For the past several years, I’ve shared a rather complicated process of rejuvenating potted poinsettias for the holidays.

Unfortunately, the methods I suggested are work intensive. This year, I tried something much easier and our poinsettias turned out beautifully.

Here’s how to do it. Keep your poinsettias indoors in a bright spot until the threat of frost has passed -- around Valentine’s Day. Water when the top soil dries. Fertilize with a houseplant fertilizer with each watering. Around the middle of February, prune a third of the top growth off and move the plants outside. I have a spot where I place ailing and seasonal plants that gets morning sun only. It seems ideal for poinsettias.

Continue to water and feed as the soil dries. In late May (Memorial Day) prune a third of the top growth again. Do the same around Labor Day.

Around Halloween, bring the potted poinsettias inside to a bright spot again and continue to feed and water. That’s about it. They should be beautiful by the Christmas season.

One other small detail -- a couple times a year add a tablespoon of vinegar to a gallon of water. The vinegar will lower the soil Ph and allow the plants to take up the fertilizer. My poinsettias look pretty good huh?