Poinsettias are the undisputed stars of the winter season. With those iconic, colorful bracts—often decked out with a little extra glitter and glitz—they’ve become a true symbol of the holidays in homes everywhere. But if you want your plant to stay looking fabulous long after the guests have gone home, it’s going to need a little TLC.
Surviving Winter with Your Poinsettia
Since these plants are native to Mexico, they’re used to a subtropical climate. This means they are definitely not frost-hardy! Your poinsettia needs to stay indoors where it’s nice and toasty during the cold months. However, just cranking up the thermostat isn’t enough to keep it happy.
The Perfect Indoor Spot
The golden rule for a healthy poinsettia is consistent warmth—around 70°F (20°C)—and plenty of humidity. Dry air from your heater is the enemy here, so definitely avoid placing your plant directly over a radiator or vent. To boost the humidity, try placing water bowls on the windowsill or running a small indoor fountain nearby. Here are a few more tips to keep in mind:
- Make sure it gets plenty of bright, indirect light.
- Avoid direct, scorching sunlight.
- Keep it away from cold drafts (move it away from the window when you’re airing out the room!).
- Water moderately—only when the soil feels dry to the touch.
- Avoid “wet feet” at all costs; always pour out any excess water from the saucer.
- Give it a boost with liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
Post-Winter Care
If your poinsettia made it through the holidays looking great, it will eventually start dropping its colorful leaves in early spring as it enters a dormant phase. Don’t toss it! If you want to keep it for next Christmas, prune the plant back, repot it, and move it outdoors to your balcony or patio once the weather warms up. Just make sure it has a bright, warm spot protected from the wind.
Prefer to keep it inside year-round? No problem. During its rest period, move it to a slightly cooler (but still bright) room, like a guest bedroom or a well-lit hallway, and cut back on the watering.
Starting in October, remember that poinsettias are “short-day” plants. They need a strict 12-hour day/night cycle to bloom again. If you’re consistent about giving it 12 hours of light and 12 hours of total darkness (and I mean pitch black!), those beautiful colored bracts will return just in time for Christmas. As soon as you see that color popping, move it back to a warmer, brighter spot and enjoy the show!
