Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima · Houseplant

Quick answer: Water: When the surface is dry. Light: Bright window indoors; 6–8 hours of sun outdoors in summer. Soil: Well-drained, peat-free potting mix. Pets: ASPCA lists poinsettia as toxic to cats and dogs, but rates it mild: the milky sap irritates the mouth and stomach and may cause vomiting, and its danger is generally overrated. Keep it out of reach; if in doubt, ask your vet.

The classic red Christmas plant. The colored 'petals' are really bracts; the true flowers are the small yellow buttons in the middle. With bright light and steady warmth it stays good-looking for months, and with a strict dark routine in autumn it can color up again for the next holidays.

Care at a glance

Light

Bright window indoors; 6–8 hours of sun outdoors in summer

Water

When the soil surface feels dry; empty the saucer

Soil

Well-drained, peat-free potting mix

Temperature

60–70 °F; nights above 70–75 °F can delay coloring

Pot size

Keep the nursery pot; one size up in spring if roots fill it

Container

Drainage holes; pierce or remove decorative foil

Bloom

Bracts color by early to mid-December after long nights

Lifespan

Perennial shrub; holiday display lasts about 2–3 months

When?

Bought in November–December: keep it out of cold drafts and away from heaters, in the brightest spot you have. To get color again next year, start 15-hour nights in late September or early October and keep them up until the bracts have colored, usually early to mid-December.

Step by step

1. November–December: place in a bright window, keep it at 60–70 °F and water only when the surface is dry.
2. After the holidays, once about half the leaves and bracts have dropped, water less and let it rest in a cool spot.
3. When new growth starts in spring, cut stems back to 4–6 in above the soil and repot if needed.
4. Move it outdoors once nights stay above 50 °F, building up to 6–8 hours of sun over 1–2 weeks.
5. Pinch shoot tips every 3–4 weeks until mid-August for a bushy plant; feed only as the product label says.
6. Bring it inside when nights drop to 55–60 °F, by mid-September at the latest, and put it in a sunny window.
7. From late September or early October, give total darkness from 5 pm to 8 am (a closet or box) and sun by day.
8. Keep the routine until the bracts have colored and nearly fully opened, usually early to mid-December.

Common problems

Pets

ASPCA lists poinsettia as toxic to cats and dogs, but rates it mild: the milky sap irritates the mouth and stomach and may cause vomiting, and its danger is generally overrated. Keep it out of reach; if in doubt, ask your vet.

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