Often wrapped in a sheet of decorative foil, potted poinsettias are pretty enough to give away as gifts.

However, if not handled properly, that foil covering can lead to overwatering issues.

Heres what you gotta know about when and how to water poinsettias after you bring them home.

watering a poinsettia

Ziga Plahutar / Getty Images

How Much Water Do Poinsettias Need?

Inspect your newly bought poinsettia to determine whether it needs water.

Water enough so that the soil is kept consistently moist.

Poinsettia

Yiming Chen / Getty Images

Depending on the environment, your plant might need water every few days or only once a week.

Yiming Chen / Getty Images

Want more gardening tips?

What Is the Best Method for Watering Poinsettias?

Poinsettias

Clive Nichols / Getty Images

Ideally, youll check the soil regularly and thoroughly water the plant before it shows any signs of stress.

Tip

Poinsettias are raised in greenhouses with high relative humidity.

Watering alone isnt enough to counter this.Use a humidifieror place plants together on apebble tray.

Poinsettia

Kate Stoupas / Getty Images

To avoid overwatering, remove the decorative cover before watering, or punch holes into it.

ensure the pot has large drainage holes and move the plant to another pot if necessary.

Poinsettias are watered from the top until the water drips out of the drainage holes.

Poinsettias do best in bright, indirect light and temperatures between 65 and 75F.

Unless you live in a frost-free climate, you should keep your poinsettias inside and never on the porch.

Poinsettias are sensitive to temperatures below 50F and they wont survive frost.

How to Care for Poinsettia.