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What to do with those Christmas poinsettias
Garden Tips Newsletter - January 22, 2001

If you wish to keep the poinsettias you bought for Christmas for next year, here are a few simple steps to follow:

1. To prolong flower (bract) color, keep daytime temperatures below 70º F, avoid drafts, vents, and heat sources.

2. Keep soil moderately moist, but not wet.

3. In late March, early April when bracts loose their color -- cut back the poinsettia to about 8" in height and place in indirect sunlight, water regularly.

4. In late May, you can plant the poinsettia outside.

5. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a complete fertilizer.

6. For Christmas color poinsettias should be placed in COMPLETE darkness for 14 CONTINUOUS hours starting October 1st. For the remainder of the day, place the plant in a sunny window.

7. Nighttime temperatures should fall in the 60º F to 70º F range.

8. Water normally.

9. Allow 8 to 10 weeks for poinsettias to put out colorful bracts.

For more information on poinsettia culture see:

These archived newsletters were written by Dr. Lelia Scott Kelly. Kelly is a Horticulture Specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Her office is in the North Mississippi Research & Extension Center, Verona.