Indoors, place the poinsettia in a bright area where the temperature will remain constant. Water as needed and fertilize with a complete fertilizer every two to three weeks. During the summer, the plant may go outdoors in a partly shaded area. After the danger of frost is past in the spring, and minimum temperatures reach 55 degrees, place the plant on the patio or sink it into the ground. Turn the pot once a week to prevent roots from growing through the drainage hole.
Poinsettias are short-day photoperiodic plants.
This means they set buds and produce flowers as the autumn nights lengthen, blooming naturally during November or December. To flower and develop colored bracts, a poinsettia must receive as much sunshine as possible during the day. Starting about October 1, it also needs at least 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night at temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees. Some modern cultivars may show color as much as two weeks before Thanksgiving. Continue fertilizating and watering to encourage good growth.