Poinsettia Care
Poinsettia Care for the Holiday Season
No flower reminds us of the Christmas season like the beautiful poinsettia. There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available today. And while we do not offer all of them, we have a healthy selection of options. Though once only seen in the traditional red, they are now available in pink, white, burgundy, yellow, orange, marbled and speckled multi-colors, and more.
Help your poinsettia thrive throughout the holiday season.
- Protect your poinsettia from cold winds by avoiding hot or cold drafts.
- Place your plant in a cool, bright area to help retain the color for longer. Six hours of natural light a day is ideal.
- The perfect temperature for your poinsettia is 72°F during the day and 60°F at night.
- Examine the soil of your plant daily. If the soil is dry to the touch, water the soil until it drains freely.
- Avoid standing water.
- Refrain from touching the foliage to avoid bruising.
Poinsettia Fun Facts
- Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family. The botanical name is Euphorbia pulcherrima.
- Joel Roberts Poinsett, botanist and physician, introduced the poinsettia plant to the U.S. from Mexico in 1828.
- The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think of as the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves).
- Poinsettias are not frost-tolerant. They will grow outdoors in temperate coastal climates, such as Southern California beach communities. In the ground, they can reach 10 feet tall.
- Poinsettias have also been referred to as the lobster flower and the flame-leaf flower, based on their red color.
- December 12 is Poinsettia Day, marking the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1851.
- California is the top U.S. poinsettia-producing state.
Poinsettia fun facts courtesy of University of Illinois Extension
