The most well-known Christmas poinsettia is red, but specialist poinsettia breeders have worked hard over the past few decades to create over 150 different varieties, including beautiful pinks, oranges, creams, and whites. In fact, poinsettias in warm shades like apricot, pink, rose, and salmon delight homes as early as October.
With their star-shaped bracts, poinsettias are known as Christmas stars in many other languages, including Stella di Natale in Italian and Weihnachtsstern in German. Perhaps unsurprisingly, red poinsettias are the most popular, followed by white and cream varieties. Next come bicolor and speckled cultivars, as well as pink poinsettias.
Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not difficult to care for. Here are some tips and best practices to keep your poinsettia in perfect condition during the Christmas season and beyond.
Watering a Poinsettia.
Poinsettia Christmas roses don't like a lot of water. Always remember that the plant's root ball should neither dry out nor become soggy. Overwatering can quickly lead to waterlogging, which in turn causes root rot and leaves you with a dead plant. You should get into the habit of inspecting its leaves. If they turn yellow or fall off, you're probably not watering it properly. As with orchids, many rose enthusiasts mean well but overwater poinsettias when they only need a little.
You should also water your poinsettia when the soil feels noticeably dry. This could be daily for a plant near a radiator in a dry room, or only every two or three days in other locations. How to check? Gently lift your poinsettia; if it feels light, it's time to water. Mini poinsettias should be checked daily. You can also water these red poinsettias by dipping them from below, which saturates the soil more than normal watering (one soaking per week should be sufficient).
Poinsettias prefer room temperature water, and smaller pots should be watered more often than larger ones because they dry out more quickly. For a standard 13cm diameter pot, give it no more than a small glass of water, or about 0.2 liters, to prevent the large pores in the soil from clogging and becoming waterlogged. Mini poinsettias should not receive more than a glass of water. Remove any excess water remaining in the pot after 10 minutes.
When in doubt, it's best to keep poinsettias a little drier and water them little and often, rather than rarely but heavily. Poinsettias are particularly durable when fertilized once a week, starting about four weeks after purchase, using a commercial liquid rose houseplant fertilizer, according to the dosage indicated on the package.
Getting the temperature right
Poinsettia Christmas roses need warmth and light. You can keep them near a radiator, but they must be away from drafts: that is, NO fireplaces, open doors, open windows, or windy hallways. If there are too many drafts, this Christmas rose may start to lose its leaves. Try to place the poinsettia in a sheltered spot.
A temperature between 15 and 22 degrees is ideal, making these poinsettias well suited to bedrooms and living rooms. Adequate light is important for the red Christmas rose to grow and thrive, and during the winter months, a south-facing window is ideal.
What to do with our roses after Christmas?
To ensure it survives until next year, you will need to prune the Poinsettia in April, down to about 10 cm, and keep it at a temperature of 13°C. Replant in May and grow it in a cool, bright spot during the summer, ideally at a temperature of 15-18°C.
When November arrives, it's time to start forcing your Christmas rose. It will need 12 hours of bright light, followed by 12 hours of complete darkness to adapt it to the shorter days of winter, which will encourage the roses to thrive.
Bonus: Poinsettia Decorating Ideas
While Christmas Poinsettia roses make a beautiful standalone item, there are many other festive uses for them. They can be used as garlands on staircases and around banisters, or add a traditional touch of class to the Christmas tree with a few Belgian Poinsettia roses nestled in the branches. They also make eye-catching wreaths and make a stunning centerpiece for Christmas dinner.
