Are Poinsettias just a Christmas plant or can they be kept all year?

I have to buy one for a gift but don't want to if they don't last.

Are Poinsettias just a Christmas plant or can they be kept all year?
I've had my Poinsettia for 2 years now. All the red leaves have gone but it still looks nice. If you keep it in a warm room facing a north or east window, away from a radiator, then it should last for many years. If you want the red leaves/bracts then you will have to put the plant in a darkened room from late september onwards, only bringing it out into the light for 2-3 hours daily. You should then have a nice red leaved Poinsettia for Christmas!
Reply:They do last but it takes alot of effort, because you need to make it get 14 hours without any light in fall just to make the leafs change.
Reply:Ventura, CA's nickname is "Poinsettia City by the Sea", since there are hundreds of poinsettias which grow outside year-round. The bushes can get as tall as 10ft, and many of the older ones (ones in the ground for 20 years or longer) do.

We have a semi-arid (Mediterranian) climate, so they thrive here, and the best ones are only a mile or two from the beach. They don't take frost well, and need full sun.
Reply:It depends how lonely you are.
Reply:no they never last long its too cold
Reply:The plant can be put in a larger pot and taken care of for years of growth. The flowering, or coloring of the leaves only occurs if placed in total darkness at night. I have seen some planted outside on the east side of the house that grew to 5 feet in height and 'bloomed' for several years. They like a temperate climate similar to Los Angeles. They require mild days and cool night with no night light to bloom.
Reply:i think they are just for winter, but are fairly long-lasting.
Reply:go to a plant site i would go on google first so good luck
Reply:THEY ONLY FLOWER DURING THE WINTER, BUT LIVE ALL YEAR LONG.

BUT IF YOU WANT A POINTSETTA THAT FLOWERS IN THE SUMMER INSTEAD OF THE WINTER A SUMME POINTSETTA IS REALLY NICE, BUT LOOKS DOFFERENT FROM A CHRISTMAS POINTSETTA
Reply:Poinsettias are Euphorbia pulcherrima, and originate in Mexico where they can be seen as very large shrubs. The red floral bracts are only produced if the plant is subjected to a specific number of hours of complete darkness over a given period.

Given that this is rather a palaver, and the plant has no ornamental value beyond the red bracts, you might as well throw them away once the red bracts fall off
Reply:No, they are annuals, I believe. My mother is the mistress of the garden, and a florist. So, I usually trust her info. especially when it came down to my own sad attempt of starting as garden. But that's a whole lifetime ago. ANYWAY!!!! What was I talking about??? Oh yeah, Poinsettias. They will last for 3-4 months, if they're kept well. But is very unusual and somewhat rare for them to hang on the entire year! But, don't let that stop you! People luv getting them! They're gorgeous!!
Reply:They last for years - but its quite a palaver to get them to 'flower' at Christmas. (Actually I don't think it is flower as it's really the leaf bracts turning red). Tricks include putting it outside in the summer and keeping it out of artifical light in the winter. I think my Ma managed it once - but it all seemed so much effort that I think it is probably easier to ditch it and get a new one that's been commercially forced. Heartless beast that I am.
Reply:Those I have here in the tropics seem todefy all rules. They are perennial. They flower the year through. They seem to love the sun. The lowest temperature recorded so far is 55 F for about an hour just one night.
Reply:I have had one for 2 years they are pretty hardy plants.
Reply:They don't last very long with me.This web page is helpful.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia/
Reply:Hello Mary,

Poinsettias are a beautiful plant and for their first 'growing' are easy to maintain and the results are always beautiful too, My Father got one only every Christmas for my Mother, and the plant always took pride of place in the living room right there among all the Christmas cards on a wall, beside a lovely table lamp..

Now there is a downside to these awsome plants, and that is hoping to keep them alive for the following year, we in this part of the world just don't have the climate to justify our hopes for repeated bloomings the following years, it takes a warmer climate than ours.. it could be a good Idea Mary to ask at the Garden Centre where you are buying the plant about its future with your friend, or I am sure you could check on the web looking for web-sites that carry information about Seasonal Plants. Good Luck with your search, and do it now while the Garden Centres are still open, as these plants are very popular at this Holy time of the year..

Happy Christmas Mary. x...Tony M