Has your poinsettia finished its flowering period? There’s no reason to throw it away! With targeted pruning in spring, you can encourage new growth and make it bloom again in autumn. Find out here when and how to prune it correctly!
Pruning a poinsettia sounds more complicated than it is. With the right trimming in spring, your poinsettia (also known as Christmas star, Advent star; bot. Euphorbia pulcherrima) will develop into a strong plant you can get to bloom again in autumn. And over the summer? That’s a really fun challenge for anyone who enjoys plant care! This is where tradition meets sustainability and clever care – you don’t have to throw away your plant after it has bloomed.
Poinsettias are a holiday staple, with their bright red and green leaves instantly evoking the spirit of Christmas. But did you know that you can enjoy their beauty beyond the holiday season by cutting them and putting them in water? Here is a complete guide on how to cut poinsettias and keep them thriving in a vase.
Native to Mexico poinsettias were brought to the United States in the 19th century by Joel Roberts Poinsett a botanist and the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Their association with Christmas began in the 16th century, when Mexican friars included the wild plant in their nativity processions. Today, poinsettias remain a beloved symbol of the holiday season.
With over 100 cultivated varieties, poinsettias come in colors ranging from the traditional red to pink, white, and even speckled patterns. While often assumed to be flowers, the red parts are actually modified leaves called bracts. The tiny yellow clusters at the center are the real flowers.
Can You Successfully Cut and Display Poinsettias?
The good news is yes! With proper care, cut poinsettias can continue gracing your home with festive beauty long after Christmas is over. Follow these tips to keep them looking their best:
-
Cut the stems at an angle. Use clean, sharp scissors or shears to make angled cuts right above leaf nodes. This maximizes water intake.
-
Cauterize the ends Briefly passing a flame over the freshly cut ends will seal them, preventing excess sap loss and bacteria growth
-
Use clean vases. Dirty vases breed bacteria that blocks water uptake. Wash vases thoroughly before placing poinsettias in them.
-
Use lukewarm water. Room temperature water with floral preservative helps maximize water absorption. Change the water every 2-3 days.
-
Keep stems submerged. Poinsettias drink a lot, so use vases deep enough to submerge most of the stem length. Top off water as needed.
-
Give bright, indirect light. Poinsettias thrive in bright light, but direct sunlight can scorch leaves. East or west facing windows are ideal.
Handling Tips for Longest Vase Life
Follow these additional tips to keep cut poinsettias beautiful for up to 3-4 weeks:
-
Display in a warm room around 70°F. Cooler temperatures hasten decline.
-
Keep away from drafts and ventilation systems that can dry out the leaves.
-
Consider using floral foam to keep stems nourished. Just be sure to soak it before inserting stems.
-
Mist leaves occasionally to recreate the humidity poinsettias like.
-
Remove spent flowers and any leaves that wilt or drop to keep the appearance fresh.
-
Give the stems a fresh angled cut every few days to improve water flow.
-
Add floral preservative to the water whenever changing it to provide nutrients.
Common Questions about Cut Poinsettias
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about displaying poinsettias in water:
How long do cut poinsettias last? With proper care as outlined above, they can last 3-4 weeks or even longer in water. Just be sure to change water regularly.
Do you have to cut poinsettias underwater? No, cutting above water is fine. Just cauterize and place into clean water promptly.
Should stems be recut? Yes, giving stems a fresh diagonal cut every 2-3 days or whenever water is changed allows for better water intake.
Can leaves be submerged? It’s best to keep leaf bracts above water to prevent rotting. Only submerge stem portions.
Do poinsettias need sun? They need bright, indirect light. Direct hot sunlight can scorch leaves. East, west or lightly shaded south windows are ideal.
Can poinsettias be revived? Drooping plants can often be revived by re-cutting stems and placing into fresh water with floral preservative. Discard any rotted stems.
In Conclusion
With their stunning holiday hues and appeal, poinsettias deserve to be enjoyed past Christmas. By following proper cut flower care, you can keep them gracing your home with cheer for weeks. Just be sure to make angled cuts, cauterize stems, provide ample warm water and bright light. Change water frequently and recut stems every few days. Follow these tips, and your poinsettias will continue spreading joy long after the holidays.
Caring for poinsettias after pruning
With the right care after pruning, you can make sure your poinsettia grows strong and healthy and is ready for its next flowering. Place it in a warm, bright location, but without direct sunlight. It needs light now, but gentle, indirect light. Make sure the ambient temperature doesn’t fall below 15°C. 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. Feed your poinsettia following the instructions on the packaging.
Poinsettias are sensitive to draughts. Make sure they’re kept in a quiet, wind-sheltered location.
➡️ Learn how to manage oversummering in our instructions Oversummering poinsettias and getting them to bloom again. It explains step by step how to get your poinsettia through the summer after pruning it and how to encourage it to bloom.
The ideal time to repot your poinsettia is in spring, immediately after pruning, so the plant can start the growth phase with fresh compost and a larger pot.
Choose a pot one or two sizes larger than the previous one so the roots have enough space to spread out. It shouldn’t be too big. Cactus compost is ideal, or alternatively high-quality potting compost that you make more free-draining with aggregates, such as coarse sand or perlite. A drainage layer of gravel or clay shards at the bottom of the pot prevents excess standing water. If you see black, rotten roots when you take the plant out of its pot, carefully cut them off with sharp scissors. Place the poinsettia in the new container so the plant is no deeper than before. Don’t forget to water it lightly.
Special case: Cutting poinsettias for vases or arrangements
Sometimes you may not want to decorate with the plant itself. The ‘flowers’ – or more precisely the shoots of the poinsettias – with their colourful bracts make ideal ‘cut flowers’ for vases or arrangements in winter, if you keep a few things in mind:
1. Cut the poinsettia stems on the diagonal and remove the lower leaves. Choose firm, non-woody shoots. 2. Dip the stems in hot water (approx 60°C) for about five seconds. This will stop the milky sap flowing. 3. Then place the cut poinsettias in cold water. This will keep them fresh for up to two weeks. 4. Change the water in the vase regularly. If you add a flower food suitable for poinsettias, this can extend their vase life even further.
Sometimes you will find advice to briefly hold the cut surfaces of a stem in an open flame to stop the sap. This method is now considered outdated.
➡️ What do you think of our Ideas with cut poinsettias for vases or flower arrangements?