What should I do with my poinsettia after the holidays?

If given good care in the home, poinsettias should remain attractive for 2 to 3 months.  Toss the poinsettia when you grow tired of it or it becomes unattractive. 

Tips to have the poinsettia bloom again:

March to Late May

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.  When new growth appears, place the poinsettia in a sunny window.  Continue to water the plant when the soil surface becomes dry to the touch.  Fertilize every 2 weeks with a dilute fertilizer solution. 

Late May to Mid-September

In late May, move the poinsettia outdoors.  Harden or acclimate the plant to the outdoors by placing it in a shady, protected area for 2 or 3 days, then gradually expose it to longer periods of direct sun.  The poinsettia should be properly hardened in 7 to 10 days.  Once hardened, dig a hole in an area that receives 6 to 8 hours of sunlight and set the pot into the ground.  To obtain a compact, bushy plant, pinch or cut off the shoot tips once or twice from late June to mid-August.  Continue to water and fertilize the plant outdoors. 

Mid-September to December

The poinsettia should be brought indoors in mid-September.  Place the plant in a bright, sunny window.  The poinsettia is a short-day plant.  Short-day plants grow vegetatively during the long days of summer and produce flowers when days become shorter in fall.  To get the poinsettia to flower for Christmas, the plant must receive complete darkness from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am daily from early October until the bracts develop good color, usually early December.  Protect the plant from light by placing it in a closet or by covering with a box.  During the remainder of the day, the poinsettia should be in a sunny window.