Every year around the holidays, garden centers and grocery stores are flooded with beautiful poinsettias. But come January, most of these festive plants end up in the trash because they’ve started to look a little sad. It’s a shame, because with just a little TLC, you can actually keep them alive and get them to bloom again next year!
Growing Poinsettias Year-Round
In their native Mexico, poinsettias aren’t just disposable tabletop plants—they grow into sturdy, long-lived shrubs. Since they aren’t winter-hardy at all, we can’t plant them outside year-round in our climate. However, you can definitely keep them going as perennials with the right routine.
During the chilly months, your poinsettia makes for great indoor decor. Once the threat of frost has passed in the spring, you can actually move it out to your balcony or patio. If you’d rather keep it indoors, just find a bright, cool spot for it to spend the summer. Either way, consistent care is the secret sauce to making sure your plant grows strong enough to bloom again.
Getting the Care Just Right
The foundation of a healthy poinsettia starts with the right location. These plants can be a bit finicky! While you’re keeping yours indoors during the winter, it’s going to need:
- A bright, sunny spot
- Protection from too much direct, scorching sunlight
- Warm temperatures (around 70°F), but keep it away from hot radiators or vents
- No drafts—make sure to shield it from cold air when you open windows
- Regular but light watering
- No standing water (they hate “wet feet”!)
- Regular feeding with fertilizer
Moving Your Poinsettia Outdoors for Summer
Around March or April, give your poinsettia a good trim and repot it into fresh soil. It’s a good idea to gently rinse the old soil off the roots under running water. If you see any mushy or dried-out roots, snip those off. Give your plant a new pot with fresh potting mix and make sure there’s a drainage layer at the bottom to prevent waterlogging. Once repotted, place it somewhere bright, warm, and draft-free. If the midday summer sun gets too intense, make sure to give it a little shade.
When the autumn air starts to get chilly, it’s time to bring the plant back inside. This is when the magic happens! To get those signature colorful bracts to return, you need to manipulate the light cycle. For about six to eight weeks, your poinsettia needs a strict “12 hours of light, 12 hours of total darkness” schedule. If you stick to this routine, your plant will reward you with those beautiful red (or pink, or white!) leaves just in time for Christmas.
