Lyla Lindsey
Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations in Australia, but they can also be enjoyed as houseplants all year round. They are loved for their large, festively coloured 'flowers' (actually leafy bracts). Poinsettias are mildly toxic to pets because of the milky sap they produce, which can also irritate human skin. In this article, we will discuss how to care for your poinsettia plant in Australia, covering topics such as light, water, fertiliser, and pest control.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | Up to 3m in the ground, but often pot-grown. Dwarf varieties grow to 1-2m. |
| Foliage | Mid-green, oval, soft, sometimes tinged red. |
| Climate | Warm temperate to tropical; indoor plant in cool climates. |
| Soil | Well-drained, fertile loam or quality potting mix. |
| Position | Sunny open spot; light shade from hot midday/afternoon sun will reduce leaf scorch. |
| Light | Thrives in medium to bright indirect light. Not suited for direct sun. |
| Watering | Water every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings. Water more frequently in summer and in pots. |
| Feeding | Use a long-term controlled-release fertiliser; supplement with liquid food from spring to autumn. |
| Pruning | Prune after flowering. Cut back to almost ground level in late winter. |
| Flowering | Naturally flowers in winter. Potted plants are manipulated to flower at Christmas. |
| Colours | Red, white, pink, yellow, green. |
| Toxicity | Milky sap is toxic and a skin irritant. Mildly toxic to pets. |
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What You'll Learn
Poinsettias need bright, indirect light and water every 1-2 weeks
Poinsettias are native to Mexico and thrive in warm temperate to tropical climates. They are a popular choice for Christmas decorations due to their vibrant red foliage, but they can also make attractive houseplants throughout the year. To keep your poinsettia healthy, it's important to provide the right lighting and watering conditions.
Poinsettias prefer bright, indirect light. When kept indoors, place your poinsettia in a warm, bright spot that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Avoid direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves. If growing outdoors, choose a location that offers full sun to part shade, protecting the plant from strong winds and hot midday or afternoon sun.
Regarding watering, poinsettias should be watered about once or twice a week, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. During the summer, you may need to water more frequently, especially if the plant is in a pot or the weather is particularly hot and dry. Make sure to thoroughly soak the plant each time you water it. As the weather cools down, reduce the watering frequency, but don't let the soil dry out completely.
By providing the right lighting and watering conditions, you can keep your poinsettia healthy and enjoy its colourful display.
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They thrive in well-drained, fertile soil with added compost
Poinsettias thrive in well-drained, fertile soil with added compost. They can be grown in medium to large pots or planters (at least 30-40cm wide and deep) with good drainage. When planting, half-fill your pot or planter with a premium potting mix. Scotts Osmocote Premium Potting Mix is a good option. Gently remove the poinsettia from its nursery pot and lightly tease the roots. Centre the plant in the pot and backfill around the root ball with more potting mix. Water it well and top the soil with mulch to retain moisture.
If you're keeping your poinsettia indoors, place it in a warm, bright spot that receives at least six hours of indirect sunlight per day. Avoid direct sunlight, as poinsettias thrive in medium to bright indirect light. Water your poinsettia every one to two weeks, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. You may need to water more frequently in brighter light conditions and during the summer months.
When growing poinsettias in a garden, prepare the planting area by mixing a premium soil improver like Scotts Osmocote Compost Premium Soil Improver through the original soil. Dig a planting hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth. Gently remove the poinsettia from its container and position it in the hole. Backfill and gently firm down the soil. Form a raised ring around the plant to create a well for water. Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane, or pea straw, keeping it away from the plant's base.
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Prune after flowering to encourage new growth
Pruning your poinsettia after flowering encourages healthy growth and prepares it for the next flowering phase. Poinsettias lose their beautiful leaves and become bare after flowering. Cutting back the shoots encourages vigorous growth, giving the plant lots of green leaves and making it bushy, which not only looks better but also produces more flowers next year. Pruning also helps remove dead or wilted parts of the plant, keeping your poinsettia healthier for longer.
Poinsettias should be pruned back hard when flowering finishes (end of winter to early spring) to encourage bushy new growth and flowers the following season. You can be quite harsh – the plant will respond with lush new growth and prolific flowering. The ideal time to prune your poinsettia is in spring (March/April) after flowering. A summer pruning in July can promote extra bushy growth.
When pruning, remove about half of the plant and wait for new leaves and branches to appear on the pruned stems before pruning the other half. You can also pinch small shoots off to encourage bushiness. Remember to not prune excessively, as the leaves are required for photosynthesis and that's when the plants get their food and then grow.
After pruning, water the poinsettia so the soil is slightly moist, but not too wet. Waterlogging can lead to root rot. Always wait until the top layer of soil has dried out before watering again. When the plant forms new shoots, start fertilising to encourage growth. Use a liquid houseplant fertiliser.
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Poinsettias are toxic to pets and can cause skin irritation
Poinsettias are commonly believed to be highly toxic. However, this idea originated from a 1919 urban legend about a two-year-old child who allegedly died after consuming a poinsettia leaf. While the sap and latex of many plants in the spurge family are toxic, the poinsettia's toxicity is relatively mild. The sap can be mildly irritating to the skin if touched and to the mouth and stomach if ingested. In large quantities, it may cause vomiting and diarrhoea. If the sap is introduced to the eye, temporary blindness may occur.
Poinsettias are not very toxic to pets and the risk is often overrated. If your pet ingests a poinsettia, it may experience mild discomfort, mouth irritation, vomiting, or diarrhoea. However, it is important to monitor your pet and seek veterinary advice if you are concerned.
Poinsettias contain a milky sap that can cause skin irritation in humans as well. This sap is released when the leaves or stems are broken. It is important to wear protective gloves and eye protection when pruning poinsettias to avoid skin and eye contact with the sap. If you are allergic to latex, it is advisable to avoid poinsettias altogether, as they share some allergenic proteins with natural rubber latex. In rare cases, severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, may occur from touching poinsettia leaves.
To summarise, while poinsettias are not highly toxic to pets or humans, it is important to exercise caution when handling them due to the potential for skin and eye irritation. If you are allergic to latex, it is best to avoid poinsettias altogether. Always seek veterinary or medical advice if you are concerned about any potential exposure to the plant.
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They can be grown outdoors in a warm, frost-free climate
Poinsettias can be grown outdoors in Australia in a warm, frost-free climate. They are native to Mexico and thrive in warm temperate to tropical climates. They prefer a spot that receives full sun to part shade and well-drained soil that has been enriched with compost.
When planting poinsettias outdoors, it is important to prepare the planting area by digging a hole twice as wide as the root ball and to the same depth. Remove the shrub from its container and gently tease the roots before positioning it in the hole and backfilling with soil. Form a raised ring around the plant to create a well for water retention. Mulch around the base with organic mulch such as bark chips, sugarcane, or pea straw, ensuring it is kept away from the base of the plant.
Poinsettias grown outdoors will still require regular watering, especially during the summer months. Water the plant at least once a week, ensuring that you thoroughly soak it each time. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. Fertilise your poinsettias with a controlled-release fertiliser in the spring and supplement with liquid fertiliser every 2-4 weeks.
Pruning is also important for outdoor poinsettias. After flowering finishes, prune the plant back by about 50% to encourage new growth and colour the following season. When pruning, always wear protective equipment as the milky sap released by the plant is toxic and can cause skin irritation.
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