Poinsettias (*Euphorbia pulcherrima*) are a popular plant for the Christmas holiday. You can find these potted plants at florists and garden centers in shades of bright red during the holiday season. Poinsettias feature bracts, which are modified colored leaves that also come in yellow, white, and pink varieties. If you receive a poinsettia as a holiday gift, with proper care, the plant can outlive the [Christmas tree](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-care-for-a-christmas-tree) and rebloom the following winter.
Follow these tips to care for your poinsettia plants during the holiday season:

- __Place poinsettias in a spot with indirect sunlight__. Poinsettias need six to eight hours of indirect sunlight a day. You can place them near a sunny window, but do not expose the plants to cold drafts.
- __Water poinsettias when the surface of the soil feels dry__. Ensure the water runs through the soil to the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, and pour off any excess water. Overwatering will cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off and can lead to root rot.
- __Moderate the growing temperature__. Keep poinsettias in a space with a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit will cause leaf drop. 
After the holidays, poinsettia bracts will gradually shrivel up and fall off, but the plant will rebloom the following holiday season with overwintering and proper care.

1. __Prune your poinsettia plant__. Once the bracts have fallen off, [prune](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-prune-your-plants-and-trees) the plant so the stem is four to six inches tall. Leave one to three leaves on each stem to encourage new growth and keep the plant looking tidy.
2. __Fertilize the poinsettia every two weeks__. As the poinsettia grows new shoots, fertilize the plant with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer. 
3. __Repot the plant in warmer months__. In June, prune the plant back until it’s six inches tall, and repot the plant into a slightly larger container. Fill the pot with well-draining potting soil, and water the plant until the water drains out.
4. __Transport your plant outdoors__. Though poinsettias are usually displayed as indoor plants, over the summer, as the temperatures are warm all day and all night, you can also move the plant outside.
5. __Pinch to encourage side branching__. As the poinsettias grow in July and August, pinch an inch off the tip of each stem to promote side branching. Otherwise, the plant will grow long and leggy. Give the plant a final trim in September—the plant will be primarily green leaves at this point. 
6. __Place the poinsettia in a warm, dark environment__. Poinsettias are short-day plants that need uninterrupted darkness to trigger new bracts. In the fall, transport the poinsettias to a warm place where they can get 14 to 15 hours of complete darkness every day. You can put them in a closet and cover them with a box, though they should still get approximately 9 to 10 hours of daily indirect light. At this point, reduce the amount of fertilizer.
7. __Display your poinsettia plant__. The poinsettia should develop colored bracts by mid-November. After that, discontinue fertilizing and take the plant out to display. Care for the plant as you would under normal conditions during the winter months.
Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.
Poinsettias are a popular holiday plant. With proper care, the festive plants can rebloom the following year.

Poinsettias are a popular holiday plant. With proper care, the festive plants can rebloom the following year.

Poinsettia Care Guide: How to Rebloom Poinsettias

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are a popular plant for the Christmas holiday. You can find these potted plants at florists and garden centers in shades of bright red during the holiday season. Poinsettias feature bracts, which are modified colored leaves that also come in yellow, white, and pink varieties. If you receive a poinsettia as a holiday gift, with proper care, the plant can outlive the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-care-for-a-christmas-tree' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-care-for-a-christmas-tree","linkCopy":"Christmas tree","category":null}'>Christmas tree</a> and rebloom the following winter.

What Are Poinsettias?

Follow these tips to care for your poinsettia plants during the holiday season:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Place poinsettias in a spot with indirect sunlight. Poinsettias need six to eight hours of indirect sunlight a day. You can place them near a sunny window, but do not expose the plants to cold drafts. </li><li class="">Water poinsettias when the surface of the soil feels dry. Ensure the water runs through the soil to the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, and pour off any excess water. Overwatering will cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off and can lead to root rot. </li><li class="">Moderate the growing temperature. Keep poinsettias in a space with a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit will cause leaf drop. </li></ul>

How to Care for Poinsettias 

After the holidays, poinsettia bracts will gradually shrivel up and fall off, but the plant will rebloom the following holiday season with overwintering and proper care.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Prune your poinsettia plant. Once the bracts have fallen off, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-prune-your-plants-and-trees' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-prune-your-plants-and-trees","linkCopy":"prune","category":null}'>prune</a> the plant so the stem is four to six inches tall. Leave one to three leaves on each stem to encourage new growth and keep the plant looking tidy. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Fertilize the poinsettia every two weeks. As the poinsettia grows new shoots, fertilize the plant with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Repot the plant in warmer months. In June, prune the plant back until it’s six inches tall, and repot the plant into a slightly larger container. Fill the pot with well-draining potting soil, and water the plant until the water drains out. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Transport your plant outdoors. Though poinsettias are usually displayed as indoor plants, over the summer, as the temperatures are warm all day and all night, you can also move the plant outside. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Pinch to encourage side branching. As the poinsettias grow in July and August, pinch an inch off the tip of each stem to promote side branching. Otherwise, the plant will grow long and leggy. Give the plant a final trim in September—the plant will be primarily green leaves at this point. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Place the poinsettia in a warm, dark environment. Poinsettias are short-day plants that need uninterrupted darkness to trigger new bracts. In the fall, transport the poinsettias to a warm place where they can get 14 to 15 hours of complete darkness every day. You can put them in a closet and cover them with a box, though they should still get approximately 9 to 10 hours of daily indirect light. At this point, reduce the amount of fertilizer. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Display your poinsettia plant. The poinsettia should develop colored bracts by mid-November. After that, discontinue fertilizing and take the plant out to display. Care for the plant as you would under normal conditions during the winter months. </li></ol>

How to Get Poinsettias to Rebloom

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described &quot;Gangster Gardener.&quot; Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.

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Poinsettias are a popular holiday plant. With proper care, the festive plants can rebloom the following year.

Poinsettias are a popular holiday plant. With proper care, the festive plants can rebloom the following year.
