Every January my poinsettia looked like it had been through a war. Drooping leaves, bare stems, and a sad pile of red bracts on the floor. I treated it like a decoration instead of a living plant and it treated me accordingly. Then I learned the basics of keeping holiday plants alive and mine started lasting into spring.

Poinsettias are not disposable

The red parts everyone loves are actually leaves called bracts. Poinsettias need bright, indirect light and even moisture. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and never let the pot sit in standing water. They hate cold drafts and hot vents equally, so keep them away from doors and radiators. With that, the plant can hold its color for months instead of weeks.

The Christmas cactus is a different beast

Christmas cacti like cooler rooms and soil that dries out slightly between waterings. They are tropical, so they also appreciate a little humidity. After the blooms drop, let the plant rest with less water for a few weeks, then resume normal care. It often re-blooms if you give it cooler nights in the fall.

What to do with an amaryllis after it blooms

Most people throw amaryllis bulbs away once the flowers fade. You can actually keep them for next year. Cut the spent flower stalk, keep the leaves growing, and water and feed the plant through the summer. In early fall, stop watering and let the leaves die back, then store the bulb in a cool, dark spot for about eight weeks. Pot it up again and it will bloom once more. It takes a little effort, but a bulb that re-blooms feels like a small miracle.

A simple survival checklist

• Check the soil before you water, do not just pour on a schedule.
• Keep plants away from heat vents, cold drafts, and direct afternoon sun.
• Remove any yellowing leaves quickly so energy goes to healthy growth.
• Do not repot a blooming plant. Wait until the flowers finish.

The biggest killer of holiday plants is kindness. Overwatering drowns more poinsettias than neglect ever will. When in doubt, let the soil dry a little before the next watering. My poinsettia is still green in March this year, which feels like a personal victory.