.. have never gotten any to last for 2 seasons. I know *how* to do it, but have never gotten them to the point of being able to sink them in the garden to get them to the point of the all dark/light ratio jazz in the fall.
I would love to keep my 2 current ones alive and blooming next Christmas season.
I've had great luck w/cutting them back and getting them to re-grow in a lush fashion until spring, but I always seem to kill them before I have a chance to sink them in the garden, no matter what part of the country I've lived in at the time. I currently live in the MPLS area, so I should have enough light and heat in the summer to keep them going
Is this a case of just poor indoor gardening, or am I missing something? My biggest prob seems to be w/watering them over the winter. If anyone else in cold climates has been successful with this, please clue me in as to how often I should check them for water.
TIA,
MZ

Poinsettias are warm climate plants, so I'm not sure you'll get them to re-bloom in the ground in Minnesota. They also only need to be watered once the soil around them gets dry, they don't like to be too wet. I don't know if either of these tips will help. They do need the 50/50 light/dark ratio, too. Poinsettias are native to Mexico, so that's the kind of climate they need to be grown outdoors. I can't get them to re-bloom in the ground here in Texas even.

Renee

I don't want to permanently sink them in the ground, just over the summer. I've known folks who do it even in cold climates. (pot and all get sunk)
I think my biggest problem may be underwatering, something I've certainly been guilty of with other plants.
So I'm going to make a concerted effort to keep on top of watering and see if I can actually get em to stay alive long enough to put out in the garden this year.
MZ