Poinsettia Care Guide: Keep Your Holiday Plants Merry & Bright

When poinsettias start popping up around Georgina, you know the festive season has officially arrived. These bright, bold holiday plants are the botanical version of twinkling lights, cheerful, showy, and absolutely everywhere in December. But what actually are poinsettias? Why do we make such a big deal about them? And most importantly… how do you keep yours alive past New Year’s? 

Let’s unwrap everything you need to know about choosing, caring for, and enjoying poinsettias without the stress, the guesswork, or the dried-up leaves all over your floor.

 

What Are Poinsettias, Really?

Before they became the poster child of Christmas décor, poinsettias were tropical shrubs native to Mexico. In the wild, they grow up to 10 feet tall (yes, really, your 8-inch pot is basically a bonsai version). 

Fun fact: those iconic red “flowers” aren’t flowers at all. They’re bracts, brightly coloured leaves that turn red, pink, white, or marbled shades when the plant responds to shorter winter daylight hours. The real flowers are the tiny yellow clusters in the centre.

Botanically speaking, poinsettias belong to the Euphorbia family, a big clan of plants known for their milky sap and dramatic shapes. That sap is important to know about, because it’s what gives poinsettias their reputation (more on myths later).

Why All the Fanfare With Poinsettias?

Poinsettias have been linked with Christmas for centuries. In Mexico, they’re called Flor de Nochebuena, the Christmas Eve Flower, and have been used in holiday celebrations since the 1600s. They arrived in the U.S. in the 1820s thanks to Joel Poinsett, the first American ambassador to Mexico, and the rest is history. 

Today, poinsettias are:

• The most popular holiday plant in the world
• A symbol of cheer, celebration, and winter warmth
• A decorator’s best friend (instant colour with zero effort)
• Available in tons of varieties from classic red to soft blush, snow-white, speckled, marbled, and even bright lime green 

They bring life into our homes when everything outside is bare, frozen, and very… Georgina-in-December.

 

How to Pick a Healthy Poinsettia

When you’re browsing through rows of poinsettias at the garden centre, here’s how to choose one that won’t give up on you the moment you get it home.

1. Look for deep, vibrant bract colour 

Whether you’re choosing red, pink, or white, the colour should be rich, not faded or spotty.

2. Check the true flowers (the yellow centres) 

The smaller and less open they are, the fresher the plant. Wide-open yellow flowers mean the plant is further along in its lifecycle.

3. Inspect the leaves

Healthy leaves are dark green, full, and free of yellowing or dropping. A few dropped leaves near the bottom is normal, a pile on the table is not.

4. Look for a full, balanced shape

Good growers pinch poinsettias early so they branch beautifully. The plant should look bushy, not leggy.

5. Avoid plants sitting near a door or draft 

Cold damage isn’t always obvious at first but trust me, the plant will show it within a day or two.

6. Check the soil

It should be slightly moist, not bone-dry or swampy. 

If you want the longest-lasting poinsettia possible: choose one that hasn’t been wrapped in plastic for days and hasn’t lived next to the store’s front door.

How to Transport a Poinsettia (AKA: Don’t Freeze It!)

This part is critical in Georgina, where “wintery mix” is basically a personality trait. 

Poinsettias are tropical. Tropical plants do not like below 10°C or wind. 

Here’s how to get yours home safely:

1. Wrap it in a proper sleeve or paper

Your garden centre should do this for you. If not, ask! A thin grocery bag won’t do anything, you need a proper plastic or paper plant sleeve.

2. Keep it upright

Cold air rushes into pots lying on their side, freezing the roots.

3. Don’t leave it in the car

Ever. Not for 10 minutes. Not even for “a quick stop.” The inside of a cold vehicle can drop fast.

4. Go straight home

Your poinsettia doesn’t want to be your errand buddy.

5. Once inside, let it adjust

Don’t place it right beside a heater, fireplace, or blasting heat vent. 

The #1 reason poinsettias “mysteriously” die? Cold shock on the way home.

 

How to Care for a Poinsettia (and Keep It Looking Amazing)

Good news: poinsettias are not high-maintenance. They just need people to stop treating them like disposable decorations.

Here’s how to keep yours thriving through December and beyond if you’re feeling ambitious.

Light: Bright, indirect sunlight

Place your poinsettia near a bright window, but keep it out of direct sun and away from drafts.

Temperature: 18–22°C

They love cozy, stable indoor temps. Avoid cold drafts, exterior doors, heat vents, and fireplaces.

Watering: Not too much, not too little

This is the most common poinsettia problem.

• • Water when the top inch of soil feels dry
  • Let water drain completely
  • Never let it sit in standing water
  • Always remove decorative foil or poke holes in it so water can escape

Overwatering leads to root rot. Underwatering leads to leaf drop. Aim for Goldilocks conditions.

Humidity: Moderately humid

Indoor winter air can be dry. If leaves start curling, try placing a tray of water nearby or using a humidifier.

Fertilizing: Only after the holidays

Don’t fertilize when it’s blooming. If you keep it past March or April, switch to a balanced houseplant fertilizer once a month.

Repotting: Only if you’re keeping it long-term

If you’re planning to overwinter it into next year, repot it in spring into a slightly larger pot with fresh soil.

What Not to Do With a Poinsettia

Think of this as the holiday naughty list.

• Don’t put it near a cold window: touching cold glass can damage foliage.
• Don’t let it sit in water: soggy soil = root rot.
• Don’t crowd it: leaves need air circulation.
• Don’t put it right beside your heat vent: blasting heat = leaf drop.
• Don’t leave it wrapped in its sleeve: that’s for transport, not display.
• Don’t expect it to rebloom without effort: it’s possible, but it requires light-control trickery.
• Don’t assume red leaves mean flowers: remember, those are bracts!

 

Myths About Poinsettias (Let’s Clear These Up!)

Myth #1: Poinsettias are deadly poisonous.

False

No, your cat is not going to perish if they nibble a leaf. Poinsettias can cause mild stomach upset in pets (so can many houseplants), but they are not highly toxic. 

Myth #2: They’re impossible to keep alive.

False

Most people just treat them like cut flowers. With proper care, they can live for months… and even for years. 

Myth #3: They’re naturally bright red all the time.

False

Growers use precise light and dark cycles to trigger bract colouring. In nature, this happens seasonally. 

Myth #4: They’re only for Christmas.

False

Poinsettias are year-round plants in tropical climates. We just love them most in winter when the rest of our gardens are snoozing.

Can You Get Them to Turn Red Again Next Year?

Yes, but it’s a commitment.

Starting in late September or early October, poinsettias need:

• 14 - 16 hours of complete darkness every day
• 8 - 10 hours of bright light
• This routine for about 8 weeks 

That means moving it into a dark closet nightly or covering it with a box. If you want to try it, go for it! But most people simply buy a fresh one every year.

 

Final Thoughts: Poinsettias Are the Ultimate Holiday Houseplants

So there you have it, whether you’re decorating your entryway, brightening your living room, or looking for an easy gift, poinsettias add instant cheer. They’re colourful, classic, affordable, and surprisingly easy to care for once you know the basics.

Keep them warm, keep them watered properly, keep them away from drafts and enjoy that bold Christmas colour until well past the holidays. 

And if you need help choosing the healthiest, longest-lasting poinsettias for your home, pop into the garden centre we’re always stocked, always happy to help, and always excited to talk plants!

Happy gardening!