Did you receive a poinsettia [1] from a special person during this holiday season? With proper care, the blooms on this plant will last for most of the winter; but come spring, the plant will begin to look worn down. Resist the urge to throw it out. Instead, give it another chance to bloom. Although a bit tricky to accomplish, it can be a rewarding challenge even to the beginning gardener.

Here's what you need to do. During the winter, poinsettias do best in a cool location; away from drafts where they get approximately six hours of sunlight. Keep them moist but not wet, and fertilize the plant with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer every two to three weeks. In April, when the colored leaves or "bracts," begin to fade, cut the stems so the plant is about 8 inches tall [2]. Allow the plant to rest by continually keeping it in a brightly lit location, but reducing the amount of watering so the soil dries out to one-inch below the surface.

In June, when the new growth is well underway, move the plant outside to a sunny but sheltered location. Continue to water and fertilize regularly throughout the summer [3]. Then in September bring the plant inside.

Now comes the tricky part. For bloom to occur, the plant must have 14 continuous, uninterrupted hours of darkness each night for 8-10 weeks. This can be accomplished by religiously placing a box over the plant every night [4], or by putting the plant into a dark closet. Each morning, remove the box or retrieve the plant from the closet and place it back in a sunny window. When the bracts begin to show color ,you can cease the artificial night lengthening procedure and continuously keep the plant near a sunny window.