Holiday homes often find themselves full of beautiful red leaves; what are they? Poinsettias! But you may find yourself asking how often to water Poinsettia plants. Don’t let your holiday beauties wither and die: that’s not the Christmas spirit! Here is your Poinsettia watering guide.
How Much Water Do Poinsettias Need?
Poinsettias like infrequent but thorough watering. You should give it water until it begins to drain. Let the excess water flow through until the pot stops dripping, and then return it to its cherished spot.
How Often to Water Poinsettia Indoors & Outside
Poinsettia water requirements are typically quite easy to fulfill. To water Poinsettias indoors, try to keep a schedule of one watering every 7-10 days, depending on indoor humidity.
Keep in mind, however, that outdoor Poinsettias can be trickier in care. To know how often to water a Poinsettia, take a look at its soil: it’s usually your best guess that is your best friend! If the dirt is dry to the touch, let your greenie have a nice drink.
Keep a watchful eye on them in dry climates, but always avoid overwatering at all costs. Your greenie will not appreciate soggy soil and might even decay beyond saving!
How to Water a Poinsettia Plant
There are as many different ways to water Poinsettias as there are ways to arrange them in a home, but here are our two favorites.
- Watering Poinsettias with Water
Poinsettias enjoy a good thorough soak. Pour water into your Poinsettia pot until it begins to drain. Wait until the pot stops draining, and put it back.
- Watering Poinsettias with Ice Cubes
Ice cube Poinsettia watering can be a great way to keep your plant’s leaves humid and brilliant! The rule of thumb is one ice cube per inch (2.5 cm) of a pot diameter. A 6-inch (15 cm) pot is 6 ice cubes!
So, which one did you pick?
Other Tips for Watering a Poinsettia
Poinsettias are beautiful plants, and they deserve your full attention! Here are some things to look out for:
- Don't let water stand in a Poinsettia's saucer! Poinsettia watering means giving these plants what they want, and unlike other potted plants, they don't like standing water!
- Beware the decorative foil! If your Poinsettia came in festive wrapping, remember to take it off or poke some holes in the bottom. Otherwise, you'll have an overwatered Poinsettia!
- Adjust your plants to their environment. Different indoor environments can have different heat and humidity levels. You may have to alter your watering schedule if you put it in a dry or humid home!
Signs of Underwatered & Overwatered Poinsettia
Want to know if you’re looking at an overwatered Poinsettia? Here are the symptoms:
- Overwatered Poinsettia plants will have yellowing leaves that drop off the lower parts of the plant. If they start wilting as a whole, you may have root rot, which is caused by overwatering!
- Underwatered Poinsettia looks a little different, so be alert and learn to differ! Leaves that are dried, curled, or wilting on any part of the plant, not just the bottom, are signs of an underwatered plant.
Now you know the signs, so beware of them in the future. Better safe than sorry!
How to Save an Overwatered Poinsettia?
Oops… Have you overwatered your greenie? Is it drooping, curling, yellowing? Overall, looking a bit upset? It's time to save the day and alleviate all that moisture. If the soil feels wet, set the container in the sink to let the moisture out, or repot with some dry mixture to redistribute the moisture.
In case your Poinsettia has root rot, however, there may be no saving your plant, so you have to study the plant's overall condition before you even decide to repot it. Sometimes, it might not be worth the trouble! However, if you do decide on repotting, make sure you clean the roots and provide fresh soil that your plant will thrive in. A mix with perlite and peat moss with a slightly acidic composition will do your greenie a lot of good!
FAQ
Do We Need to Water Poinsettias from the Top or the Bottom?
Poinsettias enjoy their soil being moist all the way through when they’re watered, so when watering a Poinsettia pour from the top!
Do We Need to Water Poinsettias when They Are in the Dark?
When a Poinsettia- or any plant- is kept in the dark, the plant will respire less and have less need for moisture. Consider lowering their watering frequency a little — but not too much!
Why Are the Leaves Falling off My Poinsettia?
The most common causes are under or overwatering. It could also, however, be overfertilization, which shows yellowing and loss of leaves at the base of the plant.
How Do You Keep Poinsettias Alive Indoors?
Ensuring an attentive water schedule, comfortable temperatures, and desirable exposure to light are all good places to start — and we are happy to help! PlantIn app has many features to help plant parents keep their green babies happy and healthy, like sunlight and water meters. Download PlantIn today!
