Lack of humidity during dry seasons, in particular winter, is an ongoing houseplant Poinsettia problem. Place the pot on a pebble tray or mist plants regularly, as a humid atmosphere will prolong the bract life.

To have a well-shaped Poinsettia plant for the following year, you need to cut each of the old flowering stems or branches back to 4 to 6 inches in height. Leave one to three leaves on each of the old stems or branches - new, growth comes from buds located in the leaf axils. Cutting the plant back will cause the buds to grow and develop. This cutting back is usually done in February or early March.

In March, gradually reduce watering. Prune hard back Poinsettia once the plant drops its leaves and keep fairly dry.In early May, increase watering and re-pot when new shoots start to develop. As the days shorten, from October 10 to 20, allow the plants to have 12 hours of light each day. For the remaining 12 hours, they need to be kept in darkness at a minimum temperature of 65F (18C). Artificial light is acceptable to supplement daylight.

Be careful, because Poinsettia is poisonous if eaten, and the sap can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.