Follow this calendar to rebloom a poinsettia next year!

• Christmas: Select plants with tightly clustered, yellow buds. Protect from hot or cold drafts, water when dry, and place in a room with bright natural light.

• New Years Day: Use an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer. Keep the plant in a sunny window, water regularly, fertilize monthly. Plant will remain colorful for many weeks.

• St. Patrick's Day (March 17): Remove faded flowers and bracts and dried leaves from the plant. Add more soil, preferably a commercially available sterile mix. For a smaller plant - prune stems about three to six inches to remove colored bracts. Fertilize with complete houseplant fertilizer.

• Mothers' Day: Plant should be approaching three feet in height. Trim off two to six inches of the branches to promote side branching. Repot to a larger container (two to three sizes larger). Move plant outside; first to indirect, then direct sunlight (a location that receives full sun each day for at least six hours).

• June-July: Fertilize the plant every two weeks; water regularly.

     Fourth of July: Trim plant again. Make sure it is in full sunlight. Slightly increase amount of fertilizer.

• August-October: Fertilize every week. Water frequently, once or twice a day.

• Labor Day (early September): Plant may have grown to three to five feet. It can be pruned to a height of 18-24 inches. Move indoors but make sure it has six hours of direct sunlight from a curtain-free window. Continue regular water and fertilizer.

• First Day of Autumn (September 21): Selectively remove the smallest new branches so only 10 to 25 stems remain to produce flowers.

• September 21 to October 1, give the plant 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness and 10 hours of bright sunlight each day. For example, each day place the plant in a light-free closet or under a box at 6 p.m. each evening and return it to the sunny window at 8 a.m. the next morning. Or simply place the plant in a little used south facing room and be sure not to turn the lights on in the room from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. each day. Continue to water and fertilize. Rotate the plant each day to give all sides even light.

• Halloween (October 31): Stop day/night light/dark treatment. Keep plant in a sunny area. Reduce fertilizer applications. The plant can remain in its usual full sun location as the upper leaves (bracts) turn red, pink or white.

• November-December: Fertilize every three weeks. Water regularly.

• Christmas: Enjoy your beautiful "new" poinsettia