Question
how do you care for these plants after the holidays?  ive heard you have to stick them in a closet for so long????  the leaves seem to be falling off rapidly help  

Answer
Fawn,

You keep them in a southfacing window and let them dry out totally between waterings. They come from Mexico and like lots of sun, warm temperatures and to be kept on the dry side. In the summer set it outside in full sun. They do not go in a closet until the end of September to get them to bloom again next Christmas. The following sites will give you more info about reblooming them.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1248.html

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia/care.html

Good luck.

Darlene