Tis' the season to be jolly when you have a Poinsettia at home.
In contrast to popular belief, Poinsettia is quite an easy plant to care for. As long as you meet its basic requirements, its vibrant red and white leaves will bloom beautifully in your home. Thus, spreading the perfect Christmas aura!
So, check out the 11 easy tips for a healthy poinsettia plant, whether in red or white hues.
Christmas Plant Care Guide: SOIL
1. The soil should be in a balanced state. That is, it should neither too dry nor dripping wet.
2. A healthy Poinsettia plant grows best in soil with a pH range of 5.8 to 6.2. This can be achieved by adding three parts soil and one part grit (as it will provide plenty of oxygen to the roots).
3. When buying Poinsettia plants online, you need not re-pot them during the winter, as they are comfortable in those pots.
Christmas Plant Care Guide: WATERING
4. Poinsettias prefer less water. So, when you overwater them (in good faith), you are causing waterlogging, which results in root rot. Thus, killing your beautiful Christmas red plant.
5. Make it a daily or weekly habit of inspecting the leaves. If they begin to fall or turn yellow, you need to understand that you aren't watering them correctly.
6. The key to correct watering; is to do it only when the soil is noticeably dry. The frequency can differ based on where you keep the plant. Since the Singapore temperature is more hot and humid, the Christmas red plant can be watered every two or three days.
How to know when to water?
The best way to know when it's the apt time to water; is by lightly and carefully lifting the plant. if it feels light, you water it or else let it be.
7. Avoid giving cold or warm water to the plant. This delicate Christmas plant loves room-temperature water.
8. If you have a mixed range of Poinsettia pots, water the smaller ones more often than the big ones, for the soil dries faster. If there is still water after 10 mins, remove the excess.
For a standard pot of 13cm diameter, a small glass of water (0.2 litres) is ideal. For mini Poinsettias, one shot glass of water is enough.
9. Poinsettia love humid conditions (and Singapore is full of it). So, the leaves must stay misted, especially in a room that has heating.
Christmas Plant Care Guide: TEMPERATURE
10. Since the plant requires light and warmth, it should be positioned in a sheltered spot. While they can be placed next to a radiator, draughty spots; like windows, halls and doorways should be avoided.
11. The ideal temperature for a healthy Poinsettia plant should be between 15 and 22 degrees. While a generous light is substantial for their survival, they should be kept away from direct sunlight during summers.
However, during winters, a south-facing window with sunlight is highly recommended.
Red and White Poinsettias make incredible Christmas gift ideas for people of every age group. So, whether you are gifted one or will give to another, make sure to share this Christmas plant care guide for a healthy Poinsettia.
Gurnika Talwar is FNP’s marketing and creative content writer and has been with the firm since 2020. She is based in Delhi, India and has been in this field for 2+ years.
She started her journey as a freshman but since then has created content on several mediums. With blogging on gift ideas, food, gardening tips and whatnot as her primary goal, she has also curated content for social media and brand films. As a storyteller, she creates original, genuine, and relatable content to connect with the mass. Besides work, you’ll find her chit-chatting about movies or making sarcastic jokes.