Look for a poinsettia that has healthy dark green foliage. The tiny buds in the center of the plant should be green and tightly closed.
Keep your poinsettia at normal room temperature in bright, filtered light and out of drafts. Soil should be allowed to dry slightly between thorough waterings. No feeding is necessary.
As a cut flower, poinsettia blossoms are hard to beat. To keep cut stems fresh, you will have to stop the flow of milky sap by sealing the stems. One method of sealing is to make a clean cut with a sharp knife and pass the stem end through a candle flame just the tip, don't burn it. Remove leaves below water level. Cut blossoms should last about a week, providing a brilliant holiday display.
Robin Wright Brumbelow, Smith County Master Gardener
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