POINSETTIA

EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIMA

Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a poinsettia in the house—they’re a symbol of the festive season. Many people throw away their poinsettias as soon as their color fades, but more adventurous indoor gardeners, looking for a challenge, endeavor to keep them going for longer.

HEIGHT 24in (60cm)

SPREAD 12in (30cm)

FLOWERS Yellow with red bracts

FOLIAGE Dark green

LIGHT Sun/filtered sun

TEMPERATURE 55–81°F (13–27°C)

CARE Challenging

PLACE OF ORIGIN Central America and Mexico

WARNING! Sap is toxic

CARE

Poinsettias are sold in the millions at Christmas as gifts or living decorations. Although it’s tempting to place them on the mantel by a winter fire, they won’t survive close to excessive heat. They fare much better placed in the center of a dining table as they require filtered light and no drafts.

There’s rarely a need to repot these plants if you’re keeping them for just one season. Overwatering can cause problems with poinsettias; water cautiously, allowing the plant to begin to dry out before watering again. When growing for one season only, you won’t need to worry about feeding. Mist your plants once a week.

Once the poinsettia leaves have fallen, and if you want to keep the plant for another year, prune it back to 4in (10cm) in April and keep it in a cool room, 55°F (13°C). If repotting is required, use commercial potting mix. To encourage bracts, from November, plants should receive no more than 12 hours of natural or artificial light daily and a temperature of 18°C (64°F).

PROBLEM SOLVING It’s not uncommon for a poinsettia to start to wilt as soon as you get it home. To avoid this, ask the seller to wrap it with paper all the way around the top. A poinsettia that has undergone cold conditions at the store or on the journey home can die. Even a short spell in cold outdoor temperatures can prove fatal.

The poinsettia is often bought as a temporary living decoration.

DISPLAY

Modern varieties of poinsettia are compact and some forms have red, white, or pink bracts that can keep their color for months. As it’s such a flamboyant plant, it rarely needs a partner. Choose a seasonal container or simply wrap a big bow around the pot and sit it on a saucer to protect your table. If you want to create a festive floral scene for your guests, display your plant with a cyclamen and a bowl of scented paperwhites.

Houseplants A–Z | POINSETTIA

ALSO TRY

Short-lived plants that are bought for immediate, temporary impact have great value. If you’d like to introduce more color and impact into your home after the poinsettia’s flowers fade, consider these plants:

• Cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida), height 12in (30cm). This plant is covered in purple, pink, or blue flowers. It’s usually sold between December and May and is ideal for a room that has filtered light.
• Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), height 8in (20cm). If placed in a cool room, this pretty plant offers short-lived, scented white flowers. All parts of lily of the valley are toxic.

Cineraria is a flowering houseplant for a room with a cottagey feel.