Houseplants, Christmas guide
Poinsettia care.
How to keep a poinsettia bright and full from the day you buy it to well past Christmas, why the leaves drop, and whether it is worth keeping.
- Warmth13 to 16°C or more
- WaterWhen the surface is dry
- FeedingOnly if you keep it
Most poinsettia problems start in the shop
Poinsettias hate cold. A chilly shop doorway or a cold car can set off leaf drop days later.
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Choose a full, healthy plant
Look for one that is not drooping or dropping leaves or bracts, the coloured leaves. Skip plants on cold pavements or in draughty entrances.
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Get it wrapped
Ask for a sleeve or bag it yourself, and buy on a mild day if you can.
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Take it straight home
Bring it indoors as soon as possible and unwrap it in a warm room.
Five things that keep it going
Light, warmth, water, humidity and feeding. Pick one to see what to do.
Light: bright, not scorching
Give it bright light but keep it out of direct sun. A table a little way back from a living-room window is usually ideal.
- Best spotBright, a little back from the window
- AvoidDirect sun, dark corners
Warmth: steady and draught-free
Keep it at 13 to 16°C or warmer. Cold causes shock, and the plant drops leaves and bracts. Avoid sills above radiators, the gap behind curtains on cold nights, draughty hearths and unheated porches.
- Minimum13 to 16°C
- AvoidRadiators, draughts, cold glass
- On cold nightsMove it into the room
Water: sparingly
Overwatering does more harm than anything. Water only when the surface of the compost feels dry. The RHS suggests standing the pot in tepid water for 10 to 20 minutes, letting it drain, then putting it back in its decorative pot. Keep the compost just moist.
- CheckThe surface of the compost
- MethodSoak for 10 to 20 minutes, then drain
- NeverLeave it standing in water
Humidity: helps it last
Central heating dries the air. Humidity helps the display last longer, so mist the plant daily if you can.
- HelpsA daily mist
- Watch forCrisp leaf edges in dry rooms
Feeding: only if you keep it
A poinsettia bought for Christmas does not need feeding. If you plan to keep it into the new year, the RHS suggests a high-potassium feed, such as a tomato feed, once a month, following the label.
- Over ChristmasNo feed needed
- Keeping itHigh-potassium feed, monthly
- AmountAs the feed's label says
What poinsettia problems look like
Most come down to cold, water or light.
| What you see | What it usually means | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves and bracts dropping soon after you buy it | Cold, usually in the shop or on the way home. | Keep it warm and light with just-moist compost. If the shock happened before you bought it, it may not stop, but it should once conditions are right. |
| Wilting, with wet compost | Too much water. | Let the surface dry before watering again, and tip away water in the saucer or pot cover. |
| Wilting, with dry compost | It needs a drink. | Stand the pot in tepid water for 10 to 20 minutes, then let it drain. |
| Crisp, brown leaf edges | Dry air or a hot radiator nearby. | Move it away from the heat and mist it daily. |
| Milky sap where a leaf breaks | Normal for this plant. | The sap can irritate skin and eyes, so wipe it away and wash your hands. |
Keep it, or let it go?
Most people compost their poinsettia once it fades, and that is fine. If you want to try for colour again next winter, it takes some work.
Following the RHS: cut it back hard in spring to about 10 cm, keeping it at around 13°C. Repot in early May, grow it on in a light, cool place over summer, then from late September give it 8 to 10 weeks of short days. That means less than 12 hours of light a day: cover it or move it to a dark room each evening, away from room lights, and keep it at a steady 18°C. Home-grown plants usually grow taller than shop ones, which are often treated to stay compact.
Short days bring the colour
The coloured bracts form when nights are long. Even a lamp switched on in the evening can stop them colouring.
Tend: Houseplant Food
Tend is our houseplant food, for leafy houseplants on your sills and shelves once they are growing again in spring.
- How to useA splash around the base of the plant, then water it in. That is the direction on the back of the bottle.
- Size250ml bottle with a pump
- Also good to know100% natural, peat-free and made without synthetic chemicals.
Questions people ask
Why are the leaves falling off my poinsettia?
Almost always cold, either at home or before you bought it, in a shop or on the journey. Too much water is the next most likely cause. Keep it warm, in bright light, with compost that is just moist, and the drop should stop.
How often should I water a poinsettia?
There is no fixed day. Water when the surface of the compost feels dry, soak the pot for 10 to 20 minutes, then let it drain. Never leave it sitting in water.
Do poinsettias need feeding?
Not over Christmas. If you are keeping the plant into the new year, the RHS suggests a high-potassium feed, such as a tomato feed, once a month.
How warm does a poinsettia need to be?
At least 13 to 16°C, and steady. Keep it away from radiators, draughts and cold windows.
Is the sap harmful?
The milky sap can irritate skin and eyes, so avoid touching it and wash your hands if you do. The RHS notes poinsettia is much less toxic than other euphorbias, but it is still not for eating, so keep it out of reach.
Can I get my poinsettia to go red again?
Yes, with patience. It needs 8 to 10 weeks of short days, less than 12 hours of light, from late September at a steady 18°C. The section above covers the full routine.
