GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn — Now that Christmas is over, you don’t have to let your poinsettias wither away.
They can last as a houseplant and bloom for you year after year. It’s not the easiest plant to keep, but follow these steps and you’ll have it reblooming just in time for the holidays next year.
First, it needs lots of bright light. A sunny south or west window is best. In the summer, you can bring it outside into part sun.
In January, if you see new growth, give it some fertilizer according to the package instructions. You can fertilize again mid-summer.
Give water regularly, letting the soil just dry out before watering again.
If your poinsettia becomes leggy this winter, cut it back to about 5 inches. Trim it again in July.
From the fall equinox to Thanksgiving, keep the poinsettias in a dark and cool location that gets at least 16 hours of complete darkness. This is important. Keep watering it regularly and fertilize at one quarter the regular strength. Also remember to rotate the plant to give it even light.
At Thanksgiving bring the plant back out into a bright, sunny location. Reduce the watering slightly.
Come Christmas you’ll be enjoying your blooming poinsettia and it’s time to start the process all over again for the following year!
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more of Grow with KARE:
Watch the latest gardening tips and tricks in our YouTube playlist and don't forget to join the Grow with KARE Facebook group: