What do you do with poinsettias at Christmas?

To care for your plant during the winter, definitely keep it away from the cold. Poinsettias are not frost tolerant at all. They should be kept in temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees. They need bright light during the day, a little fertilizer when needed and water.

How do you take care of a poinsettia year round?

Place them in a light-filled room away from drafts. They do best in rooms between 55 and 65 F at night and 65 to 70 F during the day. Keep poinsettias away from cooler locations and avoid exposing them to temperatures below 50 F. Water poinsettias when the soil is dry 2 to 3 inches down.

“Home gardeners generally keep their poinsettias one or two years. If they’re really dedicated, maybe a little longer. But the life span for interior plants when you live in the North is measured in months, not years.”

Toss the poinsettia when you grow tired of it or it becomes unattractive. For those home gardeners who enjoy a challenge, it is possible to get the poinsettia to bloom again next season. Cut the stems back to within 4 to 6 inches of the soil in March. The poinsettia may also be repotted at this time.