Poinsettias are not the hardiest plants, but with careful care, they can survive for several weeks or even months. Though it might make your heart beat like a jackhammer to witness Poinsettia Leaves Falling Off. Is there anything you can do to prevent your Christmas Star from meeting an early demise and why is this happening?
Poinsettias typically lose their leaves when they are under physiological stress. That occurs frequently as a result of exposure to abrupt temperature changes, chilly drafts, or an overly dry environment. Due to excessive drought, overwatering, disease, and pest infestation, the plant will also lose leaves (and occasionally bracts).
Half the battle is won by identifying what’s disturbing and causing your poinsettia’s leaves to fall off. I’ll outline typical issues that your plant might be experiencing along with solutions for each one.
How Long Do Poinsettias Last?
There is frequent discussion around the poinsettia’s longevity. The fact that these lovely tropical plants have practically come to represent the Christmas holiday season is one of the reasons. In fact, they are frequently regarded as one of the most popular holiday house plants both in the US and internationally. But it’s not difficult to comprehend why poinsettias are so well-liked. Their lovely bracts are the charm that stands out the most. They are a vibrant bloom of altered foliage that are frequently mistaken for flowers.
Additionally, poinsettias can be found in a range of gorgeous colors and gift-worthy sizes. They are most likely familiar to you in their stunning pinks, brilliant reds, or glorious whites. The majority of poinsettias purchased over the holiday season will live for four to six weeks before starting to lose their leaves.
This is typically a natural process that your plant uses to go into dormancy. Most people throw away a poinsettia at this point because they believe it is beyond saving.
The bracts typically fall off last. Poinsettias, contrary to popular assumption, may survive for much longer than a few weeks or months.
They can survive for many months with the right maintenance. You wouldn’t believe it, but with careful maintenance, you can keep your poinsettias alive, growing, and blooming for years.
What Are the Causes of Poinsettia Leaves Falling Off?
1. You Have Let the Soil Become Too Dry
Your poinsettia will certainly lose foliage and begin to droop if it is severely underwatered. The first casualties are the leaves and bracts of flowers. They will start to wilt and get a little limp before passing away.
It should be rather clear that your poinsettia needs a lot of water if the soil feels bone dry to the touch. Before you bring your poinsettia home from the store or nursery, make sure the soil is evenly moist and that it is healthy, if there is one thing I’ve learnt the hard way.
2. Overwatering
If your poinsettia is significantly underwatered, it will undoubtedly lose foliage and start to droop. The leaves and bracts of flowers are the first to perish. Before dying, they will begin to wilt and become a little limp.
If the soil feels completely dry to the touch, it should be very obvious that your poinsettia needs a lot of water. If there is one thing I’ve learned the hard way, make sure the soil is evenly moist when you bring your poinsettia home from the store or nursery.
3. Sudden Temperature Changes and Extreme Cold
Although it may seem counterintuitive for a houseplant that elegantly blooms throughout the long, dark winter evenings, cold is the poinsettia’s worst enemy. Your plant can suffer damage from even a five-minute exposure to cold breezes, frost, or low temperatures below 50°F (10°C).
The same holds true for exposure to warm drafts, bright sunlight, and abrupt temperature changes. Your poinsettia won’t be at all joyful and will start to feel upset. It will consequently express its annoyance by dropping both bracts and leaves.
The first leaves to fall are those that are lower and older. The leaf drop will move up if the temperature stress persists. Your poinsettia will surprise you by being almost completely bare, with only a few pairs of foliage and colorful bracts remaining on top.
4. Insufficient Light
Poinsettias enjoy soaking up direct or filtered natural sunshine. While direct sunlight is bad for poinsettias, insufficient light can cause the leaves to droop and turn yellow. Sadly, because poinsettias can take up to two months to react poorly to low light, this might not be detected for very long.
5. Low Humidity
Poinsettias are indigenous to tropical areas and do well in humid environments. In extremely low humidity, leaves can curl up and begin to fall off even though they can tolerate some dryness (anything below 30%). The leaves’ tips and edges may also become brown.
What Room Temperature Is Right For My Poinsettia?
Are you planning to grow your poinsettia indoors? Are you worried that your home might not be at the right temperature for it?
Set the thermostat to between 600 and 700°F. Outside of this range, the plant may experience shorter flowering times and a shorter lifespan.
Place your poinsettia plant away from drafty windows, main entrances, and heating vents to minimize the chance of hot or cold drafts. Such drafts can result in moisture loss, leaf damage, and leaf fall.
To avoid exposure to cold weather during the travel home, you’ll notice that the plants are covered, sleeved, or otherwise packaged at the moment of purchase. However, once inside, plants should be immediately unwrapped to avoid trapping gases the plant naturally produces, which quickens aging.
When Should I Water My Poinsettia?
Are you worried that you might be overwatering your poinsettia? Would you like to know when you can water your poinsettia?
When the top layer of soil seems dry to the touch, water your poinsettia plant only then. Make sure the soil is completely moist to the point where water is dripping from the bottom of the growing container. Any extra water that accumulates in the saucer or the attractive foil pot cover should be discarded. Poinsettias will experience root rot and eventually die if let to stand in too much water.
Learn how to water poinsettias with ice cubes as one useful tip! By using this method, the ice cube watered the plant gradually and uniformly as it melted. A normal 6″ pot would require six ice cubes if the recommended rate of one ice cube per inch of pot diameter were followed. Practice proper houseplant watering habits to avoid overwatering, which is the enemy of most indoor plants over the winter.
How Long Will My Poinsettia Stay in Color?
Are you wondering how long your poinsettia will retain its vibrant color?
Poinsettias normally bloom for two to eight weeks, and with the utmost care, some kinds continue to produce bright bracts well into March. It is advisable to put the plant into a state of dormancy once the flower bracts have faded so that it can relax before the vigorous spring growing season.
Cut the plant back severely to 4–8” tall, leaving one or two leaves per stem, to bring on dormancy. Before adding more water, reduce the amount until the top inch of soil is completely dry. Keep the plant in a cool environment (ideal at 600F). Fertilize not. Every plant is unique, so don’t be concerned if your poinsettia doesn’t begin to fade until late March.
How Much Light Does My Poinsettia Plant Need?
Are you growing a poinsettia for the first time? Are you wondering how much your poinsettia will need to grow?
Daily, provide 6 hours of direct, strong light. Location near a window in the south, west, or east is ideal. Avoid direct sunlight as much as possible because it might make the bracts’ vibrant colors fade and the tips of the leaf dry up.
Poinsettias do not grow well in low light. The bracts will change to green and fall off in a dimly lighted area.
Best Self Watering Planter For Poinsettia
1. ETGLCOZY Self-Watering Planter Pots
For less than $20, you can get a five-piece set from ETGLCOZY that is a wonderful deal and includes all the features you need to care for your little potted plants. They work well for little plants like herbs or ornamental houseplants. Three 6-inch pots, one 4.1-inch pot, and one 3.2-inch pot are included in the set of five. Additionally, this arrangement is a wonderful way to show off your plants.
These planters have a contemporary design and are available in gray or white. The water level is clearly seen in the reservoir at the bottom. The reservoirs begin to accumulate dirt with time, however they may be cleaned out sometimes to maintain their pristine appearance. Your plants will be happier if the water reservoir is cleaned, emptied, and refilled. When necessary, water is raised to the soil and plant roots via a cotton rope suspended in the water reservoir.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Easy to see water level
- Five-piece set
Cons:
- Clear portion needs to be kept clean
- Works best with small pots
Conclusion
The bracts, or modified leaves, of poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima), which range in color from creamy white to vivid crimson, are attractive. Some are variegated, while others are pink. During the holiday season, poinsettias are frequently cultivated as potted plants and presented as gifts. They are not the simplest plants to grow, despite being lovely, and their leaves frequently drop or turn yellow. Most often, one of a number of environmental factors is what brings about this issue.