How to Keep Your Holiday Houseplants Blooming Until Spring

The main purpose of holiday plants is that they should be looking their best during the holiday, but if they can be encouraged to continue to thrive for longer, then so much the better. I have to confess that my experience with poinsettias is very poor in that their bracts start to curl and leaves begin to fall almost as soon as they enter the house. If you have similar problems then these tips from Marianne Lipanovich which I found on the Houzz website may help.

Whether you receive them as a gift or choose them yourself, living plants have become an essential part of holiday decor. Where once only poinsettias ruled, you?ll now find many more options, from amaryllis and paperwhites to holiday cactus, cyclamen, moth orchids and hydrangeas. And, of course, you can even have a living Christmas tree. Here?s what to do to enjoy your favorite gift and holiday decor plants well beyond the season.

Poinsettia
No flower defines the holiday season like the cheerful poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). It?s known for its bright red ?leaves,? which are actually bracts ? although, these days you can also find them in shades of white, cream and pink, as well as bicolor versions. It?s also long-lasting. Given the right care, it often will continue to bloom until the beginning of spring. If you?re willing to do a little more work, you can also get it to rebloom for several holiday seasons.
During the holiday season. Ideally, put your plant in a location that gets six to eight hours of bright, direct sunlight. It also can handle darker spots for a few weeks. Keep it out of drafts and cold spots, and place it where it won?t touch cold window glass. Daytime temperatures should be between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 to 26.7 degrees Celsius).
Water thoroughly when the soil is dry to an inch or so below the surface, then allow the container to drain completely. If you can, provide additional humidity; setting it on a pebble tray is ideal. Don?t fertilize while the plant is blooming.

One rule of thumb for any plant you have: Remove the wrapping around the container, cheerful though it may be, or at least poke holes in the bottom to allow water to drain. An exception would be materials that are naturally porous, such as burlap.