With the arrival of the Christmas holidays, our homes are enriched with decorations and the poinsettia is one of the most beloved plants.
This plant has large colored leaves, often red (but also pink or white), which look like flower petals; in reality, the true flowers are small and yellow and are found in the central part.
Since the poinsettia naturally blooms during the winter season, this plant is therefore associated with the Christmas period and used to add a decorative and festive touch.
However, behind its vibrant red leaves lies a crucial care secret: watering.
How to water the poinsettia
To keep the plant in perfect shape during the Christmas season and optimize its growth even afterwards, you need to use the bottom watering technique, which consists of the following steps:
- Fill the saucer or container where the pot with our poinsettia is placed with water;
- Wait 10–15 minutes to allow the roots to absorb all the water the plant needs;
- After this time, remove any excess water to prevent stagnation and root rot.
Since this technique is based on absorbing water from below, the soil surface may appear dry even when the soil is sufficiently moist.
Therefore, to understand if our poinsettia needs watering, we must check its weight; when it feels light, it means it needs water.
The watering frequency is generally every 2 or 3 days, but it may vary depending on the size of the plant and the room temperature.
To grow at its best, the poinsettia should be placed in a location with diffused light and not in direct sunlight, avoiding drafts and sudden temperature changes (to which the plant is very sensitive) to keep it healthy.