This Week, on Plant Tip Tuesday...

Love them or hate them, the season for Poinsettia is now!

Ironically, these plants are native to Mexico and are extremely cold sensitive, growing optimally in temperatures between 18-23 degrees! But their bold colours are much appreciated during the winter, so poinsettia are traditionally available around Christmas. You bet this means they need to be wrapped well for transportation in the elements, and kept away from drafts!

This seasonal favourite produces many small delicate flowers surrounded by colourful bracts. Poinsettia grow best in bright filtered light, and will quickly suffer in direct sunlight or low light locations.

Watering technique is crucial for success with these plants. They will wither quickly if they go too dry, but don’t appreciate being saturated or sitting in water either. Small consistent waterings, potentially every couple of days, is key!

Caution should be taken when handling poinsettia, especially around pets and children, as they have a milky sap that can be irritating to the skin.

Although they are often considered a temporary seasonal plant, poinsettia can be maintained as houseplants with the correct care. They can even be encouraged to rebloom through a process called photoperiodism, where exposure to daylight and darkness are tightly controlled.

If you'd like to know more about getting your poinsettia to rebloom, check out our article on the blog!

Happy Holidays!