Christmas Poinsettia Care: How to Keep Yours Alive
Three things will kill your poinsettia: overwatering, cold drafts, and too little light. Avoid those, and you'll have a healthy plant well into spring.
Here's the short version: Water when the top inch of soil is dry (stick your finger in to check). Keep it in a room that stays 65-75°F. Give it 6 hours of bright, indirect light. That's it.
Most poinsettias die because people treat them like typical houseplants. They're not. They're tropical plants from Mexico that hate wet feet and cold air. Once you understand that, everything else makes sense.
The 3 Things That Kill Poinsettias
I've talked to dozens of florists about why people's poinsettias die. It's almost always one of these:
1. Overwatering
This is the #1 killer. People water on a schedule instead of checking the soil. Poinsettias sit in soggy soil, the roots rot, the leaves turn yellow and drop. Only water when the top inch of soil is dry. In most homes, that's once every 5-7 days.
2. Cold Drafts
Poinsettias can't handle temperatures below 50°F. Even a few minutes of cold air (from an open door, a drafty window, or an unheated car ride home) can cause the leaves to drop within days. Keep them away from exterior doors and cold windows.
3. Too Little Light
That dark corner of your living room? Bad choice. Poinsettias need at least 6 hours of bright light daily. Not direct sunlight (that can scorch them), but bright indirect light. A south or west-facing window is ideal.
Watering: The #1 Mistake Everyone Makes
People either drown their poinsettias or forget they exist. Here's the actual method that works:
- 1Stick your finger 1 inch into the soil. If it's dry, water. If it's still moist, wait.
- 2Water thoroughly until it drains out the bottom. Don't just give it a little sip.
- 3Empty the saucer after 30 minutes. Never let it sit in standing water.
For most homes, this works out to watering once a week. But check the soil - don't just follow a calendar.
One more thing: if your poinsettia came wrapped in decorative foil, either poke drainage holes in it or remove it entirely. That foil traps water at the bottom and causes root rot. I've seen more poinsettias die from this than almost anything else.
Light and Temperature: Where to Actually Put It
The best spot is near a bright window where it won't get direct afternoon sun or cold drafts. Here's what to aim for:
✓ Good Spots
- • South or west-facing window
- • Living room away from front door
- • Kitchen (if not near stove/drafts)
- • Any room that stays 65-75°F
✗ Bad Spots
- • Near exterior doors
- • Drafty windows
- • Near heating vents
- • Cold rooms (below 60°F at night)
Should You Even Try to Keep It After Christmas?
Honest answer: probably not, unless you're really into it.
Getting a poinsettia to bloom again next year requires a very specific light schedule for 8-10 weeks in the fall (14 hours of complete darkness per day). It's a lot of work, and most people either forget or don't have a space dark enough.
That said, if you just want to keep it alive as a green plant, that's totally doable. After the red leaves (technically "bracts") fade in late winter, cut the stems back to about 6 inches, keep watering and feeding it, and it'll grow new foliage. Just don't expect red leaves again without the darkness treatment.
Quick Troubleshooting
Yellow leaves dropping?
Usually overwatering. Let the soil dry out before watering again.
Green leaves wilting?
Underwatering. Give it a good soak and it should perk up within a day.
Leaves curling or looking crispy?
Too dry (humidity or underwatering) or too much direct sun.
Sudden leaf drop without yellowing?
Cold shock. It got exposed to temps below 50°F somewhere along the way.
That's really all there is to poinsettia care. Check the soil before watering, keep it warm and bright, and ditch the decorative foil. Do those three things and yours should last well past the holidays.
Daniel
Founder, Local Flower
Daniel started Local Flower to help people find great local florists and learn how to take better care of their plants and arrangements. He's killed his fair share of poinsettias and learned from every one.