Poinsettia: A Symbol of Christmas, Delivered to You Warm. How to Care for It?
The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), also known as the Christmas star, is an absolute icon of the holiday season. Its gorgeous red, cream, or pink bracts brighten up any interior.
But it often happens that you bring it home and within a week it "goes bald" and drops its leaves. Why? Because it's a tropical lady who can't stand the cold. We'll show you how to care for it so it stays beautiful as long as possible.
Choose a Guaranteed-Quality Poinsettia
Don't risk buying one from a freezing market stall or a supermarket entrance where it's exposed to drafts. Our poinsettias stay warm in greenhouses until the very last moment, and we deliver them to you in perfect condition.
Tip From Monika (Our Quality and Transport Expert):
"Poinsettias can't stand the cold. They're extremely sensitive! Even a short, five-minute trip home from the shop in freezing weather without protective wrapping can damage them irreversibly (they get a temperature shock and the leaves then drop). That's why our Airway delivery is the safest choice for this flower. We transport them in heated vehicles and in paper wrapping, right to your door. You take no risk at all this way."
Care Guide: How to Look After It?
Proper care will ensure this gorgeous plant brings you joy not just on Christmas Eve, but potentially all the way into spring.
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Placement (Light and Warmth):
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It likes a bright spot, but not direct midday sun.
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The ideal temperature is 15–22 °C.
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WATCH OUT: It can't stand drafts (open windows) or radiant heat from a radiator. Don't place it directly above a heater or next to a window used for airing the room.
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Watering (Less Is More):
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Water it lightly with lukewarm water (never ice-cold).
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Keep the substrate slightly moist, but it must never stand in water! If water is left in the saucer, the roots start to rot and the plant will wilt.
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Humidity:
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Poinsettias like higher air humidity; occasional misting of the leaves (not the colorful bracts) does them good.
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First Aid: Why Are the Leaves Falling Off?
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Leaves turn yellow and fall: Likely too little water, or the opposite — overwatering. Check the soil. Dry air from heating can also be the cause.
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Leaves fall off while still green: The plant caught a draft, or suffered a temperature shock (got chilled during transport).
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The plant wilts even though the soil is moist: The roots are rotting from overwatering. Let it dry out, but recovery isn't guaranteed.
What to Do With the Poinsettia After Christmas?
Most people throw it out, but it's a perennial! Once it's done flowering (once the colorful bracts drop), you can keep growing it.
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Pruning: Cut the shoots back to about 10 cm so the plant becomes bushier.
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Rest: Reduce watering and place it somewhere cooler.
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Summer care: In summer, you can move it outside (in the shade), increasing watering and feeding again. For it to "color up" again by the next Christmas, it will need controlled darkness in autumn (a short day), but that's already advanced gardening territory.
Frequently asked questions about the poinsettia
How do I care for a poinsettia so that it lasts?
It likes a bright spot without direct midday sun and a temperature of 15–22 °C. Water sparingly with lukewarm water, keep the substrate slightly moist and do not leave water in the saucer. It does not tolerate drafts or radiant heat from a radiator.
Why does a poinsettia drop its leaves?
Yellowing and falling leaves are usually caused by too little water, overwatering or dry air from heating. Green leaves falling off signal a draft or temperature shock, for example a chill on the way home. If the plant wilts even when the soil is moist, the roots are rotting from overwatering.
Can a poinsettia stand next to a radiator?
No. It does not tolerate radiant heat from a radiator or drafts from ventilation, so do not put it directly above a heater or next to an open window.
What should I do with a poinsettia after Christmas?
It is a perennial and you can keep growing it after it finishes flowering. Cut the shoots back to about 10 cm, reduce watering and move it to a cooler place. In summer you can put it outdoors in the shade and increase watering and feeding again.
How do I get a poinsettia home safely?
It is a tropical plant and even a short trip in the frost without protective wrapping can harm it. We deliver it in heated Airway vehicles in paper wrapping right to your door, in Prague express within 120 minutes.
Why Order a Poinsettia Online From Us?
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✅ Express delivery in Prague: With you within 120 minutes.
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✅ Warmth guarantee: You take no risk of the temperature shock that destroys the plant.
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✅ Add-on range: You can pair the flower with a gift basket, wine, or chocolates.
Order your perfect poinsettia online! Quality and freshness always come first with us.
More Christmas bouquets
Christmas delivery 2026: We accept online orders until 5 p.m. on 23 December. On 24 December we deliver in the 9–12 time window and the shop is closed. We do not deliver on 25, 26 and 27 December and the shop is closed. From 28 to 31 December we deliver again, on 31 December in the 9–12 time window. We accept online orders for New Year's Eve until 5 p.m. on 30 December. The shop is open until 6 p.m. on 22 and 23 December and on 28–30 December, and until 12 noon on 31 December. On 1, 2 and 3 January 2027 the shop is closed and we do not deliver.
Monika, KvětinyExpres.cz
Related: Christmas: flowers, Advent wreaths and decorations, How to Grow Amaryllis, Growing a Christmas Cactus, Decorating a Grave at Christmas: Evergreens, Holly, Wreaths.
