Grow More Gorgeous Poinsettias From One Plant With A Simple Propagation Technique

With their deep green foliage and crimson, star-shaped blooms, poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are an iconic symbol of the holiday season. They're often treated as annuals because of their wintertime popularity, but poinsettias are actually perennial in zones 9 to 11. If you live in a colder climate, there's a technique you can use to grow more poinsettias to enjoy year after year. Propagating from cuttings is an easy, fun, and rewarding way to grow more of these vibrant plants.

You can easily propagate some greenery from cuttings with only a few supplies that you likely already own. You'll need small pruning shears or scissors, a potting medium like soil, small starter pots, plastic bags, and a spray bottle. Rooting hormone is optional, it can promote faster growth. In just a few short weeks, you'll have a brand-new plant to grow and enjoy. Poinsettias grow beautifully indoors during the winter and are a lovely outdoor garden addition in the warmer months.

A successful propagation starts with a healthy cutting. Choose a 3 to 4-inch section from an actively growing stem and remove the lower leaves. If you choose to use rooting hormone, dip the cut end into it before placing it into your potting medium. You have a few options for potting medium, and you don't have to use soil. Potting soil is a great option, but you can also use materials like peat moss, coconut husks, and even floral foam.

Replicating your poinsettia's native, warm, and humid environment will help it thrive. You can increase humidity for the plants by spraying the leaves with water and placing a plastic bag over them. After 4 weeks, your cutting should have sprouted new roots. At this point, you can transfer the plant to a larger pot of potting soil with plenty of drainage. Keep your new poinsettia in partial shade at a minimum of 50 degrees Fahrenheit and watch it grow.