Poinsettias, contrary to popular belief, are perennial houseplants. As with all plants grown in pots, a poinsettia needs to be repotted regularly. When repotting is on the agenda and what you need to consider.
When and how should you repot a poinsettia?
To repot a poinsettia, choose spring after flowering as the ideal time. Remove old soil and diseased roots before placing the plant in fresh substrate. Keep it moderately moist and only fertilize after a few weeks.
Repot poinsettia every year
You should repot a poinsettia every year, even if the pot has not yet become too small. The ideal substrate for poinsettias consists largely of peat (€8.00 on Amazon), which decomposes over the course of the year. The soil should therefore be replaced regularly.
If you can reuse the old pot, clean it thoroughly before replanting the poinsettia. New pots should also be completely clean so that no germs or fungal spores can spread.
The best time to repot
A poinsettia is repotted after flowering in spring. You should only replant it later if you need to save it from dying.
Pruning roots when repotting
- Cut off spent inflorescences
- rinse old soil carefully
- Short diseased, dry roots
- Fill the pot with fresh substrate
- Insert plant and press firmly
- keep moderately moist
Carefully remove the poinsettia from the pot. Rinse the old substrate under running water.
Take a close look at the root ball. Cut off any roots that are dry or rotten. If you are growing a poinsettia as a bonsai, reduce the root ball to keep the plant compact.
Place the poinsettia in the pot and gently press down the fresh substrate.
Care after repotting
After repotting, do not keep the poinsettia too moist. Above all, avoid waterlogging. Fertilizing is not necessary in the first few weeks after transplanting as the fresh substrate contains sufficient nutrients.
If you have the opportunity, keep the poinsettia on the balcony or terrace over the summer. Otherwise, continue to care for it on the windowsill.
So that the poinsettia can develop its colored bracts, you must first put it in the dark or darker area for a few weeks.
Tip
Poinsettias usually recover very quickly from repotting. However, give the plant a grace period and do not place it directly in the sun for the first few weeks.
