With Christmas just over a month away, many Britons may have noticed poinsettias appearing in garden centres and supermarkets.
The festive houseplants are native to Mexico and Central America and have become popular for their red and green foliage, often used to create Christmas floral displays.
The plants are notoriously fussy, with most people’s poinsettias dying after the festive period.
One reason poinsettias often wilt and look sad is incorrect watering. They need moist soil but should never be overwatered, as this can lead to root rot.
Root rot occurs when a plant has been consistently overwatered, and its roots sit in water.
It’s common in houseplants like orchids and often occurs when plant owners don’t allow a plant to drain after being watered.
With this in mind, garden watering experts Easy Garden Irrigation have shared their advice for watering Christmas poinsettias.
Easy Garden Irrigation’s managing director Sean Lade said it’s important houseplant owners water poinsettias carefully.
Sean told Express.co.uk: “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 expert at Plantum, an app that helps identify plants and improves plant care, agreed that plants should not be overwatered to the point of “sogginess”.
She told Express.co.uk: “Keep the potting mix slightly moist at all times. 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.”
