HARRISONBURG VA: (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Did you receive a Poinsettia over the Christmas holidays?  Harry Rief from The Wishing Well in Harrisonburg, shared some tips on WSVA’s “Early Mornings” for taking care of these festive beauties bring cheer & warmth to our homes & businesses over the holidays. Every year The Wishing Well get calls from people that they’ve delivered poinsettias to asking about care, will they live on should be trashed after Christmas. Reif says “Poinsettias are living plants. It’s possible to keep them throughout the year & get them to bloom again next year b/t Thanksgiving and Christmas. Like any living thing, it takes a little TLC”.

Here’s some tips to take care of them.
· Start by ensuring that the plant has proper drainage. If it’s wrapped in foil, consider removing it to ensure there’s a drip dish at the bottom.
· Keep the plant in a lighted spot, poinsettias like lots of light, but NOT direct sunlight, temperatures between 60-70. Avoid cold drafts and heat sources like fireplaces/radiators.
· Check the soil every day or two to be sure it’s moist. Add water when soil is dry. Use hydrometer, finger, or pencil to check moisture. Keep moist – don’t drown it.
· Come March/April – prune plant to about 6-8” tall to encourage new growth.
· Check the roots to see if it needs repotting in a slightly larger container w/ fresh potting soil. (if roots are growing out of draining holes, repot, if soil dries out very quickly, repot).
· Add a little fertilizer (all-purpose 10-Nitrogen, 10-phosphourus, 10-potassium) every few weeks during spring & summer.
· Fall (Sep/Oct): stop fertilizing and keep plant in complete darkness 14-16 hours/day, sunlight other times. Temps 60-70, water as usual. Expect red blooms b/t Thanksgiving and Christmas 2025.