Does anyone know what this plant is? Pic included!

[ASheepInWolfsClothing]

My friend just gave it to me, I'm good with cacti so and advice would be welcome! Thanks

[NanTheWiser]

How relevant is the cactus experience? It looks vaguely like an overgrown Poinsettia - Euphorbia pulcherrima but I am probably way of the mark there!

[shovetheholly]

ummmmmm... not sure at all.

Can you give us a bit more to work with? Is it a houseplant or an outdoor plant? A photo from a bit further away would be useful!

Looks a bit like an older woody fuschia to me, but there are so many things it could be...

[ASheepInWolfsClothing]

NanTheWiser the cacti reference is about me not being very good with plants in fact cacti are just about the only ones I can keep alive. Here's a better picture, I actually don't have any more info shovetheholly ( great name btw!) my friend threw it at me on her way to work, she got it from her ex who she wants nothing to do with. I quite like it, she wanted to bin it!

[NanTheWiser]

Well, this is E. pulcherrima (Poinsettia), and I think it has a similar look to it as yours - I'm assuming it is an indoor plant? If you pick a leaf off, does it bleed white milky sap? (If so, don't get it on your skin as it could irritate...)

[ASheepInWolfsClothing]

Aha! I think you are right thank you
It does bleed milky stuff and it looks exactly like that picture!
Off to google how to not kill it now

[NanTheWiser]

Don't overwater it - it originates from Mexico, and is quite succulent. Some tips here: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=146

Getting the red bracts to develop can be tricky, as it needs to be kept completely dark at night from November onwards (as that link explains).

[ASheepInWolfsClothing]

Great link thanks ! It says to repot in spring/April it's in a small pot for the size of the plant, should I just leave it? Would I risk killing it if I repot now?

[NanTheWiser]

It'll probably be OK to leave it for now - it's not a good time of year for repotting, spring would be much better, and you could also prune it when you repot it.

[lazydog]

As KarmaNoMore points out - definitely a toxic houseplant and one we can't have in our house as our cat is too stupid not to eat it!

[shovetheholly]

Nan - you are brilliant at this!!

[NanTheWiser]

Awww, you're too kind shove! And you're a pretty good hot shot yourself!

[TheNoodlesIncident]

I'm sure I've read somewhere about putting poinsetta in a black plastic binliner to bring it on for Christmas, the dark encouraging development of flower buds. Or am I imagining that...?

No, I've found an article here

[ASheepInWolfsClothing]

That's very informative TheNoodles thanks for that! I'll start covering it up tonight, there's no room in my house that would be dark for long enough! I'm determined to not kill this plant