When pruning and re-potting poinsettias, be sure to wear gloves. Explore. It is from him that the plant gets its common name. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where outdoor temperatures are around 70°F, you can keep your poinsettia outside, and make sure it gets at least part sun, or four to six hours of outdoor light a day. This post may contain affiliate links. Avoid this by placing your poinsettia, pot and all, in a basin filled with a few inches of water and allow it sit for 1 to 2 hours. They are not huge fans of temperatures below 50 degrees {we have that in common}. :). How to Keep Your Poinsettias Alive This Year. Jill likes cooking, writing, painting, & stewardship, and studies gardening through MD Master Gardener & Master Naturalist programs. A healthy, fresh Poinsettia plant will last longer. A healthy, fresh Poinsettia plant will last longer. Simply cutting the bottom off the wrapper will go a long way toward making your beautiful poinsettia last longer. I’ve always been told that they are poisonous to cats and dogs????? The flower is typically compact and green. 3 to 4 days before: Moisturize daily to make your tan last longer, and exfoliate so that your previous tan fades evenly. Allow your plants to drain {you may want to punch additional holes in the bottom of your container}. No sign of turning color just yet however. Jil. If you have never taken the time to look up how to care for poinsettias {please imagine me raising my hand here}, here’s a quick and dirty guide to making them last much longer–maybe those pretty pink, red, and yellow leaves can actually sustain you through the long dreary lifeless winter. Re-blooming a poinsettia for next Christmas is a challenge that will bring you great satisfaction. Nice to hear from you, J. Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on November 20, 2012: I planted one of the real poinsettia plants outside after the Christmas season last year and it is growing and looks very healthy. For the holidays, keep your poinsettia next to a window that gets bright light during the day. How to Pick the Perfect Poinsettia. Bracts are leaf-life structures that grow around a plant's actual flowers. Jill. Check your poinsettia daily and follow these tips. Beautiful photos! It traps water, preventing the excess from draining away. Touch the soil and make sure it is neither too wet or overly dry. Q. Gardening. With care, however, they can live—and look good—long past the holidays. Happy holidays! Jill Spencer (author) from United States on November 17, 2012: Wow, Liz! Who doesn’t appreciate a lovely, vibrant poinsettia during the holiday season? If you want a poinsettia to last for 6 weeks inside your home, go with red. How to care for a poinsettia - and make it last until Christmas and beyond ... - Poinsettias are designed to provide colour for at least 2-3 weeks and, with ideal conditions, a little longer. 6 Comments. Poinsett introduced the poinsettia to America in 1828. Proper care at home will help the poinsettia last longer. This hub seems full of great advice for caring for a poinsettia and lots of people will love it, but I wonder if it's too late to extend the life of this year's poinsettias? Yes, found that out when I was pregnant with my oldest many years ago., that was hardly ever watered. Jill Spencer (author) from United States on November 18, 2012: Hey, Maren. They do just fine. How to Select a Good Poinsettia. The secret to keeping poinsettia plants healthy and happy is knowing what continued care they need long after the holidays end. Thanks for sharing. By Laura Hanrahan. Outdoor Spell When June arrives and the possibility of frost is past, it's time to move the poinsettia outside. I will try it. Don’t worry about how long of a strip to use at this point. Poinsettias that are exposed to temperatures under 50 degrees F (10 degrees Celcius) often drop their leaves. They usually come wrapped in foil so peel it back if you can to examine the plant. During the daytime, the ideal temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while at night the plant should be exposed to slightly cooler temperatures of about 55 degrees F. A. Required fields are marked *. Return the poinsettias indoors beginning around October. They didn’t really become a popular Christmas decoration until the 19th century when a U.S. Mexican Ambassador brought them back to the states. Just follow these simple rules: Light: Place your poinsettias in an area where they'll receive a minimum of six hours of bright (but not direct) sunlight each day. Make sure the Poinsettias get a specific amount of light. Doing this from around the end of September to Thanksgiving will cause the poinsettia to change colors. Poinsettias don't mind being moved around, and that's good news for those of us who use them as decorations during the holidays. Use the poinsettia in two layers: one cut so the leaves just skim the table, with others on a longer stem, standing proud, and scatter only silver things in between. Taking the foil off the bottom, I would not of thought of thanks for the tip. Jill Spencer (author) from United States on November 25, 2012: Hi faythef. Not living ones either because of allergy to them. Poinsettias do not like to be watered from the top down. Thank you for an informative hub because I didn't know the plant is poisonous! However, you … I will follow your advice and see what happens. Look for plants with fully colored bracts. Keep your poinsettias in a warm spot {not too warm, though}. Pick the best out of the bunch. You can’t, really. Thanks for stopping by! Allow the pot to drain thoroughly and then return it to its tray.