The Best Time to Buy a Poinsettia So It Lasts Through the Holidays

For many people, the holiday season isn't complete without a beautiful poinsettia adorning the dining room table or fireplace mantel. But if you've ever brought one home too soon, you know how disappointing it is when the brilliant red leaves wilt before the holidays arrive. To help you get the timing right, we spoke to gardening experts who shared the best time to buy a poinsettia so it stays vibrant until the new year.

Where to Buy a Christmas Poinsettia

Before you begin shopping, you'll need to select a good place to purchase your holiday houseplant. "Buy your plant from a reputable garden center," recommends houseplant expert Lisa Eldred Steinkopf. "The grocery store and big box stores may be less expensive, but the plants are often better cared for at a garden center." A poinsettia plant that was raised in a healthy environment may last even longer than you expect once you bring it home.

How to Choose a Poinsettia at the Nursery

When purchasing a poinsettia for your home, Steinkopf recommends examining the center yellow flower as opposed to the colorful bracts. "Buy the poinsettia that has the small yellow flowers still tightly closed in the center," she says. "If it is in a decorative sleeve, make sure the plant isn’t standing in water. The plant may look OK, but the roots may be rotting." She also suggests avoiding overly dry or droopy poinsettias and selecting a plant that is stored away from store doors and drafts.

Houseplant expert Enid Offolter recommends examining poinsettias for whiteflies, a common pest that leaves tiny white marks on the foliage of plants. "It can be challenging to eliminate these small pests, so avoid buying infested poinsettias," she says. 

The Best Time to Buy a Poinsettia

While many people typically wait until the middle of December to pick up poinsettias, the best time to buy one is typically in mid- to late-November when they first arrive at the store. According to Offolter, shopping early allows you to peruse the best selection of plants.

That said, the key to ensuring your poinsettia lasts through the holidays is choosing a plant with closed flowers and foliage that hasn't reached peak color. "You can buy them as soon as they arrive in the store. Just make sure to pick a good, fresh one. It will last through the season if it is well cared for," says Steinkopf.

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Tailored care can help your poinsettia plant thrive all season—no matter when you bring it home from the nursery.

Temperature

Temperature is critical to the health of your poinsettia. Aim for fairly steady temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit—not too hot and not too cold. "Don’t place it near hot or cold drafts," says Steinkopf. Keep your poinsettia away from outside doors or heat vents—Offolter even says to keep it warm on the car ride home from the nursery. 

Water

Like all plants, proper watering of your poinsettia is critical. "Make sure to keep it well-watered but not standing in water," says Steinkopf. Letting the roots sit in water long-term can lead to root rot, shortening your holiday fun, Offolter warns.

Sunlight

Providing adequate sunlight for your poinsettia is important—but it shouldn't be too harsh. "Don’t place it in direct sun, like a south window," says Steinkopf. Try to give the plant a minimum of six hours of soft, indirect light daily.