Poinsettia Care

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.