Poinsettia drooping or wilting

A poinsettia that gets too dry wilts and drops leaves, and its leaves curl. A warm room near a heater dries the pot faster.

If the top of the soil is dry, water until it runs out of the bottom of the pot, then empty the saucer and the foil sleeve.

Too much water can lead to root rot, and then the whole plant can wilt and collapse, sometimes quickly, says Iowa State University Extension. Root rot usually follows watering too often or water standing in the sleeve or saucer.

If the soil is wet and the plant still droops, do not water it. Slide it out of the pot and check the roots: healthy roots are white, rotted roots are brown and mushy. Let the soil dry before the next watering and never let the pot stand in water.

When the leaves and bracts wilt and turn black, especially at the top or the outer edges of the plant, it was cold. Even a few minutes of frost on the way home can do it.

That damage cannot be undone. Keep the plant at 15 to 21 °C (59 to 70 °F), off cold glass and away from outside doors.

Warm, dry air from a heater or heating vent stresses a poinsettia and makes it drop leaves. It also dries the soil faster.

Move it away from radiators and vents. Ordinary room humidity is enough. Do not mist it, because wet bracts can get gray mold.

Push a finger into the soil. Dry: water it through and empty the sleeve. Wet: leave it alone and check the roots.

Then check the spot. Keep it bright, at 15 to 21 °C (59⁠–⁠70 °F), away from drafts and heaters, and water only when the top 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) of soil is dry.