← All plants
Poinsettia

Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima

Indoor Partial shade HouseplantMedium

For your Poinsettia

All matching products →
Poinsettia Fertiliser Pro Poinsettia Fertiliser ProFrom €9,85View product → Poinsettia Compost Poinsettia Compost€9,95View product → Poinsettia Repotting Set Poinsettia Repotting Set€18,95View product →

Profile

Plant group
Tropical shrub grown as a festive houseplant
Growth & habit
Branched shoots become woody with age; compact retail plants do not represent the natural final size.
Foliage
Green leaves below coloured bracts. Red, pink and cream depend on cultivar.
Family
Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae)
Origin
Mexico and Central America; grown worldwide as a houseplant.
Height
Usually about 10–60 cm when sold; plants grown on become larger.
Bloom
Small yellowish flowers surrounded by coloured bracts, usually in winter.
Toxicity
Milky sap may irritate skin and eyes. Do not eat; avoid contact when pruning.

Care calendar

Flowering / flower development

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Bract colour under suitable light conditions

Guidance for Germany and Central Europe. Position, weather, species and cultivar shift these windows; indoor and container plants also depend on their winter conditions.

Your seasonal care plan

  • Keep warm

    Avoid cold panes and draughts.

  • Check moisture

    Water when the surface begins to dry.

  • Plan growing on

    Retain healthy shoots for new growth.

  • Prune

    Shorten selectively for bushy new growth.

  • Repot

    Use draining compost and drainage holes.

  • Care for shoots

    Match water and feed to new growth.

  • Manage light

    Provide brightness without hot midday sun.

  • Inspect leaves

    Check undersides for pests.

  • Keep nights dark

    Avoid artificial light during the autumn dark period.

  • Keep care steady

    Maintain warmth and long dark nights.

  • Protect bracts

    Avoid repeated moves and wet roots.

  • Festive position

    Keep bright, warm and away from radiators.

Highlighted months are guidance, not fixed dates. Observe the plant, root ball and weather; water, feed and repot according to actual need.

Seasonal care intensity

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Seasonal guidance for Germany. Needs depend on location, weather and species. Check moisture in winter too; these markers are not a feeding schedule.

Peak care Active Reduced care

Care tips

  • Provide bright light, warmth and protection from cold draughts. Water when the surface begins to dry and let excess water drain. The coloured parts are bracts; renewed colour also depends on long, uninterrupted autumn nights. A recently bought, well-fed poinsettia does not automatically need extra fertiliser.

Fruit & seeds

Fruit and seed formation

Seed fruits are uncommon indoors; bracts provide the ornamental display.

Harvest and use

Not a food crop; cuttings are more practical than home-produced seed.

Plant knowledge at a glance

Position, benefits & character

Position & soil

Provide bright light, warmth and protection from cold draughts. Water when the surface begins to dry and let excess water drain. The coloured parts are bracts; renewed colour also depends on long, uninterrupted autumn nights. A recently bought, well-fed poinsettia does not automatically need extra fertiliser.

Distinctive features

The showy bracts are not petals. The small true flower structures sit in their centre.

Benefits

Winter colour and, when grown on well, an interesting green plant through summer.

Partners & symbioses

Indoors, pollinators are not required for the foliage display. Care depends on light, warmth and roots.

Pruning & growth habit

Branched shoots become woody with age; compact retail plants do not represent the natural final size.

  1. 1. Renew in spring

    Prune after winter when growing the plant on; retain healthy buds and useful branches.

Nursery forms

This overview explains nursery supply forms. It does not indicate current availability in the GREEN24 shop.

Container-grown

Common form

Flowering pot plant with coloured bracts.

Young plant

Ask a specialist nursery

Rooted cuttings for growing on.

Propagation & grafting

Propagation

Softwood tip cuttings in late spring; root in warmth with steady moisture. Avoid sap contact.

Grafting

Grafting is unnecessary for ordinary houseplant culture; cultivars are usually propagated by cuttings.

Species & cultivars

Rote, rosa und cremefarbene Sorten

Choose cultivars by bract colour and habit; check the specific plant label for the name.

Pests & diseases

These signs support an initial assessment. Different causes may look alike; choose a treatment only after identifying the problem.

Assess leaf drop

Check cold, draughts, a dry root ball or waterlogging before adding feed.

Hardiness · USDA

Keep frost-free

Warm indoor cultivation; protect from cold and draughts.

USDA zones describe long-term average winter extremes. Containers, young plants, wet soil, wind and late frost need separate consideration.

Understand USDA zones and maps →

A closer look

Growth habit
Growth habit

Growth habit

Poinsettia with red bracts and green leaves in a bright room

Botanical features vary with age, species and cultivar.

Matching GREEN24 products

Matching fertilisers and substrates for your plant care.