How to Select a Poinsettia for the Holidays

Co-authored by Robert Anderson

Last Updated: October 21, 2024

Poinsettias have become the primary plant for Christmas holiday decorations. The classic clear red, large petal-like bracts contrast with the bright green leaves. The initial red and white poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) varieties from the 1950s have given rise to many new varieties that may be pink, creamy white, mauve, burgundy, or with mixed colors. Additionally, new varieties may have dark green leaves.^{[1]
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Steps

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1
Purchase plants from a local garden store. Poinsettias flower naturally from November to January, the Christmas holiday season, in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
- Ideally, select plants that are on display in a greenhouse. The plants thrive when they are managed in a moderately sunny location.
- Most plants, however, will be sold from displays in grocery, hardware, and department stores. If possible, choose plants that have been put on display recently.
- Poinsettias will deteriorate somewhat in the low-light interior of a typical store, especially if they are displayed on the packed shipping carts.
- Plus, the store staff may not keep plants watered as well as they could be.
This may be difficult to determine if the plants are packaged in a plastic plant sleeve.

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3
Select plants that have a normal cluster of flowers on the top of the stem. Additionally, the petal-like bracts should be free of damage.
- The flowers are the small round balls at the top of the stem. They are in the center of the petal-like bracts. The flowers should look normal and all the flowers should be present.
  - The male and female flowers are in these balls. You may see them later as the flowers develop on the plant.
If temperatures are at or below 35°F (2°C), don't leave the plants in a cold vehicle. Additionally, close the sleeve over the top of the plant when you take it outside.
5
Place poinsettias anywhere in your home for holiday decoration. However, the color of the leaves and petal-like, colorful bracts will be best where temperatures are 60-70°F (15-21°C)^{[3]
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- Keep your poinsettia by a sunny window if you plan to grow it as a houseplant after the holidays.
- Do not place your poinsettia in a location where the room temperature may fluctuate; this includes next to fireplaces, fans, and heaters.^{[4]
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6
Add water to your poinsettia regularly. Check to see if it needs more every 4-5 days.
- It’s easiest to simply lift the pot and plant to check its weight. If it feels light, add water; if it feels heavy, don’t add water.^{[5]
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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} If you prefer, stick your finger into the potting soil to determine the moisture level.
- Most people leave the pot cover (foil or plastic) on the pot. It can act as a saucer to collect water. Be sure the plant is dry before adding water in this situation, so plant roots are not damaged.
7
Remove the pot cover, if you wish, and place the plant in a saucer. It is easier to manage watering without a pot cover.
^{[6]
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9
Add fertilizer once in January, February and March if you plan to grow the poinsettia as a houseplant. In April, remove the flowers, the petal-like, colorful bracts and a couple of inches of the top of the stem. As light levels increase, new shoots will develop on the plant, as long as it receives enough light and fertilizer. Fertilize the plant every 2-3 weeks until next September.
- The bracts surround the surprisingly unique "true" flowers of the poinsettia, which develop inside the tiny, yellow, spherical structures at the tops of the stems.^{[7]
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  Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants
  
  Go to source}
- For more information on caring for poinsettias, see these wikiHow articles:

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Tips

Cuttings for the plant are taken 4-5 months before you purchased your Christmas poinsettia. The plants are grown from cuttings each year.

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Warnings

Poinsettias may be poisonous. Keep the plants out of the reach of pets and small children. Like all ornamental plants, poinsettia is not meant to be eaten by humans or animals.

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