How to Keep a Poinsettia Alive After the Christmas Season

Most people don't know how to keep a poinsettia plant alive once the holiday season has passed, and most often it ends up in the garbage can once the Christmas tree has been taken down and the decorations put away. A poinsettia plant makes a beautiful indoor plant and with a little special care it is possible to keep it alive until next Christmas when it will bloom again.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Keep your poinsettia plant inside until all signs of frost are gone.

2. Move the plant outside once the signs of frost have passed. Keep it in the pot it came in for best results.

3. Keep the plant in a semi-sunny location allowing some early morning sun then afternoon shade. Do not put in direct sunlight.

4. Water the plant when the soil feels dry, but be careful not to overwater as this can kill the poinsettia plant.

5. Fertilize your plant about every two weeks beginning in the summertime.

6. Prune your poinsettia in the spring and again in the fall, cutting about 1 inch but not more.

7. Bring your plant back indoors in early to late September, before the first frost.

8. Keep the plant in a very dark location like a bathroom or closet until around the middle of November. This helps to ensure that your poinsettia will bloom again around Christmas.

9. Place the poinsettia in full sunlight and buds should appear by Thanksgiving and be in full bloom by Christmas.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not plant in the ground outside since digging the plant back up to bring indoors in the fall could damage the roots and kill it.
• Do not overwater your plant as this could eventually kill it.

[jillmaria]

on 9/20/2009 Informative article, thanks and 5 stars!!