Poinsettias are a popular holiday plant that brighten up any space with their festive red, white, or pink blooms. However, their delicacy makes them prone to wilting, leaving many wondering if their poinsettia can be saved once it starts drooping.
The good news is that with some TLC and troubleshooting there’s a good chance you can nurse your poinsettia back to health, Here is a step-by-step guide to identify common causes of poinsettia wilt and techniques to revive your plant
Step 1: Check for Root Rot
If the leaves are wilting but the soil still feels damp root rot is likely the culprit. This fungal disease thrives in wet conditions and causes roots to turn brown and mushy so they can’t take up water properly.
To check for root rot:
- Carefully slide the poinsettia out of its pot.
- Inspect the root ball and individual roots. Healthy roots should be white and firm.
- Brown, mushy roots signal root rot.
- Trim off any obviously rotten roots with clean shears.
- Repotting in fresh, sterile potting mix is needed to help cure root rot.
Step 2: Troubleshoot Underwatering
If the soil is bone dry, underwatering is probably to blame. Poinsettias need frequent watering to support their dense, thirsty foliage.
Check these factors to improve watering practices:
- Water only when the top 1-2′′ of soil is dry. Stick a finger in to check.
- Make sure excess water can drain out the bottom of the pot. Never let it sit in a saucer of water.
- Humidity helps poinsettias transpire water properly. Mist leaves or use a pebble tray.
- Add water-retaining polymers to the soil to help retain moisture longer.
- Water until it runs from the drainage holes to thoroughly saturate the root zone.
Step 3: Give the Plant a Warm Bath
If the leaf wilting is accompanied by yellowing or dropped leaves, the plant may be suffering from cold damage. Poinsettias prefer daytime temps of 65-70°F.
To warm up a chilled poinsettia:
- Fill a sink or tub with room temperature water.
- Immerse the entire pot in the water, leaving it to soak for 30 minutes.
- This helps rehydrate roots and raises the plant’s temp.
- Avoid hot or cold water, which could further stress the plant.
- Drain well after its bath and return to an ideal warm, bright spot.
Step 4: Repot in Fresh Soil
Repotting in sterile, well-draining soil provides a chance to hit the reset button. Follow these tips:
- Carefully remove from its pot and gently loosen the root ball.
- Prune any damaged roots.
- Fill new pot with commercial potting mix, not garden soil which may harbor diseases.
- Plant at the same level as before and water well to settle soil.
Use these tricks to improve drainage:
- Choose an container with bottom drainage holes.
- Mix in perlite or orchid bark to improve drainage.
- Elevate pot above a saucer to prevent root sitting in water.
Step 5: Give it a Humid Home
Poinsettias hail from the tropics, so they thrive in humid conditions around 50-60% relative humidity.
Boost humidity with any of these methods:
- Mist leaves frequently with a spray bottle.
- Place pots on a pebble tray filled with water, making sure pots don’t sit directly in water.
- Use a humidifier nearby.
- Grow in a naturally humid room like a bathroom or kitchen.
Monitor moisture closely in humid spots to avoid overwatering.
Step 6: Provide Bright, Indirect Light
Getting adequate sunlight is key for poinsettias to manufacture the nutrients and energy needed to recover. But direct hot sunlight can scorch their thin leaves.
- Place poinsettias near an east, west, or slightly shaded south window.
- Pull sheer curtains over bright windows to filter intense light.
- Rotate the pot frequently so all sides get even light exposure.
- Keep plants a few feet back from windows.
- Supplement with a grow light if indoor conditions are too dim.
Step 7: Fertilize Weekly
Fertilizing provides vital nutrients to support healing and new growth. Use a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer.
- Dilute fertilizer to half or quarter strength the label recommends.
- Fertilize at each watering for a period of 2-3 weeks.
- Flush soil monthly to avoid buildup.
- Avoid over-fertilizing, which can damage roots, inhibit water uptake, and cause more wilting.
Step 8: Prune Damaged Growth
Once revived through the previous steps, prune away any damaged or diseased foliage. Make cuts just above leaf nodes or where stems branch.
- Use clean, sharp pruners or scissors to avoid damaging healthy tissue.
- Remove dropped leaves and spent flowers.
- Pinching back leggy shoots encourages bushier regrowth.
- Disinfect tools after use to avoid spreading disease.
Be Patient for Recovery
Have patience if your poinsettia doesn’t perk up overnight after intervention. It can take weeks for wilted plants to fully regain vigor. Consistently providing ideal care will set the poinsettia up to make a full comeback.
Know When to Call It Quits
Despite your best efforts, some poinsettias can’t be revived if the roots or leaves sustain too much damage. Signs a poinsettia may be too far gone:
- Majority of leaves have shriveled and dropped.
- Stems are mushy or easily snap.
- Plant declines further despite several weeks of improved care.
Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t nurse every poinsettia back to health! The holiday season is hectic, and these plants are finicky. Just focus on what you learned for next year.
Enjoy Poinsettias Season After Season
Taking steps to revive wilted poinsettias ensures you can enjoy these holiday staples longer and protect your plant investment. With the right troubleshooting and care regimen, you can save droopy poinsettias to live on for seasons to come.
Encouraging New Growth in Spring and Summer
- 1 Keep your poinsettia at a constant 65–75 °F (18–24 °C). Poinsettias are most comfortable at about the same temperature you are. Fortunately, this means that they’ll be content in almost any room of the house.[7]
- Situate your plant away from any doors or windows that you open frequently. Poinsettias don’t hold up well under a draft.[8]
- Do not place poinsettias near heaters, radiators, or vents.
- Avoid raising or lowering the thermostat too dramatically when temperatures outside fluctuate.
- 2 Fertilize your poinsettia once a month throughout the spring. Fertilizers are essential for adding vital nutrients to your growing soil. Balanced water-soluble houseplant fertilizers are the safest choice for delicate plants like poinsettias. Always use the amount specified in the instructions of a particular product.
- You can also use a natural organic material like garden compost or worm castings to fertilize your poinsettia.[9]
- The best time to apply fertilizer is soon after watering, while the soil is still moist. Fertilizing poinsettias in dry soil could damage the roots.[10]
- Plan on reapplying fertilizer about once a month while the plant is in its most active stages of growth.
- 3 Move the plant outside to a spot with indirect sunlight. Let your poinsettia sit outdoors for a few hours on warm afternoons. Place the plant in a partially-shaded area so it doesn’t overheat. Screened-in patios and flower beds protected by tree cover can make great outdoor homes for growing poinsettias.[11]
- Introduce your poinsettia to outdoor conditions gradually. It’s usually best to start with a few hours in the early morning, then increase its exposure by an hour or two every day until it’s able to withstand an entire afternoon.
- Look for a spot in your garden with plenty of morning sun but more shade in the afternoon.
- It may be necessary to water your poinsettia more frequently if it’s been spending a lot of time in the hot sun. Drooping, wilting, or wrinkled leaves may be a sign that your plant has been outside too long.[12]
- 4 Trim the stems back to 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) in the spring or summer. Once the weather begins to heat up, it can be helpful to cut away roughly a third (or even up to half) of your poinsettia’s overall size. Strategic pruning is necessary to kickstart growth. It will create a bushier, fuller plant. By removing the stems, you’ll be redirecting more of the plant’s resources into producing new flowers and foliage.[13]
- If you’d prefer to hold off on doing the bulk of your pruning, you can wait until around midsummer when the poinsettia has reached its full size.[14]
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Things You’ll Need
- Pruning shears
- Water-soluble houseplant fertilizer
- Organic fertilizing material (optional)
- Large container
- Commercial potting soil mix
- Bag or box for covering at night
- Mild organic pesticide
- All-natural liquid soap, water, and spray bottle (optional)
The Secret to Keeping Your Poinsettia Alive ALL YEAR
FAQ
How to fix a droopy poinsettia?
Avoid letting the soil dry out completely. Nutrient deficiencies can also lead to droopy leaves. Think of it as your poinsettia going on a hunger strike. To fix this, use suitable fertilizers and soil amendments to improve leaf vitality.
Can a poinsettia come back from wilting?
With a little time and attention, you can keep a poinsettia alive to flourish again next year. Start by pruning the dead leaves to create room for new growth. Make sure the plant gets plenty of moisture and indirect sunlight, and–if you live in the right climate– introduce it to outdoor soil when the time is right.
How to refresh poinsettias?
- Place plant outdoors in high indirect light after danger of frost.
- Cut back the stems to 3 to 4 inches to promote new growth and encourage branching.
- Water and fertilize as in indoor care.
- Bring plant indoors when night temperatures fall below 60oF (near the end of September for Durham).
Can You revive a dying poinsettia plant?
But sadly, many a poinsettia meets an untimely demise shortly after the holidays, wilting and dropping leaves. If your poinsettia plant is looking a little lackluster or even near death don’t give up on it just yet! With some TLC and troubleshooting, it’s often possible to revive a dying poinsettia and nurse it back to health.
How do you save a wilted Poinsettia?
Save your wilted poinsettia by placing it in a spot where there are no warm or cold drafts, as these can dry out your plant. While the plant is recovering, make sure you do not put it anywhere where it can get direct sunlight. Mist the plant twice a week to make its surroundings temporarily humid. This also protects the leaves from drying out.
Do poinsettias Wilt after the holidays?
Few plants represent the holidays like the poinsettia. Their big bright red or white bracts seem to embody the festive spirit and add a burst of color to seasonal decor. But sadly, many a poinsettia meets an untimely demise shortly after the holidays, wilting and dropping leaves.
Can You Keep A poinsettia alive after the holiday season?
All too often, people throw their poinsettias away once the holiday season is over, not realizing that the plant still has plenty of life in it. With a little time and attention, you can keep a poinsettia alive to flourish again next year. Start by pruning the dead leaves to create room for new growth.
Can poinsettias be saved if they lose their leaves?
From experience, poinsettias can usually be saved even if it is losing their leaves and appear to be dying if the causes are underwatering or slight transplant shock, but exposure to significantly cold temperatures is likely to cause the poinsettia to die back, and it can be difficult for the poinsettia to recover.
How do you keep a poinsettia alive?
With a little time and attention, you can keep a poinsettia alive to flourish again next year. Start by pruning the dead leaves to create room for new growth. Make sure the plant gets plenty of moisture and indirect sunlight, and–if you live in the right climate– introduce it to outdoor soil when the time is right.