Poinsettias are easily one of the most iconic houseplants out there. Come December, you’ll find them brightening up almost every living room with that classic festive vibe. While most people treat them like temporary decor, you can actually try your hand at growing them yourself—though I’ll be honest, it takes a little bit of a green thumb!
How Do You Actually Grow Poinsettias?
Even though most people toss them once the holidays are over and the colorful leaves start to drop, poinsettias are actually perennials. With a little patience and the right TLC, you can help yours survive the summer and even get it to bloom again next year. Plus, you can use cuttings from your plant to start brand-new baby poinsettias.
Propagating from Cuttings
Since growing poinsettias from seed is a total headache, most gardeners stick to cuttings. The best time to do this is late January or early February using a healthy, strong “mother” plant. Here’s how you do it:
- Wear gardening gloves! The milky sap that leaks out is actually toxic and can irritate your skin.
- Use sharp, clean tools. Make sure your shears are disinfected so you don’t introduce any nasty infections to the plant.
- Clean up the mother plant. Start by removing any wilted or dead leaves.
- Prune it back. Cut the main stems down to about 8 inches. Make sure they still have a few leaves left.
- Prep your cuttings. Your individual cuttings should be about 6 inches long.
- The hot water trick. Briefly dip the cut end into hot water. This stops the sap from flowing; if it keeps leaking, the delicate cutting can essentially “bleed out.”
- Prepare the soil. Use a pot with fresh seed-starting mix. I like to mix in a little coarse sand to help with drainage.
- Use rooting hormone. Dip the cut end into some rooting powder to give it a head start.
- Plant and water. Stick the cutting in the soil and give it a light watering.
To create that humid, tropical environment they love, you can pop a clear plastic bag over the pot. Place it in a warm, bright spot, but make sure to lift the plastic every day for a few minutes to let it breathe—otherwise, you might run into mold issues. A mini-greenhouse works great too! Once you see new little leaves starting to sprout, you’ll know it has successfully rooted and is ready for a bigger pot.
Professional Breeding
For years, professional breeders have been working in tropical greenhouses to create stunning new varieties. While we all love the classic red, you can now find poinsettias in pink, cream, white, yellow, and even marbled bicolors. Still, there’s just something about that traditional bright red that keeps it the reigning champ of the holiday season!
