This year I received a poinsettia as a gift. It’s the first time I’ve had one in my home in more than 10 years. I have fond memories of having a poinsettia’s beauty in my home for many months after the holidays, but I can’t remember how I did it.

I did a little Googling for “poinsettia care” and found out it’s not hard to keep them living (just add water and a little fertilizer), and make sure the drainage holes aren’t blocked by festive wrapping.

It’s a bit trickier to get their bracts (leaf-like part of the plant) to turn red for next year’s holidays.

Poinsettia’s are native to the western coast of Mexico, a warmer winter climate and cooler summer climate than ours. Therefore, they don’t do well in extreme heat.

To get a poinsettia’s bracts to turn red (or whatever color cultivar you have), you have to keep the plant in total darkness for fifteen (yes, 15) hours a day. Start this regimen the first week in October and continue until the bracts turn color.

This should occur in early to mid-December. Keep the plant in a place where daytime temperatures are 60-75 degrees F and night time temperatures a little cooler.

Then move the plant to a spot with bright, but indirect light. Again, keeping the plant in warm daytime temperatures and cooler night temperatures make a poinsettia happy. Don’t let the bracts touch a cold window.

During the rest of the year, you’ll have to prune the plant a little from time to time.

In the wild, they’re actually a shrub that can grow up to 5 feet tall! You’ll want to transplant your poinsettia to a larger pot as needed.

The University of Illinois has several web pages dedicated to poinsettias with some great information. See: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/poinsettia/index.cfm.

For information on care of other holiday plants like amaryllis, Christmas cactus, and others, see: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cook/downloads/9211.pdf.

If you have particular questions about gardening you’d like to see addressed in this column, send them to highprairielandscapedesign@yahoo.com.