Work at the Ecke Ranch, North Carolina State University and the University of New Hamphire in the USA, is reviving the cultivation of Poinsettia as a cut-flower crop for the December and Christmas market. Varieties such as Renaissance Red (Winter Red) which produces crinkled curly bracts makes for an ideal variety for this cultivation. Other varieties including new colours have been bred with similar bract characteristics. Cuttings are planted 15^th July to 15^th August in soil beds or in pots for a December harvest. Black shade screens arepulled at the beginning of September if natural short day conditions are not available. In University experiments, cuttings were planted in 20cm pots either one or two per pot. Pinched plants yielded two stems/plant or up to four stems/plant (two plants/pot). Unpinched plants will produce very heavy heads up to 20cm in diameter while pinched plants will produce smaller heads. The pots were spaced at a density of 22/mq and supplied with drip irrigation. It is also necessary to support the stems with stakes. Stems are harvested when the bracts are fully coloured and the cyanthia starting to show pollen; harvesting can be spread over a two week period. If the plants have been pinched, cut at the main stem. Where they have been grown in soil beds they are cut 5-7cm above the soil level. Leaves are removed from the bottom third of the stem and the stems are stored at 10-20°C on clean fresh water using a bacteriocide. The cut stems will tolerate dry shipping at 2-5°C for up to 24 hours. They can be stored in water at 10-20°C for up to three weeks but vase-life will fall from between 21 and 28 days to 14 days. Once the stems are received, they should be cut at the base and placed on fresh water. The bracts can become speckled with white latex if bent or damaged but when the latex dries it dries clear and does not detract from the appearance. While the crop cycle is relatively long this is more than compensated by the prices which in the US vary from USD 1.5 to 5.0 depending on the size of the flower head and the length of the stems. "Floraculture International" www.floracultureintl.com E-mail: john_dole@ncsu_edu (North Carolina State University).