How to Re-Bloom Your Poinsettia
When the poinsettia's bracts age and lose their aesthetic
appeal, there's no reason to throw it out. With proper care, dedication and a
certain amount of luck, you too can re-bloom your poinsettia!
By late March or early April, cut your poinsettia back to
about 8" in height. Continue a regular watering program, and fertilize
your plant with a good, balanced all-purpose fertilizer. By the end of May, you
should see vigorous new growth.
Place your plants outdoors, where they can bask in the
warmth of spring and summer,
after all chance of frost has passed and night temperatures
average 55° F or above. Continue regular watering during the growth period, and
fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks.
Pruning may be required during the summer to keep plants
bushy and compact. Late June or early July is a good time for this step, but be
sure not to prune your plant later than September 1. Keep the plants in
indirect sun and water regularly.
Around June 1, you may transplant your poinsettia into a
larger pot. Select a pot no more than 4 inches larger than the original pot. A
soil mix with a considerable amount of organic matter, such as peat moss or
leaf mold, is highly recommended. In
milder climates, you may transplant the plant into a well-prepared garden bed.
Be sure
the planting bed is rich in organic material and has good
drainage.
The poinsettia is a photoperiodic plant, meaning that it
sets bud and produces flowers as the Autumn nights lengthen. Poinsettias will
naturally come into bloom during November or December, depending on the
flowering response time of the individual cultivar. Timing to produce blooms
for the Christmas holiday can be difficult outside of the controlled
environment of a greenhouse. Stray light of any kind, such as from a street
light or household lamps, could delay or entirely halt the re-flowering
process.
Starting October 1, the plants must be kept in complete
darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. Accomplish this by moving the
plants to a totally dark room, or by covering them overnight with a large box.
During October, November and early December, poinsettias require 6 - 8 hours of
bright sunlight daily, with night temperatures between 60 - 70° F. Temperatures
outside of this range could also delay flowering.
Continue the normal watering and fertilizer program.
Carefully following this regime for 8 to 10 weeks should result in a colorful
display of blooms for the holiday season!