Reblooming Poinsettia

22 Comments

1. Kathi Q - October 26, 2007 at 3:03 pm

   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?

   The light/dark period takes 8-10 wks. Water normally, when the soil surface is dry. The amount of watering depends on high light and humidity. OSU.edu recommends for a 6″ pot – 12 oz. water letting it drain. Don’t let your plant stand in water . Continue to fertilize lightly every 4 wks with 15-16-17, or 20-10-20 until mid-Dec. Use reduced amount of fertilizer because of lower light conditions and slower growth. You can also use a timed release fertilizer instead. Stop fertilizing, once the plant is in bloom and during the dormant winter season. Resume fertilizing again in March. It takes 60-85 days depending on variety, temperature and light intensity so if you start in late Sept or early Oct., the bracts should show color in time for Christmas.

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2. Fay S. - November 5, 2007 at 11:11 am

   When do I stop the dark/light process? Is it once the bracts show color or until in full bloom?

   When the bracts start to show color on the upper leaves, you can stop the day/night treatment and place in a sunny area and provide 6-8 hrs of bright light to develop a full color. Your poinsettia won’t be the same quality as a greenhouse plant but you will get it to bloom.

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3. Pat - December 1, 2007 at 10:30 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 ?

   The green leaves will start to turn red and then produce a tiny flower in the center. This is accomplished by giving the plant 14 hrs. of darkness per day for 8-10 wks. It is a photo periodic response that gets the plant to bloom. Once the bracts start to show color, move it to a sunny spot so that they get 6 hrs of bright light. If you start now it will bloom in January. Timing is everything.

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4. celeste - December 10, 2008 at 10:02 am

   Can you grow a poinsettia from cuttings? If so, how would you do that?

   Hi Celeste
   To propagate a poinsettia- take a 3-4 inch tip cutting from a side shoot with 2-3 mature leaves, dip in water to seal in the latex then dip in a rooting medium (optional). Plant the cutting in a soil mix of peat moss, sand or perlite. Keep soil mix moist (not wet), maintain high humidity(mist) and temps at 70-80 F during the day and 70-60F at night. Cuttings should be in a shaded area to avoid wilting and take 3-4 weeks to root. Best time to take cutting is in early-mid August.

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5. wendy davis - January 23, 2009 at 6:19 am

   i was wondering if my frost damaged pointsettia can be revived in the spring, it was absolutely gorgeous this winter but now it got damaged HELP!
   thank you for your time

   Hi Wendy
   If the roots are still alive and worth saving , cut it back to 6 inch stems in Feb/March or sooner and hope it will send out new lateral growth-see above article.

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6. Louise - March 21, 2009 at 12:31 pm

   I would like to plant my poinsettia’s outside and leave them outside. I have seen other poinsettias in my area planted outside and they seem to thrive. Is that possible in the Florida climate? If so, do I need to trim down to 8″ or can I leave the Red leaves on my plant?

   Hi Louise
   It is good sign, if your neighbors are growing Poinsettia that you can grow them . They are hardy in zone 9 and up and Florida is in zone 9-10. Plant it in a North east side of the house for winter wind protection. It’s recommended that you cut it back to control the size and maintain a bushy plant especially after transplanting. See how tall it gets this year, then you can decide how much to trim next year. They can get up to 9 feet tall outdoors. So if you want a 6ft tall poinsettia for Christmas cut it down to 4 ft in late summer.

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7. Chivon C - June 16, 2009 at 7:35 am

   I’ve had a poinsetta from my place of work for several years now.. it’s alive, but i daresay not in the greatest shape. The stems are fairly long with a few leaves at the ends of each (in one case, almost a foot of “knobbly” surface.. other stems averaging 4-6 inches)

   I’d like to trim the plant to make it bushier and to stimulate growth, but i’m not exactly sure where i should be cutting..(and i’m scared of trimming too much and killing the plant!). Should i be trimming all at once? or leaving some leaves..

   Also, i’m in an office environment, and there’s nowhere for the plant to get good sunlight exposure. Just fluorescent lights during the workweek.

   Thanks for your help!

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8. Lisa - December 6, 2009 at 12:57 pm

   No bloom
   I live in central Florida, I planted mine last year after Christmas. The leaves turned green and the plant has flourished. The red color has never returned. Is this normal or will it change colors again?

   Hi Lisa
   One possibility is that your poinsettia is planted in an area where it does not get 14 hrs of uninterupted darkness to initiate bloom. Street lights, car lights or any lights will break the bloom cycle, thereby not allowing the plant to go into bloom. When nurseries are growing poinsettia in a greenhouse, they make sure that poinsettias are exposed to any type of light.

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9. Bob - December 20, 2009 at 7:27 am

   I love poinsettia plants. They can add to any outdoor garden when in bloom. However, I am in the Buffalo, NY area and would like to ralnt some poinsettia plants in my outdoor garden. Realizing that sometimes climate in this area is not condusive to growth and blooming, is it possible?

   Hi Bob
   The only way you can grow poinsettia outdoors in NY is in a container and in the summer. It is a tropical plant and will not tolerate cold temperatures.

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10. Linda C - February 22, 2010 at 7:10 am

    Rebloom poinsettia
    I have another poinsettia from this Christmas — the blooms are still full and beautiful but the stems have lost all leaves. Can you give me step by step advice to save the plant appropriately for all seasons?

    Hi Linda
    You can do one of two things. Keep the flowers until they die back or if you’re tired of flowers with bare stems, cut the flowers stem down to 4-6″ above the soil line in Feb/March. This will stimulate new growth from the buds in the leaf axils. Place the plant in a sunny spot with temperatures of 60-70F. Start feeding your poinsettia with a well-balanced houseplant fertilizer every 2-3 weeks and continue throughout the growing season. Once new growth starts to show, repot the plant in fresh soil and a larger pot if needed. Cutting the plant back is important, it will keep the plants from getting too tall and leggy. see above article.

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11. gam - September 27, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    I live in the tropics, are in the fall, the outdoor daytime temperature is 28-30 degrees Celsius, the night was 20 degrees C. My poinsettia is grown outdoors, plants grow very well. But recently in a number of trees, leaf wilting, curling, the leaves look rough and thicker than the other leaves, the leaves appear yellow spots. Meters of the plant root system development is quite strong. Please help me and tell me what my tree is sick or what lack of nutrients?

    Aloha Gam
    Contact yourl Extension office http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/site/ExtHG.aspx hopefully, they can help you out.

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12. osvaldo - December 20, 2010 at 9:13 am

    i would like to know what if i do not trim alot will it affect the growth because i would like to have it big by next christmas this is my 3 year trying to save them. i live in houston i also want to know would it be a good place to grow them.

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13. John - January 17, 2011 at 9:00 am

    Not re-blooming
    I have a 5 year old white version (drug store bought) that has stopped blooming 2 years ago. even after the 10wk,14/day total darkness scenario (This year Oct to to today). Seems to be thriving otherwise. I water and fertalize (Elenor’s VF-11)simultanously. Cut back, as recommended every year.
    What could be going on here? Thanks John

    Hi John
    I don’t know why your poinsettia is not blooming. If the plant is exposed to any stray light during the re-blooming time, then the blooming process can be delayed or even stop completely. Poinsettia also need night temperatures of 60-70F during re-blooming time if not, that can also delay flowering.

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14. Malcolm - January 26, 2011 at 10:37 am

    Can you bring a dry brown stemed dormant poinsettia back to life?

    Hi Malcolm
    If there is life in the roots, cut back the poinsettia and it should send out new growth from the roots in a month or so. If that doesn’t happen then its probably dead.

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15. osvaldo - February 5, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    Leaf drop causes
    I got my pointsetta now and they have new growth coming out like it shows on the first picture and is does grow but when it get to a point where the leafs fall it is inside my livingroom so no cold drafts gets to it i water it every time the dirt is dry

    Hi Osvaldo
    Are the new leaves falling off or the old leaves? Some of the reasons for leaf drop on poinsettia is irregular watering, low indoor light, low humidity and warm room temperatures. Don’t let the plant dry out too much. When you water, give it a good soaking and then allow the top 1-2 inches to dry before watering again.

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16. Sara - April 7, 2011 at 4:25 am

    Hi I live in beirut -lebanon and I have read all the comments about caring and growing poinsettia but I found that there is a difference in tempreture during the monthes that you are talking about where in april and may tempereture here is already 25 to 28 celcius degrease so is it the same way I should have to take care of my poinsettia so should I now prune it though I am seeing new shoots and red leaves and even small buds as the ones that were when I first bought it ( I think flower buds as you have stated ) please help I want to know and should I repot it too in mid may after pruning it though it is blooming???
    Thank you

    Hi Sara
    I’m not sure what you should do. You can probably plant your poinsettia outdoors and grow it year round as a shrub. If it is starting to bloom, then leave it alone, it does not need to be pruned. Our poinsettias in the US are forced into bloom during the Christmas season. We prune and repot them once they are done blooming to control the size of the plant.

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17. Teresa - August 14, 2011 at 4:46 am

    I have a poinsettia that has come back to life over the summer on my screened in porch. It has beautiful green foliage, but is still in the original pot. Is it safe to repot it now (mid August) to a larger pot?
    Also, should I pinch some of the leaves back now?
    I never thought it would survive when I put it on the porch. The mixture of sunlight and shade must be the perfect place for the plant.

    Hi Teresa
    Congrats! Yes, you can pinch your plant to shape and shorten it. When you repot, move the plant to a shadier spot for a few days, so it doesn’t go into transplant shock. Try not to disturb the roots too much.

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18. Joni Lacaze - February 15, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    Everblooming poinsettia
    My poinsettia plant bloomed before Thanksgiving and has stayed red up through today. The plant is really pretty and doing well. I don’t do anything special to it except,pinch off the yellow tiny stuff in the middle to keep it from getting leggy. I keep it in one window and water it as needed. I did the same thing last year too.The red went away for a short time and it turned red again. My question is ..Am I suppose to be doing something so it doesn’t stay red? I’ve been told that it’s not suppose to be red all the time.

    Hi Joni
    Let your poinsettia continue to bloom as it wants. You must have good growing conditions for it. Poinsettia in a pot usually doesn’t stay red all the time. Most poinsettias die back and are cut back to promote new growth and to keep the plant a compact size. The yellow centers that you remove are actually the flowers -maybe that’s why it stays red so long. I usually cut mine back by March.

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19. Amanda - December 8, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    Leaf drop
    Hi! I had a beautiful pointsetta that the leafs began to droop. I have been watering it as your posts says. It is early December can I revive my pointsetta by Christmas time. Should I be removing the drooping leafs and if so how?

    Hi Amanda
    Poinsettia will drop it’s leaves if it is allowed to go dry or is overwatered. Make sure the roots do not sit in water. It will also drop it’s leaves when exposed to hot/cold drafts

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20. Kelly - March 9, 2015 at 7:19 am

    I have a pointsettia that I got for Christmas. It’s growing ok. But some of the leaves are going from green to burnt look. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Please help me.

    Hi Kelly
    It may be overwatered, or too much fertilizer (soluble salt accumulation) not knowing growing conditions, I would recommend that you cut the plant down to 6″ above the soil line.see for additional info. If there is a watering issue, repot the plant in fresh soil.

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21. ira jamali - January 27, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    Hi I have a couple beautiful poinsettia that some of them leafs began to dry and droop . I keep it in my room and water them once a week. Is that normal ? Also Can I plant it in my back yard? Thank you

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22. Kathy DeRouchey - January 25, 2021 at 1:58 pm

    When I lived in the Long Beach area of SoCal, I planted a poinsettia one year, after Christmas. I cut it back every year after it was done blooming. I’ll bet after 6 years, that plant got to 6′ every Christmas. And nothing but the normal watering of a backyard.

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