I saw my first poinsettias in their native environment while on my honeymoon in Mexico. It was in January, 1979, and on the lavishly landscaped grounds of our swanky cliffside hotel (paid for by my mother-in-law) was a mass planting of brilliant red poinsettias shrubs that were easily twice my height. The effect was stunning.

In the home, poinsettias obviously won’t grow to 12’, but they can be equally stunning, adding not only a powerful pop of color but also creating a cool holiday vibe. And caring for them so that they’ll last at least six to eight weeks is easy if you follow these guidelines.

Try to buy your poinsettias on a day when temperatures are well above freezing, and make sure they’re wrapped regardless of the temp. Exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can permanently damage the plants. And don’t leave your plants in the car while you do more shopping. Depending on the weather, it may be too cold – or perhaps even too hot on a sunny day – inside your car.

Once home, carefully unwrap your poinsettias and place them in an area that gets roughly six to eight hours of bright but indirect light a day. Most often, that’s an eastern or southern exposure. Keep the plants away from warm or cold drafts from air registers or open doors or windows.
Thankfully, poinsettias are happy with the same daytime temperatures people are – 60 to 75 degrees during the day, and a bit cooler at night. Temps above 75 degrees will shorten the plant’s lifespan.

Poinsettias are grown in a moisture-retentive mix so you may not need to water them as often as other houseplants. Nevertheless, you should check the soil daily, and water to maintain even soil moisture. If your plants are wrapped in foil, punch holes in the foil so water can drain into a saucer. Discard excess water in the saucer shortly after watering. Keep in mind that soggy soil will lead to root rot, and dry soil will lead to wilting from which the plant may not recover.

It’s all in, folks! So rearrange the furniture, clear off the mantle, and come shop our super selection of trees, wreaths, and roping. We’ve got truckloads of sheared trees (and unsheared trees in limited quantities), including Douglas, Fraser, and Noble firs, as well as hypoallergenic Nordmann firs. And our wreath offerings include a range of sizes from 18” to a whopping 60” across!

In addition to poinsettias, there are plenty of other indoor plants you can use to brighten the holidays, or give as gifts to friends and family. Consider flowering beauties such as Anthuriums, Christmas cactus, Cyclamen, and orchids, just to name a few. Or opt for those with colorful variegated foliage such as Aglaonemas, Draceana, and Sansevieria.

These little “trees” are cute as can be, and they make great party gifts. Give them lots of light and humidity (spritz them often) and water just as the soil begins to dry out. No need to fertilize. And yes, you can use cuttings to flavor holiday dishes.