Pruning a poinsettia is an essential gardening task that helps to maintain the plant’s health and appearance. Poinsettias are popular holiday plants known for their vibrant red or white bracts, which are often mistaken for flowers. Proper pruning encourages bushier growth, promotes flowering, and prevents the plant from becoming leggy or overgrown.
The ideal time to prune a poinsettia is in the spring or early summer, once the danger of frost has passed. Pruning should be done with sharp, clean shears or scissors. Start by removing any dead, diseased, or damaged leaves or stems. Then, cut back the remaining stems by about one-third to one-half their length. Make sure to make clean cuts just above a leaf node, which is the point where a leaf attaches to the stem.
