Help: Poinsettia leaves are curling up

It adorns many living rooms in winter and, as a tropical plant, makes certain demands. If they are not met, he shows the u. a. on curled leaves. But what are the causes?

cold as a cause

In its full glory, the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a real eye-catcher. But the joy fades relatively quickly when the plant weakens. This is a sign that she has a problem. If the leaves curl up, hang limp and fall off, cold and drafts can be the causes. Heat can also severely affect this plant. However, it is particularly sensitive to low temperatures. If she stands in a place that is too cold for a long time, she can react with a cold shock. Even drafts, both cold and warm, are not good for this extraordinary plant.

remedy

• Place Euphorbia pulcherrima in a light and warm place
• Plants damaged by drafts in a sheltered place
• additional protection against the cold of the ground
• to do this, place them on a cork pad or similar insulation
• optimal temperatures between 18 and 20 degrees
• not significantly warmer, not colder than 16 degrees
• avoid strong temperature fluctuations
• otherwise there is a risk of blade damage

Caution is already required when buying a poinsettia and transporting it to your living room at home, because sales rooms usually do not meet the requirements of these plants. Warm packaging can protect them from damage caused by the cold during transport. It can also be easily transported in a standard cool box.

Leaf damage from drought

If the leaves of the poinsettia curl up, turn yellow and wither, incorrect watering can also be the cause. The plants can suffer from a lack of water or prolonged dryness as well as excessive moisture. If the floor dries out, the heating air is often too dry or the sun is too intense. In some cases, the soil can also dry out due to insufficient humidity.

You can do something about this:

• Cut off all dead plant parts
• Place the plant and its pot in a bucket of water for a short time
• soak well with water
• Water should be low in lime and lukewarm
• then remove the pan and drain well
• additionally spray leaves with water for high humidity
• Water requirement increased, especially during flowering
• Check soil moisture every three to four days

Due to constant wetness

Most commonly, the poinsettia is overwatered or watered too frequently, which can damage leaves, shoots, and roots. Symptoms usually appear first on the lower leaves. In particular, if root rot has progressed so far that the trunk has become soft, the poinsettia can no longer be saved. As a rule, a lack of water is much easier to remedy than the beginning of root rot due to waterlogging.

• if the plant is damaged by moisture, pot it out quickly
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect pot
• or use a new pot
• Take the plant out of the old pot
• Remove old substrate and rotten root parts
• equip clean pot with drainage layer
• then fill in fresh, loose substrate
• Insert the poinsettia in the middle
• just as deep as before in the old pot
• fill with soil, press soil
• Do not water two days after repotting, later moderately

Lack of light as the cause

Euphorbia pulcherrima needs plenty of natural light most of the year. If it is too dark, its leaves curl up and fall off. Then you should put it in a more suitable place.

• choose a bright and warm location
• without direct and blazing sun
• ideally in front of an east or west window
• South window only with sun protection
• in the warm months also outdoors
• but then in slightly shaded places
• begin with light deprivation at the end of September at the earliest

Despite everything, the poinsettia needs more than 12 hours a day for several weeks in autumn Darkness without artificial light sources around the characteristic red bracts and flowers to train. Because the poinsettia is a so-called short-day plant. If you expose it to light for more than twelve hours a day in autumn, it usually refuses to flower. The leaves remain green and the bracts do not turn red.

preventive measures

As is so often the case, prevention is the best way to protect plants, and this also applies to poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). If you pay attention to a few things, you can prevent both the complete drying out and the waterlogging of the substrate.

• Water moderately depending on location and temperature
• preferably with a weekly immersion bath
• until no more air bubbles rise
• or fill coasters with room-warm water
• Place plant inside for 15 minutes every two to three days
• then remove excess water in the coaster
• until the next watering substrate approx. let dry two centimeters deep
• Never let the inside of the bale dry out completely
• pay attention to higher humidity
• Do not place the plant near a heater or in direct sunlight

Things to note when buying

In order not to bring already damaged plants home, you should pay attention to healthy plants when buying.

• should have lots of green leaves
• the darker, the more robust
• no yellowed, dried up or curled leaves
• Soil neither dry nor wet
• Ideally, the flowers have not yet opened
• Avoid specimens with soft shoots

Learn more about indoor plants in winter