The poinsettia is a flowering perennial plant, which blooms in autumn and winter. This indoor plant is ideal for decorating the house during the Christmas season. In addition, they nickname her Christmas star. Its flowering offers a palette of varied colors such as red, orange or yellow. To maintain your poinsettia and make it last until Christmas, it is important to control its watering. That being said, find out how to properly water your Christmas star.

How to properly water the poinsettia?

Poinsettia is a houseplant with decorative foliage. Contrary to popular belief,  it is not the poinsettia flowers that have color , but rather their bracts. The latter are central leaves  that surround small, barely visible,  yellow flowers. To take care of your plant and make it last until Christmas, good maintenance is essential. To do this, it is important  to control the watering of this decorative plant.

The poinsettia needs regular and moderate watering. Don’t let your plant’s soil dry out  and avoid overwatering. Wait until the soil is dry between two waterings. Too much water could cause the poinsettia leaves to fall off. Also avoid keeping standing water in the saucer or planter. To promote drainage, place clay pebbles in the bottom of the pot. Also, when watering your plants,  avoid wetting the foliage  and use room temperature water.

You can water your poinsettia in the classic way, or by soaking it. In fact, it is possible  to moisten the substrate gradually  using a small watering can. Then empty the cup  to prevent the roots from rotting. You can also soak your plant. To do this, remember to fill your sink or a bucket  with room temperature water,  then submerge the pot,  up to the plant neck. Note that in botany, the collar refers to the intermediate part between the roots and the stem. When bubbles stop forming on the surface of the potting soil, remove the plant from the bucket or sink  and let it drain to avoid standing moisture.

What are some other tips for proper poinsettia care?

The poinsettia loves light. It is best to keep your plant in an exposed room,  avoiding direct sunlight. Also keep your poinsettia away from drafts and prefer a temperature between 15 and 22 °C.

Outside the flowering period, fertilize the plant  with liquid fertilizer for flowering plants, once a month.

After flowering, it is advisable to transplant the poinsettia into a new, larger pot  to  promote its growth.  You can use potting soil for houseplants or make your own potting soil by mixing equal parts garden soil, sand, and compost. Since poinsettia enters a period of vegetative rest after flowering,  it is advisable to reduce watering; one or two waterings a month are enough.

Another important part of caring for poinsettia is  protecting it from pests that attack it. In fact, the Christmas star is subject to attacks by whiteflies that suck its sap and weaken it. To avoid this, consider sprinkling nettle manure on the foliage. Poinsettia can also be invaded by aphids that deform the cocoons, or red spiders that deform its foliage. To prevent attacks by these spiders invisible to the naked eye, it is recommended  regularly spray the foliage of the poinsettia.

By controlling the watering of your poinsettia, you will keep your plant in good condition and make it last a long time, to decorate your home with its bright colors during the Christmas season.