How to Prune a Poinsettia

Co-authored by Andi Xoch

Last Updated: May 31, 2024 References

The distinctive red and green foliage of poinsettias can be seen all over during the Christmas holiday season, but these beautiful plants are often forgotten for the rest of the year. If you have a poinsettia that you want to keep healthy when the holidays are over, you will need to trim it back and regulate water, soil, and temperature conditions. By doing so, you will have attractive poinsettias made all the more so because you kept them growing yourself!

Trimming a Poinsettia

Remove dead, dying, and discolored leaves with clean cutting shears in February or March, or after the poinsettia blooms. To shape your poinsettia, trim the stems so they’re 6 in (15 cm) long. Prune your poinsettia as needed until November, which is when it starts blooming.

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Trimming the Plant after Blooming

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1
Wear gloves to keep from coming in contact with skin-irritating sap. When cut, poinsettias leak a milky white sap that, though not poisonous, can cause some irritation, especially for people with latex allergies.^{[1]
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- If you get sap on you, quickly rinsing it off with water and soap should be enough to prevent irritation.
- The sap can also damage the plant itself if left on the stems or leaves for too long. If some sap leaks onto the poinsettia plant, wipe it off with a damp rag.
2
Cut off the dead foliage using clean gardening shears in February or March. Trim discolored, dry, or limp leaves by making 45-degree cuts on the stem just below the leaf. Do not cut off foliage that appears green and vibrant. Some petals and leaves may fall off naturally, and you can discard them however you choose to.^{[2]
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- Using clean shears keeps bacteria from getting into the plant, so you may have to disinfect your shears before making any cuts.
- Never prune more than 30% of the plant.^{[3]
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  Andi Xoch
  Plant Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.}
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3
Trim the stems so that they are approximately 6 inches (15 cm) long. Poinsettias naturally grow to be a large shrub. To keep them at a compact size during the year, you will have to cut the stems to a shorter length. Once you have cut off the dead leaves that block them, you can cut off the stems more easily to this length.^{[4]
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- If you want larger poinsettias during the holiday season, you can leave the stems a bit longer so that they end approximately 8 inches (20 cm) from the rim of the container they are in.
- The cut stems can be used to propagate new plants. Do this by dipping the stem in a rooting hormone and then planting this into a pot with soil.
4
Prune often throughout the year to keep the poinsettias at this size. Check on your poinsettia once a month. If it has grown since the last check, trim the stems back down to 6 inches (15 cm) or to your desired size, leaving 3 or 4 new leaves on the stems. Your poinsettia plant should have a rounded shape, with dense and compact growth. Pinch small shoots off in order to encourage bushiness.^{[5]
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- Pinched shoots can be used for propagation.
- Remember to not prune excessively, as the leaves are required for photosynthesis and that's when the plants get their food and then grow.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Andi Xoch
  Plant Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 4 August 2021.}
Shorter days during the end of fall and the beginning of winter cause poinsettias to begin flowering and changing color.^{[7]
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Royal Horticultural Society
Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants

Go to source} For big red foliage, you should stop trimming the plants to allow for maximum growth during this time.

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Maintaining a Good Environment for Reblooming

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Water the plant regularly and ensure proper drainage. Poinsettias, like all plants, need water to grow, but they can be very sensitive to overwatering. Water the plant when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch.^{[8]
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Royal Horticultural Society
Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants

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- If you bought your plant in winter, it is likely to be in a pot wrapped in foil. Take the pot out of the foil in order to allow for drainage.
The plant should receive a good amount of light, but should not be placed directly in the sun. Avoid drafty locations where temperatures may fluctuate during the day and night.
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Place the plants in complete darkness for 13 hours a day beginning in mid-September. For those characteristic bright red leaves, poinsettias need approximately 13 hours of absolute darkness per day for 8-10 weeks. Place them in a closet, under a box, or inside a cover, making sure that absolutely no light can get through.^{[9]
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- Setting a daily alarm is the best way to remind yourself when to do this and keep you on track for beautiful plants during the holiday season.
- During the other hours of the day, the plant should receive normal lighting conditions.

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Tips

Growing poinsettias is a yearlong process that requires keeping to a pretty rigid schedule. Make sure you’re prepared to stick to it for the whole year.

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Warnings

Keep the poinsettia away from pets. Ingesting the leaves and sap can lead to vomiting and diarrhea in many animals.^{[10]
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