I need instructions on how not to kill a poinsettia plant....

[lucysmam]

please?

Lady at work keeps telling me tepid water and keep them out of any draughts. good luck!

Oh and water them from the bottom, straight into the dirt, none on the leaves.

Yes, they are native to Mexico and don't cope well with the UK climate. Avoid all draughts. If you bought it from a pavement display at the florist's, it's already doomed, Sorry.

Neglect it, I still have last year's! The more you forget to water them the happier they are.

Agree that complete neglect is a sure fire way to ensure the longevity of a poinsettia. Works for me every time. I have to really try to look after one in order for the bastard thing to die.

Confession: I did buy one this year for the first time ever (usually I'm given one) and as always, neglecting it seems to be working beautifully!

Don't feed it tabasco to "pep it up" and don't tell my mum that I did that to her one.

i have one that's three years old. though it just a sticky thing with lots of small green leaves. water at the base weekly.

Words of wisdom from the RHS

Maybe caring for them is where I go wrong Every year my dad buys me one & every year I kill it!

Don't carry it home in -8 deg C temperatures

No hope for me then. I walked home last week with the poinsettia I am looking after for my friend while she is away on holiday. It was freezing outside and I didn't have a plastic bag to put it in.
My friend wont be best pleased when she returns home holiday to find her plant has died in my care.