7 Poinsettia Care Mistakes: Experts Explain Why Poinsettias Die

Poinsettias are such a cheery symbol of the holiday season. However, all too often these festive houseplants don’t outlast Christmas and are thrown away once the colorful bracts have faded.

Good poinsettia care is key to their survival, but the plants have specific needs that must be met to ensure they thrive.

Avoid these common poinsettia care mistakes, and your plant will live on to see another Christmas.

Poinsettias are very sensitive to cold drafts, so don’t buy one from an outside stall, and don’t leave it outside when you get home – not even in a sheltered porch.

‘You should also do your best to get your new poinsettia home from the store quickly, as they really don’t like being exposed to the cold for any length of time,’ says Naomi Robinson, founder of Houseplant Authority.

‘Otherwise, you may see it start to lose leaves a few days after it gets home.’

If you have left your poinsettia outside or in the car for too long, then trim off any damaged leaves, and position it in a warm, draft-free spot. Leaves may fall off, but with proper care the plant may still survive.

Poinsettias are often sold with their pots wrapped in attractive patterned sleeves. However, Jim Faust, Ph.D., associate professor of floriculture physiology at Clemson University, warns that this could harm the plant by letting it sit in too much water:

‘Do not leave the plant in the plastic sleeve – remove it straight away upon arriving home, and place the pot on a saucer to capture any water that may spill out the bottom when you water it.’

If saving the poinsettia to give it as a gift, punch a hole in the bottom of the plastic and use a saucer that should be emptied after watering.

Mexico natives, poinsettias like the warmth – but struggle when it’s too