It's only a matter of time... I am a poinsettia killer!

It is that time of the year again -  Poinsettia killing season.  Now, this is certainly not a deliberate effort on my part.  I love a full, beautiful Poinsettia.  In fact, I look forward to Christmas because I love Poinsettias.  I am a traditional-look Poinsettia fan - the true red ones.  I really don't care for the variegated ones, the salmon ones or even the blue ones with glitter on the leaves (what are they thinking??)  We even purchase Poinsettias to give to clients as a holiday gift.  What I have found though, it is imperative that we distribute the Poinsettias immediately after procurement so there is no time for me to kill them. 

Well, I say that it is Poinsettia killing season because now that Christmas is over, my Poinsettias are either dead or on life support. 

For years, care of a Poinsettia is something that I just can't get the hang of.  I can grow a lot of things.  Our yard looks beautiful in the spring and summer.  I have some houseplants I have grown successfully.. for years!  But the Poinsettia - now that is an enigma to me.  My inclination tends to be to water plants when they are dry (or light when I pick them up.)  The leaves on my Poinsettias curl up and fall off whether I water frequently or keep them dry as a bone.  Logically, the right amount of water is probably in between.  Isn't everything better in moderation?  Of the two Poinsettias that I have left, I have sort of run an experiment to determine if more or less water is the key.  I think I have figured out that a Poinsettia really doesn't like water very much.  I have to resist the temptation to water my Poinsettias until the leaves just start to curl.  Then, there isn't much time.  It needs water, just not too much.  I just dribble in a bit of water and hold my breath again. 

Bottom line is, these plants will never survive until next holiday season anyway.  I don't live in Florida full time yet where I could plant them in the yard after Christmas where they would thrive beautifully.  Except for the fact that the plant is a living thing and I really don't like to kill living things, It looks good still today but is only January 7th. I think my last poinsettia is doomed. 

          It just doesn't know it yet.