How often do you water a poinsettia plant indoors? Christmas isn’t the same without the elegant poinsettia plant decking our halls. It is The plant for the festive season.
It’s also known as the Christmas Rose or Star of Christmas because of its distinctive red leaves known as bracts. You can find Poinsettia plants with bracts in shades of pink and yellow too.
If you learn to take care of it, this little shrub doesn’t only have to be for the holidays.
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How Often Do You Water A Poinsettia Plant Indoors?
Water a Poinsettia indoors once a week. A basic test to see if your plant needs watering is by feeling the soil. When the top 1-inch (2.5cm) of soil is dry to the touch, water it. If the soil is still moist, you shouldn’t water it.
Poinsettia Care Tips – How Do I Know If My Poinsettia Needs Water
Poinsettias are tropical plants, which means that they like plenty of water and humidity. This said, too much water can be a bad thing for them. I water my poinsettia every 7-10 days.
If poinsettias are overwatered, this will cause a lack of oxygen in the soil. Thus, this will prevent your plant won’t be able to absorb vital nutrients.
Damp conditions from overwatering also provide the perfect environment for root rot. This is a deadly fungal disease that invades your plant via its roots.
If your poinsettia doesn’t get enough water, on the other hand, it will become sad and wilted. And as well as being dehydrated, your plant won’t be able to absorb nutrients from dry soil either.
If your plant has wilted leaves, it is a common sign that it’s being underwatered. But you should also be aware that wilted leaves can be caused by overwatering too.
If your poinsettia plant is wilting, check the soil with your finger first before giving it water.
If the soil is dry, your plant is underwatered, and you should give it plenty of water immediately.
If the soil is wet and your plant is wilting, then chances are it’s being overwatered. In this case, you should leave your plant to dry a bit before watering it again.
Remember that Christmas stars die more often from overwatering than underwatering. When you spot a premature loss of leaves, you need to rethink your care.
As well as feeling the soil to see how wet it is, you can feel the weight of the pot too.
If the pot is very light, then the soil is dry, and your Poinsettia needs water. If the pot is heavy, then this means that there’s plenty of moisture in the soil.
This is an excellent technique to gauge the moisture levels of the whole pot.
Sometimes the top level of soil might be dry while the lower level remains damp. In this case, you can give your Christmas star light watering.
Giving your poinsettia the right amount of water is vital to its well-being. This is why you must get your watering levels just right.
Ultimately, the number of times you need to water your Poinsettia each week will depend on its environment.
How to Keep A Poinsettia Happy
The best way to find out how much water your poinsettia needs is to check it daily.
These needs will change depending on the season and your plant’s living conditions.
A plant living in heated conditions will need more water than one that’s living in a cooler place, for example.
The same can be said for the seasons. Generally, poinsettias need more water in the summer and less in the winter.
Keep your Christmas rose away from radiators, as they will dry out the plant too quickly. Also, please keep it away from cold and drafty windows. These two are some of the essential poinsettia care tips.
The size of the plant and its pot will also determine how often it needs water. Plants with smaller pots will generally need more watering than larger ones.
As well as pot size, your growing medium is also something to consider.
Poinsettia is a tropical plant, according to the University of Minnesota, so it likes thin soil with good drainage. If your plant is in a heavier growing medium, it will need watering less frequently.
How To Water Poinsettias
When it comes to watering your plant then, ensure it has adequate drainage.
Poinsettia plants are often sold with foil decoration. This can block the drainage holes, so ideally, you should take this off or cut holes in it.
When you give your plant water, put it in a sink and water it from the top. You must water it gently. Poinsettia like to be moist, but not to the point where they’re drenched!
You’ll know that it’s had enough when the water starts to drip out of the drainage holes on your pot.
Once it’s watered, leave your plant sitting in the sink until all the water has dripped out. And for its final dry, you can leave it standing on a plate.
With the correct watering, you can keep your Poinsettia flourishing long after Christmas.
Frequently Asked Questions about How to Water A Poinsettia
How often should I water my Poinsettia?
This all depends on your plant and its environment. Monitor the soil’s moisture daily to learn how much water your plant needs. Your plant will usually need more water in the summer and less in the winter.
How can I tell if my Poinsettia needs water?
If the soil in the pot is dry or your plant’s leaves are wilting, these are signs that it needs watering. But be careful; wilted leaves are also a sign of overwatering. If the soil is wet, your plant doesn’t need more water.
What’s the best way to water a Poinsettia?
The best way to water your Poinsettia is in the sink, watering from the top. You should never leave your Poinsettia sitting in a tray of water.
Conclusion To How Often Do You Water A Poinsettia Plant Indoors
Poinsettias indoors need to be watered every seven days on average. Test with your index finger before watering.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.