Can I just keep these going as green plants? I don't care about them turning red again. I would just like to keep them for the green leaves.

Yes, that works well. I've done it myself, but it must have been 20 years ago. Although my intention was to get colored bracts, I failed with the short day treatment the following year, but I certainly got plenty of beautiful green leaves instead .

Eve, y'all have been zone 9a for quite some time. When I lived in Pascagoula (moved in 1995) the USDA zone was 8b, but that zone was changed sometime in the 2012. You are almost sub-tropical! Where do you live? Here in Starkville, we are now 8a. We were 7 when I moved up here.

Hey Ken. I live in Gulfport. I didn't know my zone had changed! That might explain some things growing all year. I thought it was just my talent.😄

Probably a combination of the two. Climate will only take you so far.

You would not know that we are 8a though. From sunup till nightfall Sunday, the temperature is supposed to continue dropping and the high won't get out of the 30's. Monday morning is going to be doggone cold, 17F! Wow Every morning for the rest of the week is supposed to be in the mid-20's. Double-Wow.

We will be in low thirties next week. But we need some freezing each year to take care of mosquitoes and fleas. I expect we'll see a few days of freezing over the next two months. I Have a few things blooming that will be gone soon but hope is eternal, they will return. It is always a mystery how something that looks so dead, still returns every year. Keep warm.

Eve, your poinsettia should do fine planted outdoors in a sunny spot. They're native to Mexico so you're not too far away from where they grow naturally. They can make very large shrubs, and if it happens that the temperature falls too far, they might lose all their leaves for a time, but will re-grow them. A good mulch is a help to keep the roots warm and moist if cold weather threatens.

If you can manage to plant it somewhere that the house lights, outdoor lights and street lights won't hit it, it will also do its own thing and turn red on cue in the fall, once the days get to the right length.

Thanks, Elaine. I'll do that. I see them tossed out on trash day around here after Christmas but I hate to see plants just go to waste like that. I do want to save mine if I can.

Thanks, Elaine. I'll do that. I see them tossed out on trash day around here after Christmas but I hate to see plants just go to waste like that. I do want to save mine if I can.