Poinsettias Beyond Christmas: Winter Care Tips
Don’t toss those poinsettias after the holidays! Learn the secrets to keeping your poinsettias vibrant and healthy throughout winter.
Learn about watering, sunlight, and proper care to extend the life of your poinsettias and enjoy their colorful beauty well into spring. Poinsettias come in an assortment of colors, including white, pink, red, and variegated. These beautiful plants are a staple of the holiday season.
But what happens to these beautiful plants after the Christmas decorations are packed away? Many people mistakenly believe poinsettias are disposable decorations destined for the compost heap after the holidays.
The truth is with proper care, poinsettias can thrive well beyond Christmas and continue to brighten your home throughout the winter months.
Learn a few key things about caring for your poinsettia to keep it vibrant and healthy throughout winter.
What is the Christmas story of Poinsettia?
The Poinsettia is considered a Christmas flower. During the holiday season, many people give them to symbolize goodwill. In religious communities, the shape of the poinsettia flower is thought to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. The red leaf symbolizes the blood of Christ.
Poinsettias Beyond Christmas: Winter Care Tips
- Poinsettias thrive with steady temperatures between 65-75 degrees in your home.
- Keep your plant out of direct sunlight, but put it in a bright, sunny room with indirect lighting. I have one placed in my family room and the other in my home office.
- Try to place them near a door or window where drafts may occur. These plants do not like the cold.
- It is important to check your plant daily to see if it needs water. How do you know how much water? By pushing your finger into the soil. If the soil feels dry to the touch, lightly add some water. You need to keep the soil moist without overwatering it to avoid root rot. Overwatering is one of the number one reasons that your Poinsettia will die.
They are beautiful plants to have around the holidays.
Important Things to Know About Poinsettias
- Poinsettias are not highly toxic to small children, dogs, or cats. However, I recommend keeping them out of reach. The sap can cause skin irritation, but the plant is harmless.
- Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are only mildly toxic to cats and dogs. If swallowed, they may cause mild irritation, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Again, the plant is harmless.
With a little TLC and the care tips provided here, you can enjoy these vibrant plants throughout the winter months.
Holiday Recipes
I hope you found this article on caring for Poinsettias helpful. If you’d like to see more, please subscribe to my newsletter for more creative ideas to be delivered straight to your inbox!
Happy holidays, sweet friend!
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Thanks for this Tammy! I just received one as a gift over the weekend! Hopefully, I can keep it alive! :)
I hope you can too! My problem I forget to water my house plants. LOL