Poinsettias are beautiful, festive, and easy to take care of houseplants. You can't go wrong with classic red ones, but each year it seems there are more interesting varieties available. 

Whichever types you choose, there are a few tricks to know about how to care for poinsettias so they'll last through to the new year.

The proper care for your poinsettia begins the moment you walk out of the garden centre or supermarket with it. 

Your poinsettia will be wrapped in a sleeve to protect it from cold and windy weather because exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the bracts and leaves. 

Unwrap your poinsettia as soon as you get home because the petioles (stems of the leaves and bracts) can droop and twist if the plant is left wrapped for too long.

Once the plant is home, experts at Flower Stone claim there are three vital things to get right - the temperature, water intake and lighting.

1. Temperature 

Poinsettias aren’t fans of hot or freezing temperatures - they like something in between.

The pros claimed: “The best temperature to keep it in is from 16 to 20C or room temperature. It will last longer in a constant 16C than in a constant 20C.

“These plants like a constant environment and should be kept from frequent temperature fluctuations.”

2. Watering 

Water management is an “essential” part of keeping a poinsettia healthy health. Like people, it doesn’t like to get its feet wet, meaning that “too little water will do less harm than too much”. 

Don’t let water accumulate in its pot. The top layer of soil should go dry from time to time.

Use your fingers to check if it needs watering or not. Don’t let the soil go bone dry all the way through, though.

3. Lighting 

When placing your plant at home, look for a place with lots of light. Avoid putting it into full direct sunlight by a window. 

Plants may get a sunburn, too, and hot sunlight burning through a windowpane is the way to do it. 

Windows exposing it to morning or evening light only is a perfect place to keep a poinsettia happy. 

The colour in the bracts is dependent on the amount of light available to the plant - if it has little light, then its colour will be light but if it has lots of light, then its colour will be dark.