The poinsettia leaves, which were so pretty when I first bought them, are starting to curl around the edges. After that, the leaves wither, curl up and eventually fall off.
I did some research and found that you should keep your bedroom warm (not too cold) and dry. I’ll tell you more about the specifics later, like what temperature to keep it at.
Since it is generally considered a winter flower, you can assume it thrives in cold climates. And you might be wondering if you should remove the rolled up leaves or leave them alone. But why do the leaves curl in the first place and what can you do about it?
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Why do poinsettia leaves curl and wrinkle?
The main causes of curling or wrinkling of poinsettia leaves are cold weather (more than 50-60°F is needed), lack of sun, lack of water, and root rot.
The poinsettia is known as a Christmas plant, so it may seem like it can survive the cold. However, the poinsettia is actually a tropical plant that comes from Mexico.
So if you leave your poinsettia in the cold, the leaves will curl up because it doesn’t like the cold.
At temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), it begins to shed its leaves, and at 32 degrees Fahrenheit it dies.
Our house freezes below freezing in the winter, even indoors, so I was wondering if that’s why you need to be a little more careful when growing poinsettias in a cold climate.
It’s sad when a poinsettia, which means “good luck” in floral language, loses its power, so let’s protect it now!
Curled Poinsettia Leaves: Caused by Temperature or Drought?
Poinsettia temperature of around 40°F is enough to prevent curling.
If you want your plants to thrive, you will need to keep them in a warm place where the temperature stays at 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
It’s even easier to grow poinsettias in the summer than in the winter. Since it’s too cold for them to thrive outside in the winter, it’s best to bring them indoors to prevent them from curling up.
Since it is colder at night at the door and near the window, it is better to place the poinsettia in a warmer place during the day, for example on a table.
Poinsettias are sensitive to temperature changes, so even if the room is nice and warm during the day while you’re awake, it may be too cold for them at night.
Also be careful if you want to keep the poinsettia warm by placing it near the air conditioner. Poinsettias are also sensitive to drying out or low humidity, so it’s not a good idea to place them where the air conditioning hits them directly.
Poinsettia leaves can become crisp in a day if you leave them where cool air from the air conditioner is blowing directly on them.
Poinsettia Leaves Curling Due to Improper Watering Practices
Later, the leaves may wilt and curl if the poinsettia does not receive enough water. They will wither and die if you stop doing something to help them, so go ahead and water them again.
Poinsettia leaves can also curl if the plant has rotten roots from too much water.
The roots can rot if you leave the water in the dish for more than a week. As the poinsettia’s roots rot, the lower leaves turn yellow and the leaves curl, shrink and drop off.
At this point, it is a bad idea to give poinsettia fertilizer in an attempt to make the flower healthier, as this will stress the plant, possibly leading to the death of the poinsettia.
Use a sprayer instead of pouring water directly into the pot when watering poinsettias in the winter.
Lack of sufficient sunlight can cause poinsettia leaves to curl
Poinsettias should be kept out of direct sunlight, but if they don’t get enough sun, the leaves can curl up as well. The lower leaves of the poinsettia in particular dry out and fall off.
Move your poinsettia to a location where it can receive at least some direct sunlight.
However, exposing a sick poinsettia to direct sunlight is not safe, so expose it for 2-3 hours a day and see how it adapts.
(It gets cold near the window at night, so move the plant to a warmer location.)
Overfeed the poinsettia with fertilizer
Excessive salt and mineral buildup occurs when too much fertilizer is applied to the poinsettia. This happens because the water cannot wash away all the fertilizer.
This condition is detrimental to the beneficial microorganisms naturally present in the soil. In addition, it will cause a change in the pH of the soil. This condition makes nutrients less accessible to the plant.
Additionally, over-fertilization can cause plants to spurt in growth with underdeveloped roots. Such a poor root structure may not supply enough nutrients and moisture to the whole plant.
All of these conditions stress the poinsettia, causing slow, stunted growth. Leaf drop, yellowing and curling will also occur.
What to do if poinsettia leaves curl or wrinkle
If your poinsettia’s leaves are wrinkled or curled and no longer look healthy, you may not be able to enjoy them during the holiday season as more leaves will likely drop in the next few days.
However, if you take good care of the poinsettia, it can bloom again in the spring if the roots are still healthy.
We will see
How do you know if a poinsettia will live and thrive?
Check the “stem color” of a curly leaf poinsettia to find out.
- If the stalk is still green, there is hope for healing.
- Discolored and wrinkled stems – maybe it’s time to give up.
It is necessary to change the way you care for your poinsettia when the stem is still green, indicating that it is still alive.
Poinsettias struggle to thrive in environments that are too hot, too humid, too dry, or too extreme.
Here are some ideas for reviving poinsettias with rolled leaves:
- Keep the room with the poinsettia warm (at least 50-60°F).
- Move it to a place where it receives sunlight.
- Dry areas (for example, exposed to direct wind from an air conditioner) should be avoided.
- Move it to a table or other place if it’s cool at night (the door or near a window will be cooler).
- If the soil is dry, water the leaves several times a day (spraying from a sprayer and sprinkling with water).
- Do not use fertilizer from May to September.
- Do not water from May to September. Instead, mist the leaves with water.
- Place the poinsettia in a large clear plastic bag with the pot inside and place it in a warm place.
- If one of the branches starts to turn brown, cut it back to the green part.
- Do not water if the roots appear to be rotting.
- Cut off discolored branches.
If the poinsettia continues to grow, you may need to move it to a larger container to ensure the roots have room to breathe.
Here are some non-curling issues you may experience as a result of curling.
Why are my Christmas Eve leaves falling off?
The main culprit of poinsettia leaf drop is overwatering. Too much water leads to root rot.
If this happens, the damaged roots will no longer effectively supply nutrients and moisture to the plant. Consequently, the leaves will wither and fall off.
Why are my poinsettia leaves turning yellow?
There are many possible reasons why poinsettia leaves turn yellow. But this is usually due to a nutrient deficiency.
Make sure they get enough light, water, and fertilizer to make up for this deficiency. Also, avoid keeping them in stressful conditions.
read this article know the causes and treatments for yellowing poinsettia leaves.
Can a poinsettia survive without leaves?
With proper care, a poinsettia can survive without leaves while the stem is still green. Giving them what they need, such as the right temperature, light, winter mist, and a suitable growing medium, will allow them to thrive again.
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