It’s not the holidays without displaying a few colorful poinsettias . These pretty plants, which originated in Mexico, have been popular for decades as Christmas decor. They’re available in every color you can imagine from iconic Christmas red to pink, salmon, white, and yellow. Many also have speckles and splashes of cream.

But if you’ve ever brought a poinsettia home only to have it fade long before Christmas, you may have picked a plant that was past its prime.

“In ideal conditions, your poinsettia can last a month or two into mid or late January,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist with Costa Farms . “But there are a few things to look for when selecting your plant.”

For starters, it helps to understand the different parts of a poinsettia plant. The showy, colorful parts of the

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