Keep or trash poinsettia?

I just made a post about this. I was wondering if anyone has been successful with turning their poinsetta red again. Here's the way it's supposed to work. It takes about 8 - 10 weeks. For 12 hours, the plant should be in total darkness (like in a closet or a dark plastic cover), 12 hours of sunlight. Do this everyday for about 8 weeks, the leaves are supposed to turn red at the new growth. I wasn't able to keep up. I would constantly forget to move the poor guy. But the plant is still full and green. So, they may not be red anymore, but they are still thriving plants throughout the year.

One year I looked up on the internet how to save a poinsettia. I followed all the tips that were discussed. There was quite a bit of care involved, and special treatment. The crazy thing still turned yellow and yucky! I ended up throwing it out after all that work! I posted a link below that describes how to care for the poinsettia to keep it for next year! Best of luck to you! http://gardening.about.com/od/winterinthegarden/a/Poinsettia.htm

You know what I have no idea. I would think it would be ok. Afterall it's just a plant so it should continue to grow. I'm sure not everyone throws them out. Now whether you would get it to stay in bloom or bloom next year at Christmas I don't know.

Lots of folks keep theres but mine always look like a charley brown pointsettia by the 3rd week. This is just one plant that I can't keep happy. Give me a garden, catus, or what ever but this one does not like me. so I trash them when they loose to many leaves

Well, We actually help nurture these plants in my Horticulture Class, it would probably be best for you to keep the plant, instead of buying one every year as they can get costly. But, also if you don't want to put up with maintenance on the plant I would suggest taking the plant to a local Plant Nursery or Greenhouse facility, Don't take it to places like Lowe's and HomeDepot, they will throw the plant away rather than trying to save it. But, a nursery is either more likely to take donated plant's and nurse them back to health, or give you suggestions on how you, yourself can care for the plant effeciently and affordably.

I always kept mine. After the bloom was gone, I trimmed it back, put it in a south window, and it was beautiful green plant. The leaves would turn a redish color in winter, but it never really had another full bloom like coloring, but was still a beautiful plant.