Poinsettia Care Tips

Poinsettias are one of the longest-lasting blooming plants available to consumers.

To choose the perfect poinsettia:

• Pick a plant with small, tightly clustered buds in the center.

• Look for crisp, bright, undamaged foliage.

• Avoid plants displayed in drafty or crowded areas.

To keep the poinsettia blooming:

• When surface soil is dry to the touch, water thoroughly. Discard excess water in the saucer.

• To prolong color, keep a temperature range of 60 degrees for night and 72 degrees for day. High humidity is preferable.

• Place plant away from hot or cold drafts, and protect from cold winds.

To rebloom for the next season:

• During winter, continue to follow holiday upkeep tips.

• March 17 (St. Patrick's Day): When bracts fade, cut stems back to eight inches above soil line.

• Continue to water regularly.

• Lightly fertilize with a good, balanced all-purpose fertilizer every three to four weeks.

• When temperatures are warm, place plant outdoors; first in indirect, then direct sunlight. Avoid temperatures below 50 degrees throughout the summer.

• July 4 (Independence Day): Cut back new growth stems. Repot if needed.

• Early September (Labor Day): Move plant inside. Provide six or more hours of direct light.

• October 1 through mid-December: Confine plant to complete darkness for 14 hours, giving it 10 hours of natural light daily. This will set the buds and cause bracts to color.

History and Legend of the Poinsettia
Poinsettia Care Tips
Poinsettia Toxicity Myth

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