# Calling those Green Thumbs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2001, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-those-green-thumbs/48063 "2001-01-02T07:02:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-those-green-thumbs/48063/1 "2001-01-02T07:02:13Z")
I have a poinsettia here that’s dropping a leaf a day or so, and I’ve been keeping the soil moist. What might up with this plant? I thought they did well inside. Dave ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-those-green-thumbs/48063/2 "2001-01-02T13:37:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dave Swaney \* > \*\*I have a poinsettia here that’s dropping a leaf a day or so, and I’ve been keeping the soil moist. What might up with this plant? I thought they did well inside. > > Dave \*\* Leaf fall is normal in late winter or early spring. If it’s dropping a lot of leaves, perhaps the soil is TOO moist (usual killer of houseplants is too much water). Make sure if the pot is in a saucer that there’s no sitting water. If you havent been overwatering, it may just think it’s late winter already. Sunset magazine says to store the plant in a cool spot when the leaves start to fall. Since it sounds like you intend to keep the plant, once frosts are past you can put it outdoors in the sun. Indoors they also like sunny windows. In my area os California, we can grow these outdoors. Apparently these get very leggy also, and they look better pruned. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-those-green-thumbs/48063/3 "2001-01-02T15:00:23Z")
You are aware that poinsettias are generally considered a disposable plant? There are lots of websites that address the issue of getting them to rebloom. Since I see that you don’t live in the “overheated dry indoor air” Midwest, my advice to you to “mist it” won’t help. Check for red spider mites? Other than that, I would just guess that maybe its 15 minutes are up. [shrug] ---
**Author:** ![Shiva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiva)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-those-green-thumbs/48063/4 "2001-01-02T16:17:21Z")
Poinsettia care from the US’s largest Point grower: [http://www.ecke.com/html/h\_corp/corp\_pntcare.html](http://www.ecke.com/html/h_corp/corp_pntcare.html) They don’t address leaf drop specifically, but do give good care guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![Many\_Crows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Many\_Crows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Many_Crows)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-those-green-thumbs/48063/5 "2001-01-02T17:11:00Z")
In my entire life I have NEVER had a pointsettia without springtails in the soil. These are tiny little bugs that you have to be a myope to see. When you water the plant you can see them jumping. By the middle of January they have lost half of their leaves and generally look like \*\*\*\*. I got so sick of trying to nurse these suckers along that this year I refused to take one home…and feel much better for it.