Reblooming Poinsettia
Instead of discarding your poinsettia, some take on the challenge of re-blooming it for the next year. Here’s what you need to do. Maintain and water the plant until March to May. The plant may be leggy and bare and should be cut down to 4-6 inch stems and kept at temperatures of 60-70F. New growth will emerge within a few weeks. Repot the plant in fresh soil.
In mid-May/June, place the plant outside (when night temps are above 50) in partial shade, protected from the afternoon sun. You can sink the pot into your flower bed and be sure to rotate the pot periodically so the roots don’t grow into the soil. Start feeding it every 2-3 weeks with a well-balanced soluble houseplant fertilizer.
If the plant gets tall and misshapen pinch back the lateral shoots between July-August to shape the plant.
In the fall, when temperatures get below 45ºF for an extended period bring your poinsettia back indoors. Poinsettias need short days and long nights to bloom. To initiate blooming you must expose the plant to 14 hrs of uninterrupted darkness (no cheating, even a small amount of light will break the cycle) followed by 10 hrs of bright light for a period of 8-10 weeks starting late September. Keep it in a room that you don’t use in the evening or place it in a black plastic bag or a box. (Don’t forget to take it out during the day.)
Poinsettia needs a cool, bright location during the day with temperatures ranging from 60 to 70F. Water when the soil surface is dry and drain any excess. Don’t let your plant stand in water. Continue to fertilize lightly every 4 wks with 15-16-17, or 20-10-20 until flowering begins (mid-December). Because of lower light conditions and slower growth reduce the amount of fertilizer. Once the plant is in bloom stop fertilizing and resume again in March.
It takes 60-85 days depending on variety, temperature and light intensity for the bracts to show color.
Reblooming a poinsettia requires persistent attention and can be a rewarding challenge.
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I have a poinsettia plant from December 2005 that I have had outdoors since spring. I would like to get it to bloom for this Christmas and have read the previous response. However, I would like to know the following additional information. During the 6 week period of darkness/bright light how often and how much should I water my plant? Should I fertilize before, during or after the 6 weeks and with what type of fertilizer?
Comment by Kathi Q — 10/26/2007 @ 3:03 pm
When do I stop the dark/light process? Is it once the bracts show color or until in full bloom?
Comment by Fay S. — 11/5/2007 @ 11:11 am
Dec 1st 2007–I have a pointsetta that has lasted since last Dec. Leaves are fully green. is the above remarks on having it rebloom meaning the green leaves will turn red? If, not what do I do to get them red ?
Comment by Pat — 12/1/2007 @ 10:30 am