What to do with your poinsettia now

The holidays are over. You have taken down your Christmas décor, but you are looking at the beautiful poinsettia plant sitting on your counter. What on earth are you to do with it now? While poinsettias are most used for decorating during the winter holidays, they can also be attractive as green plants throughout the year. There are two schools of thought about post-holiday poinsettias. One is to just get rid of them, like your Christmas tree. The other is to keep them alive and get them to re-bloom next Christmas. I can tell you from personal experience, it is not easy getting them to re-bloom, and there is no guarantee that they will re-bloom even with year-round care. But if you would like to try, Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension professor at the University of Vermont, offers a way to provide extra attention to your poinsettia by tying your care schedule to specific holidays. Here is how it works: New Year's Day: After Christmas, start fertilizing your plant when you see new growth (new green leaves, stems, bracts). Use an all-purpose household plant fertilizer. Mix with water at half the recommended strength. Feed your poinsettia every three to four weeks. Valentine's Day: Check your plant for signs of insects such as white fly. If your plant has become long and leggy, cut it back to about 5 inches tall. St. Patrick's Day: Remove faded and dried parts of the plant. Add more soil, preferably a commercially available sterile soil mix. Keep the plant in a bright interior location. Memorial Day: Trim off 2-3 inches of branches to promote side branching. Repot to a larger container using a sterile growing mix. Father's Day: Move the plant outside for the summer; place it in indirect light. You can transplant it directly into your garden. Fourth of July: Trim the plant again. Move it into full sun. Continue to water and fertilize, but increase the amount to accelerate growth. Labor Day: Move the plant indoors to a spot that gets at least six hours of direct light daily, preferably more. As new growth begins, reduce the amount of fertilizer. Autumnal Equinox: Starting on or near Sept. 21, give the plant at least 13 hours of uninterrupted darkness (put the plant in a closet, basement or under a box) and eight hours of bright light each day. Maintain night temperatures in the low 60-degree range. Continue to water and fertilize. Rotate the plant daily to give all sides even light. Note that during the dark period, the plant cannot receive even the slightest bit of light at any time. Thanksgiving: Discontinue the short day/long night treatment. Put the plant in a sunny area that gets at least six hours of direct light. Reduce water and fertilizer. Christmas: Enjoy your "new" poinsettia. Start the cycle all over again. Casey is an Ohio State University Extension Hancock County Master Gardener Volunteer. Find us on Facebook at "Hancock County Master Gardener Volunteers."