Red Poinsettia

Light Needs

Bright Indirect Light to Medium Light

Mature Height

1 - 2 Feet

Mature Spread

1 - 2 Feet

Feature

Low Maintenance

Do you hear holiday bells? It could be a sign that you are in great need of a crimson tropical shrub native to Mexico. This merry house plant, Red Poinsettia, is a common ornamental plant used to decorate holiday halls during Christmas. What many people don’t know, however, is that they should not throw this bright evergreen out with the wrapping paper after the Christmas gifts are opened, but instead maintain it. With proper care, this new plant can bring bright joy every holiday season, year after year.

Best Locations For Growing Red Poinsettia

This striking tropical shrub will grow in any room that has at least six hours of bright, indirect light, 50% to 75% humidity, and temperatures between 65° to 75°. Due to this evergreen’s love of moderate to high humidity, avoid placing it near any types of heating devices, including fireplaces.

Red Poinsettia Sunlight Requirements

To do well, Red Poinsettia needs a minimum of six hours of bright, indirect light. Position it a few feet away from south-facing and east-facing windows.

Red Poinsettia is a unique tropical shrub. Its legendary crimson-colored bracts, often mistaken for the plant’s flowers, are directly affected by the amount of light the plant receives. The more bright light the plant receives, the brighter the color of the bracts.

Red Poinsettia Care

Alternating the amounts of light and darkness this evergreen receives during the fall months will enable this house plant to reproduce its crimson-colored bracts during the holidays.

Dead leaves should be trimmed in order to promote growth and prevent disease. Pruning, however, is not required frequently unless your goal is to grow a bigger plant. You can do this by simply pinching the plant throughout the growing season.

Red Poinsettia prefers soil that is loamy, acidic, and well-draining. A good houseplant potting soil amended with peat moss and perlite should suit your new plant companion. Start your Red Poinsettia out with an 8-inch or 9-inch pot.

With respect to repotting this showy shrub, cut it back to approximately four inches in early spring and then transfer it to a pot that is two to four inches bigger than the old pot. Red Poinsettia is susceptible to root rot, so this is a good time to also check the soil and change it if necessary.  

Watering Red Poinsettia

Red Poinsettia is susceptible to root rot, so avoid overwatering. Conducting a moisture check prior to watering will help you prolong the life of your new flamboyant friend. Simply insert your finger one to two inches beneath the soil. If the soil is dry, then water. If not, wait a day or two to conduct another moisture check.

Feeding Red Poinsettia

Except during the blooming season, this evergreen requires monthly feeding with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength.

SKU:

Poinsettia_Red-HP