Poinsettia Care

Bright Indirect Light | 18–22°C | Water When the Surface Feels Dry | Keep Away From Cold Drafts

OVERVIEW The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is one of the most recognizable plants of the holiday season. Its colourful bracts brighten homes throughout the holidays, and with the right light, temperature and watering it is easy to keep looking its best. This guide covers how to choose a healthy plant, the varieties Gardenworks carries, and how to care for your poinsettia at home.

 

Pick the Perfect Poinsettia

•     Look for colour: Choose vibrant, colourful bracts (the leaves that give poinsettias their colour) and plenty of healthy, dark-green foliage.

•     Check the centre: Look for fresh, tight yellow-green flowers in the middle, with little pollen showing. This helps you choose a plant with plenty of display time ahead.

•     Inspect the plant: Avoid yellowing leaves, wilting, damaged foliage, pests or soggy soil.

 

KEEP IT WARM Poinsettias are sensitive to cold! Ask our team for a protective sleeve for the trip home, especially on chilly winter days.

Meet the Holiday Stars

 

Classic Reds •     Red Ribbons: Festive, traditional red for a classic Christmas display. •     Holly Berry: Cheerful holiday colour that pairs beautifully with evergreen décor. •     Mouse Red: A distinctive specialty variety for something a little different.

White •     Brilliant White: Celebrated for its large, crisp, pointed true-white bracts that contrast beautifully against dark green foliage on a compact, easy-to-grow frame •     Moni White: Crisp, elegant white for a snowy winter look.

Novelty Varieties •     Winter Rose: Curled, layered bracts create a beautiful rose-like appearance. •     Tapestry: Red bracts with creamy-yellow edging for extra decorative appeal. •     Ice Punch: Red bracts with frosty, creamy-white centres. •     Christmas Beauty Cinnamon: Warm, cinnamon-inspired tones for a cozy holiday palette. •     Autumn Leaves: Fall-inspired colours that bring autumn warmth into the holidays. •     Norwin Orange: Eye-catching orange for a sunset-inspired glow.

Golden, Peach & Blush •     Golden Yellow: Sunny golden colour to brighten winter days. •     Golden Glow: Golden tones that pair beautifully with warm neutrals. •     Peach Glow: Soft peach shades for a gentle, warm look. •     Sky Pink: Delicate pink for a fresh, romantic display. •     Aurora Queen: A specialty selection for shoppers looking beyond traditional red. •     Valentine: A romantic seasonal choice with plenty of personality. •     Green Envy: Unusual green bracts for a fresh, modern holiday look.

 

Winter Rose

*Cultivar availability varies by store. Shop the Novelty varieties early as they sell fast

Keep the Holiday Magic Going

•     Light: Place in a bright spot with indirect natural light. Keep leaves away from cold window glass.

•     Temperature: Aim for a comfortable 18–22°C. Keep away from fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, heating vents, cold drafts and frequently opened exterior doors.

•     Watering: Check the soil regularly. When the surface begins to feel dry, water thoroughly and allow excess water to drain. Empty decorative pots and saucers; never leave roots sitting in water. Avoid watering on a fixed schedule.

•     Humidity & fertilizer: Average indoor humidity is usually fine. Keep plants away from hot, dry air. Extra fertilizer generally isn't needed while your poinsettia is in full holiday colour.

PETS & CHILDREN The milky sap can irritate the mouth and stomach if chewed or swallowed. Keep plants out of reach of curious pets and children.

 

DECORATING TIP Use a waterproof inner pot and keep your poinsettia away from open flames and hot serving dishes.

A Brief History of the Poinsettia

•     Native to Mexico: In the wild, the poinsettia grows as a woody shrub that can reach several metres tall. Its botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, means "most beautiful".

•     Aztec heritage: The Aztecs called it cuetlaxochitl and used its bracts to make a reddish dye and its sap in traditional medicine.

•     Flor de Nochebuena: In Mexico it is known as the Christmas Eve flower, and it has been part of Christmas celebrations there since the 17th century.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Look for vibrant, colourful bracts and plenty of dark-green foliage. Check that the small yellow-green flowers in the centre are fresh and tight with little pollen showing, which means plenty of display time ahead. Avoid plants with yellowing leaves, wilting, damaged foliage, pests or soggy soil.

The colourful parts are bracts, which are modified leaves, not petals. The true flowers are the small yellow-green clusters in the centre of the bracts.

Avoid watering on a fixed schedule. Check the soil regularly, and when the surface begins to feel dry, water thoroughly and allow the excess water to drain. Empty decorative pots and saucers so the roots never sit in water.

The most common causes are cold drafts, sudden temperature changes, roots sitting in water, and hot, dry air from heating vents or fireplaces. Keep the plant in a bright spot with indirect light at a steady 18–22°C, away from frequently opened exterior doors, and water only when the soil surface feels dry.

The milky sap can irritate the mouth and stomach if chewed or swallowed, so keep poinsettias out of reach of curious pets and children. If you are concerned that a pet or child has eaten part of a plant, contact your veterinarian, doctor or local poison control centre.

Yes. It can be kept as a houseplant with the same light, temperature and watering care. Getting it to colour up again the following year takes a strict routine of about 14 hours of complete darkness each night for 8 to 10 weeks in the fall, so many people simply choose a fresh plant each season.

Varieties include Classic Reds such as Red Ribbons and Holly Berry, whites such as Brilliant White and Moni White, novelty types such as Winter Rose and Ice Punch, and golden, peach and blush shades. Availability varies by store, and the novelty varieties sell fast, so shop early.

A Little Care Goes a Long Way!

Choose a poinsettia you love, give it a comfortable spot, and enjoy its festive colour throughout the holidays.

Happy holidays and happy growing!

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