The top leaves on my Poinsettia are finally

I toss mine in the garbage...$10.99 at Walmart.

My nephew was thrilled to bits to keep his growing. Then he couldnt figure out why the leaves didnt turn red. Next autumn he is going to put it in an empty cupboard in his garage to see what happens.
More fun than spending money.

Good luck Diane - its not an easy thing to achieve but you'll be thrilled to bits if you manage it! I guess you'll have to remember not to let it get bone dry in the cupboard!
I think though that 8 weeks in total darkness would kill it. The more usual way is to limit the day length but I don't know how may hours of darkness they need. Some daylight is necessary for a plant with leaves to function.

The nice red ones sold in stores around Christmas are intended to be "one time use, throw away plants"

Thanks for that Stera. Most exciting, shoots are now appearing on the stems. I dont buy plants that growers intend usage for, and throw away. More research needs doing to get the8 weeks total darkness thing right. I had intended to give it a good soak for an hour, then wrap the pot in a polythene bag.

We all know about Watergate, but what is Bathgate ?
Why would anyone put a gate in a bath ? or is it one of those walk in baths ?

Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway 5 miles west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Armadale, Blackburn, Linlithgow, Livingston, West Calder and Whitburn.

I often buy a sad little Poinsettia because I feel sorry for it! (Drives OH mad!). Then they thrive and last until June!

This year OH chose two decent plants and they are on the windowsill and will be left there even though it's January 6th and Christmas decorations have been taken down today. Will report on them in June. :O)

a minimum of 16 hrs darkness. it will need light during the 'day' so it can take up water and photosynthesise its own food.

SBG I once saw some (what looked just like) poinsettia trees, I think it was in Portugal or it might have been Teneriffe. Anyway the bracts were lovely and red. If they ever get nights so long it must be for a rather short time, so do you think they might have been something other than poinsettias?

Seems like no matter what I do, I end up with a couple dried up sticks by February 1.

Ah we live and learn. I always remember the Scottish towns by the football teams, and the scores.
I will do some more research with the experts, and get the
Poinsettias needs right. Thanks for all your comments.

Bathgate is a Scottish town; not a gate for your bath tub.

Diane Bathgate is between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its a very small town about the size of Rushden if that helps you to find it.

I think they are native to mexico stera and are a member of the euphorbia family.

That's strange isn't it, because surely they don't have very long nights in Mexico? I just checked and the longest night was abut ten and a half hours.

Stera it is also to do with the quality of the light at the far end of the red light part of the spectrum. many plants are affected by this and this explains why in nature plants flower at specific times of year. It also explains why some spring shrubs have a flush of flowers in the autumn.

I knew you'd have the answer! Thank you.

I will write to Kew Gardens, and report back later on.