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With winter fast approaching, many flower lovers are eagerly awaiting the blooming of some pretty winter plants. However, not all of these flowers are entirely seasonal, with the poinsettia being a good example. They have long been one of the most popular Christmas-themed plants in the UK, known for their striking red leaves.

With the right care and attention, your poinsettias can last well into the new year, rather than being discarded after Christmas, as many are sadly. "Poinsettias are very common around Christmas with their dark green leaves and large, strikingly red bracts (leaves around the flowers). Nothing gets you more into the Christmas mood than a poinsettia, at least in the plant world," says Sean Lade, gardening expert and director of Easy Garden Irrigation.

A good start to making your poinsettias last is by selecting the right ones. Specifically, these are ones that have not been exposed to prolonged cold temperatures, so make sure to pick ones that haven't been sitting near automatic doors in garden centres.

When transporting it home, make sure to wrap it up, as the beautiful red leaves become very delicate in the cold.

Sean adds: "They are susceptible to fluctuations in temperature and will quickly start to wilt if kept too cold or in a draft. When buying one, you should look for those stored indoors, as when displayed outdoors below 13 degrees, they are more than likely on their way out before they get back home. Even a quick walk between the shop and the car, when it's freezing outside, can be enough to harm it."

Beside a window is probably the best place to put it once you arrive home, and not too near a draft or intense heat, or direct sunlight, as it can act like a radiator.

When it comes to watering, poinsettias don't need much - just enough to keep the dirt moist after watering; not dry or soggy.

Your newly purchased poinsettia typically won't require feed or fertiliser over the colder months, as they tend to be sold in pre-fertilised soil.

If you plan to repot your poinsettia or keep it into the new year, "your poinsettia will benefit from monthly feedings to keep it thriving long into the new year," reveals Dobbies' senior houseplant buyer, Claire Bishop.

"Consider using a liquid plant food to fertilise your poinsettia throughout the spring and summer months to allow it to bloom again next Christmas," she continues. "Using a high-potassium fertiliser, such as tomato feed, once a month, can also help."