Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima · Euphorbiaceae
📷 Carlos Valenzuela · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant poinsettia: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Common name
- Poinsettia or Christmas Star
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Form
- Shrub
- Foliage
- Deciduous (leaf drop at end of cycle)
- Flowering
- December to February
- Adult size
- 0.3 to 1 m in indoor cultivation
- Origin
- Mexico
- Hardiness
- Tropical plant, minimum 12-15 °C
Expert tips
The key tip
Arrose uniquement quand le substrat est sec au doigt, une à deux fois par semaine selon la température. Le poinsettia meurt d'excès d'eau bien plus souvent que de sécheresse : le drainage doit être parfait. Après la floraison, réduis drastiquement l'arrosage et place la plante au frais (15°C si possible) pour reconstituer ses forces.
The common mistake
La majorité des jardiniers noient leur poinsettia à Noël en l'arrosant tous les jours. Le terreau reste gorgé d'eau, les racines pourrissent, et les feuilles jaunes chutent en quelques semaines.
The pro's trick
Pour forcer une refloraison l'année suivante, impose-lui 12 à 14 heures de nuit totale continue pendant 8 semaines (septembre-octobre) en la plaçant dans un placard ou une pièce noire. Dès qu'une seule heure de lumière s'intercale, ça remet tout à zéro. C'est contraignant mais ça marche vraiment.
Seasonal watch
En hiver, éloigne-la des courants d'air froid et des radiateurs (chaud/sec = perte de feuilles garantie). Une température stable autour de 18-20°C est idéale. Au printemps, c'est le moment critique : sans repos au frais et sans raccourcissement des tiges, tu repartiras sur une plante molle et ne fleurira pas.
Care
Watering
Water regularly when the soil surface begins to dry, never allowing standing water. During flowering, keep the soil slightly moist but never waterlogged. Gradually reduce watering after the holidays to prepare the plant for winter dormancy.
Light exposure
Place it in a very bright location, near a window with indirect light. Avoid cold drafts and direct heat sources that would cause leaf drop. A stable temperature between 18 and 22 °C is ideal during flowering.
Pruning and pinching
After flowering (February-March), cut the stems back by a third to encourage branching. Pinch back young shoots in spring to obtain a more compact and bushy shape. This operation will encourage better flowering the following year.
Fertilization
Apply a balanced fertilizer every two weeks during active growth (April to October). Reduce fertilization in winter and stop it during dormancy. Follow recommended dosages to avoid salt buildup.
Substrate
Use rich, light, and well-draining potting soil. A standard mixture of horticultural soil with a little perlite works perfectly. Make sure the pot has drainage holes to prevent root suffocation.
Diseases and pests
Watch for whiteflies and spider mites, particularly in heated indoor spaces. If infestation occurs, increase humidity by misting regularly. Root rot can develop from excessive watering; ensure water drains well.
Did you know?
The poinsettia was revered by the Aztecs who called it "cuetlaxochitl" and used it to make dyes. Popularized as a Christmas symbol in the United States in the nineteenth century, this plant owes its striking red color to its bracts (modified leaves) rather than its true flowers, which are tiny and yellow at the center.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Wood spurgeEuphorbia amygdaloides
- Caper spurgeEuphorbia lathyris
- Albanian spurgeEuphorbia characias
- Spiny spurgeEuphorbia spinosa
- Garden crotonCodiaeum variegatum
- Griffith's spurgeEuphorbia griffithii
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.