Can anyone give me a good, easy tip on how to keep Poinsettias yearly

Teresa's Garden Blog

· December 16, 2016

If you have bought or received a poinsettia this Christmas or Holiday season, and you just cannot bear to part with it when it stops blooming, here are some suggestions to keep it for next year..

~ By early December they should be in full bloom and full bloom normally last at least 6-8 weeks. In most cases they will continue to have some blooms or colour until March or April.

During blooming, keep the plant watered as needed, allowing the soil to dry almost completely – but n...ot quite, between watering

Do NOT place it near a heating vent.

Around New years – fertilize with a 20-20-20 fertilizer

When the colour fades (around April) keep it close to a sunny widow and fertilize with a diluted 20-20-20 when you water. Cut the stems back by ½.

In late May or early June, after the last frost and when temperatures stay above 10C, repot it into new soil and put it outside for the summer or plant it outside for the summer, placed in light shade or on the east side. Water when dry.

In late August repot it if you put it in the ground.

Bring it in the house after checking carefully that you have no hitchhiking bugs and cut the stems back leaving 3 or 4 leaves per stem, and place in a sunny window. Water and fertilize as needed.

To make it bloom for Christmas, from Sept 20 until November 20th, keep it in light from 8 am til 5 pm, and put it in the dark –

with NO light from 5pm til 8am

They should be blooming like mad!

Back to the beginning….By early December they should be in full bloom and full bloom normally last at least 6-8 weeks. In most cases they will continue to have some blooms or colour until March or April.......

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season’s Greeting, Joyous Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah and all the best for a Glorious Yuletide!