Photo credit: iStock/zennie

Bright red poinsettias are a beautiful way to add holiday cheer to your home this time of year. But do you know how to keep them thriving throughout the holiday season? The Memphis Area Master Gardeners offer these helpful poinsettia selection and care tips on their website so you can keep your plants looking beautiful until the new year. Learn more at memphisareamastergardeners.org/the-poinsettia-plant.

• When purchasing a poinsettia, select a plant with a thick, sturdy stem that has dark green foliage down the stem to the soil. 
• Avoid purchasing poinsettias displayed in paper or plastic sleeves, which may cause quicker deterioration. If your poinsettia does have a sleeve, remove it immediately when you arrive home. 
• For the longest-lasting poinsettias, select plants with little or no yellow pollen showing. 
• Poinsettias are tropicals that love sunlight. Place them in windows facing south, east or west where they will receive a maximum amount of indoor sunlight. 
• Keep your plant away from warm or cold drafts caused by radiators, air registers, or open doors and windows. 
• Keep your plants at a consistent temperature, no cooler than 60 degrees at night and no warmer than 80 degrees during the day. 
• Make sure the container and decorative foil both have at least one drainage hole. 
• Keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy. When the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch, water the plant until water runs out the drainage hole. 

See more: Fact or Fiction: Are Poinsettias Poisonous?

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