The poinsettia care watering technique that helps keep it alive past Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, poinsettias have begun to appear in garden centres and supermarkets across the UK.

Native to Mexico and Central America, these festive houseplants are prized for their vibrant red and green foliage, often used to create stunning Christmas displays. However, poinsettias are notoriously finicky, and many wither and die shortly after the festive season.

One common reason for this is incorrect watering. While poinsettias require moist soil, overwatering can be detrimental, leading to root rot.

Root rot occurs when a plant's roots are consistently waterlogged, often due to inadequate drainage after watering. This is a common issue in houseplants like orchids, and poinsettias are no exception.

To help keep your poinsettia thriving, garden watering experts Easy Garden Irrigation have shared their expert advice on watering these festive plants. According to Sean Lade, managing director of Easy Garden Irrigation, it's crucial to water poinsettias with care, reports the Express.

Sean advises: "Poinsettias are prone to root rot if overwatered. Instead of watering from the top, place the pot in a shallow dish of water for 10-15 minutes, allowing the roots to absorb moisture from below."

"Only water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and always empty any excess water from the saucer to prevent rot."

Anastasia Borisevich, a plant specialist with Plantuman app for plant identification and care advice, said that overwatering to the extent of "sogginess" is not beneficial for plants.

"Keep the potting mix slightly moist at all times," she said. "Soak the soil thoroughly when watering, but not to the point of sogginess.

"Use only warm (and ideally soft) water. Cold water may shock a poinsettia into shedding its foliage. This plant can also wilt and defoliate if its soil is kept dry for too long."

Additionally, Anastasia warned that such plants might wilt and lose leaves if their soil remains dry for extended periods.