By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor University of Vermont Poinsettias are synonymous with the holiday season. To get the longest life and enjoyment from the ones you purchase or receive as gifts, here are some suggestions. Start with proper selection. Poinsettias are available with red, white, pink, peach, yellow, marbled, or bi-colored bracts. Bracts are the colored leaves that look like flower petals, but aren't.
Poinsettias are in flower when the pollen-bearing clusters are open.
You also need to consider the shape and proportion of the plant. While plant height and pot size aren't significant by themselves, the relationship between height and pot size is critical. Poinsettias are extremely sensitive to cold and freezing temperatures, so make sure your plant is wrapped when carrying it between the store and your car. Never transport it in the trunk where it is apt to freeze even in protective wrapping. Provide uniformly moist soil with good drainage and a night temperature of 65 to 70 degrees F. Poinsettias also benefit from regular fertilization.