I would like to get several potted poinsettas (I want the painted kind) and am wondering how long they last. I want them to look beautiful for Christmas and I’m not sure when to buy them. I basically want to make sure that by Christmas day, the plants are not brown or wilted.
Thank You! 
February 21st, 2012 - 7:05 pm
Buy them as close to Christmas as you can, certainly not more than a week before. If the leaves are painted they’re not going to last long. Remember that Poinsettias are natively green. They are forced in a dark greenhouse to turn the leaves red. I’ve kept one or two for a long time over the years but never been able to make one turn red.
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February 21st, 2012 - 7:50 pm
as mentioned, just get them as close to Christmas as possible, as long as supplies are around to be had. Be careful when watering not to get the painted leaves wet, the paint can run and make a mess.
Jim, they naturally turn red when in their proper environment…
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