Keep poinsettias looking good this season and through the next year, says Amateur Gardening’s Michelle Wheeler.

Now that Christmas day is just a memory, poinsettias can be seen in many homes. Their colourful bracts (modified leaves) are a delight.

Often thrown away when they lose their colour or wither away, poinsettias actually make a rather stunning houseplant with their green shapely leaves in the summer. And it is possible to get the plant to turn itself back into the Christmas beauty we love from November onwards, by carrying out some simple care. Poinsettias are known as short day length plants; this is the title given to a group of plants, which ‘flower’ when the days are short and night time is long.

On a commercial scale flowering is forced in glasshouses that are blacked out for long periods, but it is possible to do this at home too. Check the chart to see how to look after your poinsettia over the year so the bracts colour up.

Poinsettias were thought to be poisonous, but the RHS has recently reclassified them as a nonpoisonous plant. However they are still classed as a skin and eye irritant, so to be safe, wear gloves when handling.

Poinsettias commonly die off after a few weeks in the home through no fault of the owner. This is usually down to bad handling before delivery to the retailer. British grown plants will have been less stressed, so buy UK grown if possible.

Quick Tip
When leaves fall from your poinsettia, clear them promptly so they do not harbour diseases

Feeding
A monthly feed is best, using a high potassium fertilizer low in nitrogen. Feeding is more important when the plant is putting on new growth in summer.

Temperature & light
Provide bright, filtered light over the Christmas period.
Keep away from strong direct light as this can scorch the leaves.
They do not like being in a cold draughty place, keep away from doors.
Keep the temperature above 13°C (55°F) Preferably around 18°c (64°F)
Do not place directly above a strong heat source such as a radiator

Watering
Do notover water poinsettias as this can damage the plant and cause them to die.
Only water when the surface of the compost has begun to dry out. Poinsettias like high humidity so mist regularly to extended the flowering period

Care calendar

• Reduce watering through Feb- March
• In April prune plants back to 4in(10cm)
• In early May move plants to a south-facing windowsill or cool greenhouse
• Take softwood cuttings if needed in May but remember to wear gloves
• When new shoots appear, repot using John innes No3 with added grit
• Keep temperature at 60-65°F(15-18°c)
• In November, encourage flowering by placing the plant in in a dark room with no artificial light sourcesafter it has had a period of 12 hours daylight