose a fresh plant and give it the right conditions, your poinsettia plant will look good through the holidays until mid-January or beyond. But this is a no judgment zone! If your plant starts to look scraggly (or you’re just tired of it!), it’s totally fine to compost it and treat yourself to a new one next year, says Hancock.

Are Poinsettias Toxic to Pets?

As you may have heard, poinsettias are toxic to both cats and dogs. The sap is irritating to the mouth and stomach and sometimes causes vomiting, although ASPCA says they have been somewhat over-rated in toxicity through the years.

However, any plant, if ingested in large enough quantities, can cause GI distress. If your pet has taken a nibble, call your vet immediately. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Where to Buy Poinsettias

You can likely find poinsettias at your grocery store or local nursery during the holiday season, but if you want to get a jumpstart (or order one online as a gift), retailers such as 1-800-flowers, Etsy, and Amazon all sell live poinsettia plants and seeds.

Red Poinsettia Plant (Medium)

Qauzuy Garden 20 Poinsettia Seeds

4" Live Starter Plant Poinsettia, Enduring White

Poinsettia in Birch Pot

Chuxay Garden Peach Pink Poinsettia, 100 Seeds

White Poinsettia Plant

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