Euphorbia Pulcherrima
4.2 out of 5 (42 experiences)
Survivor
Large, lush leaves
About Euphorbia Pulcherrima
Although associated with the winter season, these plants are native to the tropics of Central America. Plants in the Euphorbia genus have poisonous, milky, white, latex-like sap so be sure to keep them far from curious pets and children ⚠️
Taxonomy
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Euphorbia
Euphorbiaceae
Malpighiales
Also known as
Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Christmas Flower, Easter Flower, Lobster Flower Plant, Lobster Plant and Mexican Flame Leaf
How to care for Euphorbia Pulcherrima
How often to water your Euphorbia Pulcherrima
every 12
Euphorbia Pulcherrima needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
12
Finding light for Poinsettia in your home
a window
Euphorbia Pulcherrima love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Euphorbia Pulcherrima does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Euphorbia Pulcherrima in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Euphorbia Pulcherrima
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Euphorbia Pulcherrima after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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Help ! My mom got me this beautiful poinsettia and it’s losing leaves like crazy ! I’ve never taken care of a poinsettia before and it’s really struggling. What do they need ?
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Hey this is my poinsettia I’ve had her since December she’s my first plant she’s recently started to turn black she does have new growth though I used to have her in front of the window but I recently installed a ac unit where she use to sit so maybe it’s the ac affecting her
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Just repotted it now some of the older leaves are turning yellow Sadly half of the roots got torn during transplanting. It usually loves sitting in water but it also was moved too idk if it's getting some morning sun. There are also no drafts in the area that I'm aware of. Does anyone know what is going on? #help #poinsettia #helpneeded
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I figured out what she likes!! We had a sad post-Christmas adjustment period, but now she is throwing tons of new growth. #plantsmakepeoplehappy #poinsettia365 #poinsettia #freshleaves
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Another poinsettia update! Yesterday I uhhhh... I did some things. Lol First of all I had no soil so I had to find a way to reuse the nasty, stinky soil the plant originally came in... What I ended up doing after removing it all from the plant was to put it all into a gallon sized Ziploc and stick it in the freezer. I was gonna leave it in there for a few days but realized I likely didn't want to leave the plant naked that long so I only left it overnight. The next day I broke up the frozen soil and soaked it in a soapy peroxide/alcohol solution for a few hours(2 Tbsp peroxide + ¼ tsp soap + 1 Tbsp isopropyl to every 1 Cup of water). After that I stuck it in the oven on a baking sheet until it was dry. (I let it cool thoroughly before using it.) Once I was ready I mixed it with perlite and a tiny amount of #mycorrhizalfungi concentrate + just enough filtered water to make it moist but not too wet. (Like a fresh bag of soil.) Then since the remaining root system was kind of small I cut the main plant back quite a bit and made several smaller cuttings out of the what I removed. I put the main plant into a 4.5" pot that I made from an upcycled yogurt container #plantingonabudget) and the cuttings into a few lil 2" pots... I don't have high hopes for the tops with the extremely sad looking leaves, but every cutting I took has multiple nodes on them so hopefully we'll have lots of poinsettia babies in the future. (: Also I named her Rue cuz she had to go to rehab. 😆🫶 Anyhow, I think that's all for this update... Stay tuned! 🤙 #WickedValkyrie #poinsettia #poinsettia365 #euphorbia #succulentsquad #happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #propagationstation #planttherapy
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Poinsettia update: I pulled it out of it's pot and let the soil dry out for a few days, putting the plant outside for wind/airflow during the day and used old junk mail to also help draw out excess moisture... Today it was dry enough for me to break it up and remove the soil from the roots with minimal damage. After I removed all of the soil I found the plant was originally started in a foam plug that smelled like death... Thankfully it broke apart pretty easily. I spent about a half hour with some tiny tools excavating all of the nasty foam from the roots and then I rinsed them and gave it a good soak in a soapy peroxide solution. (2 Cups water, 3Tbsp peroxide, and a few drops of soap.) Given the smell of the soil it was in I didn't have high hopes for the roots, but honestly what I was left with at the end of all this wasn't too bad. Now I just have to figure out what I'm gonna pot this back into since I have no soil. 😂😅😅😅 #poinsettia #poinsettia365 #plantrehab #euphorbia #euphorbiaeuphoria #happyplants #notsohappyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #planttherapy #WickedValkyrie #rootporn
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When is the best time to prune back a poinsettia? My Poinsettia is super vibrant and looks to be doing well. Everything I'm reading, now is the time to prune it back 6 to 8 inches. It hurts my heart when it looks to be doing so well. So what is the consensus? Also what is the clear sap from the flowers?
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Send Help I was outside tending to my front porch plants this afternoon when a neighbor I've never met approached me and told me she was gifted a plant two days ago that she had no clue how to care for and asked if I wanted it... Without a single thought I said "Sure why not". 🙃🤷 A few minutes later she returned with this sad little poinsettia... I have no idea why I said yes, y'all. I DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY SOIL. 😂 The leaves are obviously in pretty bad shape but otherwise it honestly doesn't look *terrible*... The soil smells questionable at best, and there's some brown stuff at the base that could be scale. (Do these guys get "woody" with age like some other plants?) I'm also pretty sure this soil couldn't possibly have any more water in it... This thing is SO heavy for being in a 6" pot. Otherwise it's still plenty green and there's new growth buds at every single node so overall it looks pretty hopeful I think. I have no idea how to care for this guy so please give me ALLLL the info! To start with I've taken it out of the pot and placed it on some old papers/junk mail to absorb some excess moisture... Once it has a chance to dry out a bit I'll re-assess the roots but they look decent as of now. I will probably end up giving it a nice peroxide drench/soak tho. I also removed anything either crunchy or squishy and took a couple stem cuttings that were left with no leaves... Once I get around to repotting this dude, the stem cuttings will get popped in right along with the main plant. 🤪😵💫🤪😵💫🤪😵💫🤪 #crazyplantlady #plantaddict #poinsettia #poinsettia365 #happyplants #notsohappyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #newgrowth #plantmafia #planttherapy #WickedValkyrie #plantgifts #euphorbia
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#Poinsettia365 update for one of my Poinsettia 2022. (: I just trimmed off the dead flowers and leaves, two dead stems, and I put it outside in #SarahsGreenhouse Come on, Spring!! Hurry up!!
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Poinsettia Is it possible to keep a poinsettia after season? Mine is losing it's leaves really quickly and it's to the point my mom wants me to throw it out but its so pretty I wanna give it a chance. Any tips and advice will be much appreciated #plantaddict #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantlover #plantmafia #planttherapy #greggang #plantlove #poinsettia #poinsettia365 #notsohappyplants
Euphorbia Pulcherrima is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!
💦 Water Needs
Euphorbia Pulcherrima thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
☀️ Sunlight Needs
Euphorbia Pulcherrima requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity
Euphorbia Pulcherrima is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.
💨 Humidity
Euphorbia Pulcherrima enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.
🪴 Soil
Euphorbia Pulcherrima is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!
💩 Fertilizer
Euphorbia Pulcherrima grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
❄️ Dormancy
It’s common for Euphorbia Pulcherrima to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.
🌎 Native Region
Euphorbia Pulcherrima is native to Worldwide.
🌸 Flowers
Yes, you may see your Euphorbia Pulcherrima bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern
Euphorbia Pulcherrima grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.
🌦️ Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Euphorbia Pulcherrima can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
🌱 Propagation
Euphorbia Pulcherrima can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:
- Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
- To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.
🧐 Troubleshooting
When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.
Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.
Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.
Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.
😖 Common Issues
Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Euphorbia Pulcherrima. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.
Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!
Care Summary for Euphorbia Pulcherrima
Euphorbia Pulcherrima
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 12 days
Placement
< 1ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Survivor 21
Large, lush leaves 15
Browns easily 11
Fast grower 10
Blooms easily 10
02/24/2022
Such a lovely vibrant plant to have at home.
Survivor
12/21/2021
Finicky, one plant is healthy, they other dropped all its leaves despite the same care.
Browns easily
12/08/2021
Extremely hard to take care of... bought mine from a supermarket and died in 2 weeks. I tried everything, and I’m a huge lover of plants. Uncertain what went wrong here
12/04/2021
It’s picky as hell
Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily
Survivor
12/01/2021
Love these plants for the holidays!
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
Survivor
09/16/2021
Bought this at Home Depot last November. It was originally a big, lush plant with lots of pink leaves. I’m determined to keep it alive and it’s finally doing better. Hoping the pink returns to the leaves at some point.
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
06/23/2021
Beautiful colors.
Large, lush leaves
06/19/2021
They are fickle about location. I have her near southwest window. So she gets a few hours of sun but not the early morning.
06/10/2021
Leaves shed quite a bit.
Survivor
06/08/2021
I kept this in my windowless bathroom, where it somehow survived! Pretty plant had no idea it was an all year round plant. Sad people throw them out after Christmas so pretty ! Picky plant not consistent.
Blooms easily
Survivor
Browns easily
05/13/2021
Its cool plant and easy to care i have 2 at home and I recommend it 👍❤️
Survivor
Browns easily
05/07/2021
so pretty!!
04/29/2021
Needs a plant light for winter.
Survivor
Browns easily
Large, lush leaves
03/10/2021
Even tho it’s an holiday plant. Immune is still striving to live. But there’s not much info how to actually take care of them or false info. I’ve nearly killed it a few times and panic every time cuz the plant is finicky
Fast grower
Blooms easily
Browns easily
Survivor
02/13/2021
This plant was being thrown out after Christmas and didn’t look like she was going to make it. Walgreens let me buy for $0.36 and thought I was crazy for wanting it. With some love she came back to life and now is doing so good & beautiful! It shows the beauty and power of attention, love and nourishment on another living thing. 😊❤️✌️
Survivor
02/12/2021
Pointsettias are great at surviving - I forgot it in an area with no light for a week and it looked a little wilted, but perked back up immediately as soon as I gave her sunlight and watered.
Survivor
Fast grower
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