• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Poinsettia

Botanical Name
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Hardiness
Zones 9 to 11
Height
2 to 4 feet
Width
1 to 4 feet
Flowers
Tiny yellow blossoms the center of showy bracts of red, yellow, white, peach, marbled or speckled
Light
Bright, indirect or filtered
Soil
Moist, well-drained
Planting & Care
  • If the pot is covered with decorative foil, remove or punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage
  • Plant will suffer root rot in soggy planting mix
  • Do not allow poinsettia to dry out or leaves will drop
  • Avoid temperature extremes such as drafts, a cold vehicle, heating ducts or fireplaces
  • Fertilize with a dilute solution of flowering houseplant fertilizer March or April through December. Do not fertilize during flowering.
  • Begin forcing poinsettia to rebloom in Late September or early October. Provide plants with 10 hours of light and 14 hours of total darkness each night. Move plants to an unused closet or room each night. Even a reading light or streetlight can interfere with the dark treatment and delay flowering. Or cover the plant with a cardboard box to keep out any artificial light. Cool night temperatures and slightly dry soil help stimulate bloom. Continue dark treatments until the bracts (upper leaves) are fully colored. Then move to an area for everyone to enjoy. Each missed or interrupted dark period delays the blooms by one day. Don't give up if this happens to you. While lovely over the holidays, poinsettia's colorful bracts are sure to brighten any winter day.
Problems
Whitefly, mealybug, soft scale, root rot in overwatered or poorly drained soil

Related Content

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


Feb. 14-16, 2025
NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show
West Allis, WI

Feb. 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Strategies for Managing Invasive Plants

Register here

Feb. 26, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Create a Beautiful Shade Garden

Register here

Feb. 27, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
How to Select Rain Garden Plants

Register here

March 12, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Grow Pollinator-friendly Spring and Summer Flowering Bulbs

Register here

March 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Register here


March 22, 23, 29, 30, 2025
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, WI

March 26, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Succession Planting & Crop Rotation

Register here

March 27, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Rain Garden Q & A

Register here

April 2, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Container Gardens for Sun & Shade
Register here


April 10, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Reinvigorate Your Rain Garden
Register here


May 7, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Vertical Gardening
Register here


May 15, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
7 Steps to Managing Water on Your Property

Register here

June 4, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Attracting Hummingbirds

Register here

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win 3 Collections of Longfield Gardens
Dahlia Bulbs

ENTER NOW