how to make a poinsettia bloom

Starving the poinsettia of light during this time encourages it to produce that familiar red bloom. Your poinsettia plant should have a rounded shape, with dense and compact growth. To promote a bushier growth habit, pinch the tips of new growth until mid-August. Around the start of January, your poinsettias will start to lose their leaves. Their noticeable deterioration causes most people to believe they are dead or dying, which is why so many Poinsettias are tossed out in the trash each January. If you want to get your poinsettia to rebloom beginning in October, this is what you need to do. Even the smallest amount of stray light will upset the schedule and the poinsettia will not flower. 3 How can I make my poinsettia stay red? The link to the information is below. Daytime: keep your poinsettia in the sunniest location you have. As the poinsettia is a tropical plant, it is important to mimic a tropical-like environment for it to thrive. As you did the year before, cut back on watering during September and October, exposing your poinsettias to bright days and complete darkness during the night. Don’t cut off watering completely, but water lightly only when the soil around the plant has dried out entirely. The simplest way to do this is to find a cardboard box big enough to set over the plant with the flaps splayed on the floor so no light gets in. When fall temperatures begin to drop, bring the plant indoors. The Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service published a fantastic, simple chart that details how to make a poinsettia reflower. The reward for all of your hard work is not just about the small amount of money you save each year on poinsettias. The TRUE flowers are the small yellow berries, called cyathia, in the center of the large colorful bracts. The login page will open in a new tab. Provide full, diffused sun, water lightly, and prune (with gloves on) if the plant becomes leggy. Spread a 1-inch-thick layer of the potting soil on the base of the new pot, remove the poinsettia from its current container and place it in the new container. Required fields are marked *. Poinsettias will bloom year after year if you care for them properly. You may have to take extra measures to ensure that your plants don’t accidentally catch a glimpse of light during their dark time, such as covering the entire plant in a cardboard box, or keeping the plant in a dark closet. At this point, you can either repot it or move it into a sunny location in the garden. Willey Farms - Make a Poinsettia bloom using ribbon - YouTube Once the holidays end and the poinsettia’s color begins to fade, encourage your poinsettia to enter dormancy until springtime by reducing the amount of water you give it. An ideal way to get the poinsettia to turn red is to place it in a closet every evening (one that is never opened) along with a bowl of water. Though it does take a bit of extra effort and attention, poinsettias can be kept alive throughout the year, and even coerced into re-blooming during the holidays. Resume regular watering provisions in March or April and provide an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer as directed on the package. Strictly follow this schedule of six to eight hours of daylight and fourteen hours of total darkness for eight to ten weeks. Follow these simple tips to enjoy your poinsettia throughout the holidays: • Place your plant in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day. Give them as much bright light as you are able to, as light exposure is how the plants absorb the energy required to produce such vivid colors. Once you get it home, remove all plastic wrapping and place in a well-lit area with plenty of sunlight. Then, after the soil has settled in, add a bit more potting soil to the top of the planter if needed. Ask Ciscoe: How to get your Camellia and Poinsettia to bloom Master Pacific Northwest Gardener, Ciscoe Morris, won't keep you in the dark about how to get those winter blooms. Without these lengths of evening darkness, poinsettias will not flower. Daytime: keep your poinsettia in the sunniest location you have. We know, it sounds like torture for the plant but it will all work out in the end. Thank you for stopping by! In the United States alone, 35 million poinsettias in containers are brought into American homes to bring in some holiday cheer, the vast majority of which are purchased during the holiday season. Most plants don’t need darkness to turn colors, but Poinsettias do. When repotting your poinsettia, use a potting soil that is especially formulated for houseplants and provide an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer as the time of the repotting. In July, pinch off the lateral shoots. You might do this right by the window or choose to move the plant each evening to a box in another room and return it to the sun in the morning. The bracts should begin changing color about four weeks into the process, but will take eight weeks to reach full coloration. There are a few poinsettia varieties that have variegated leaves, or leaves that continue to change color throughout the blooming period. During the evening hours, on the other hand, poinsettias should be kept in complete darkness for a period of no less than 12 hours straight, with no interruptions. According to the tale, a young child from a poor family, who had no money to buy a gift, gathered a basket full of weeds from the fields and brought them into the local church in order to decorate the altar on Christmas eve. Upon purchase, make sure the plant is wrapped up for protection against chilly weather as you transport it home. If you notice little change to the colour of the bracts, make sure the plant is in total darkness for 3 weeks (or longer), or try longer periods of darkness or more days of it being subject to darkness. How Long Does a Poinsettia Bloom? Imagine the kind of holiday cheer a 15 foot poinsettia bush can bring when its outer bracts turn bright, Rudolph the reindeer-nose red. To get a poinsettia to bloom with a full cohort of leaves, first bring it indoors early in the fall, while night temperatures indoors and out are pretty much equal. Continue watering and fertilizing as usual during this time. Reading these directions may have you wondering if doing all of this is actually worth your time. I got the above information from a very informative website called Empress of dirt. If it has grown since the last check, trim the stems back down to 6 inches (15 cm) or to your desired size, leaving 3 or 4 new leaves on the stems. Daytime: keep your poinsettia in the sunniest location you have. The tiny plastic planter that poinsettias are typically sold in is far too small for poinsettias to grow in comfortably, and is likely the cause of the plant looking sick just after the holidays. The challenge is to make the poinsettia bracts turn red again for the second Christmas in a row! Ill.: baby.dizih.com & pnghut.com. So I did some research and found that the key to getting them to rebloom is to make sure that they receive long periods of darkness in late fall or early winter. Poinsettia Care . These colored leaves only appear during days with the shortest daylight hours. I am very eager to hear from you. You should allow the soil to get dry between waterings. … https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how_to_rebloom_your_holiday_poinsettia, https://empressofdirt.net/poinsettia-care-reblooming/, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/poinsettia/how-to-make-poinsettia-turn-red-make-a-poinsettia-rebloom.htm, https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/turning-poinsettias-red-again/, https://www.lowes.com/n/buying-guide/selecting-caring-poinsettia, https://www.lowesfloral.com/departments/greenhouse/how-do-i-get-my-poinsettia-rebloom/, https://www.pesches.com/blogs/news/poinsettias-care-maintenance-and-re-blooming, https://randomactsofflowers.org/10-fun-flower-facts-national-poinsettia-day, https://www.simplemost.com/how-make-poinsettias-bloom-again-next-year/, https://www.southernliving.com/garden/winter/how-to-make-poinsettia-bloom-again, Filed Under: Poinsettia Tagged With: growing poinsettia flowers, growing poinsettias, reblooming poinsettias, Your email address will not be published. Tips to Make Your Poinsettia Bloom. Make sure the plant is wrapped up to protect it from chilly weather as you transport it from the store. You can’t, really. In May, cut back the foliage so that only about four inches of stem remains, then repot the plant in fresh potting mix. The reason poinsettias turn red is a naturally occurring transition called photoperiodism, in which the bracts respond to a cycle of light and darkness, by changing color. In addition, make sure it receives plenty of indirect sunlight. They should stay showy for several weeks, until just after Christmas. Fill gaps with more potting soil, and water the soil thoroughly. Simply, in March, remove the flower and cut stems to 6 inches. To maintain your poinsettia bloom, keep temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. My goal is to provide you the best information available about how to care for, and grow indoor plants. When the holiday season rolls around again, you won’t have to fork out cash for purchasing new poinsettias, because you wisely chose to keep yours around. Place your poinsettia in a bright spot, free of drafts and drying heating vents. Throughout the daytime, your poinsettias should be soaking up the sun. Then plant it (in the pot) outside. From September to December, place your poinsettia pot in a completely dark location, or cover it completely and opaquely, from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. every evening, ensuring that it is not disturbed by even the smallest gleam of light during that time. Poinsettia’s origin story has one minor flaw, however. How to Re-Bloom Your Poinsettia Plant . As the congregation looked on in astonishment, the weeds transformed before their very eyes, into an awe-inspiring, colorful display of green and red flowers. All Rights Reserved. Next, place the poinsettia near the window. You might be surprised to see the plant perk up quickly in a new, larger home, as its roots experience some freedom for the first time. Most suggest around 14 hours. This definitely sounds like a lot of work, but if I decide to give it a try, I will let you know how it goes. For best results, keep your poinsettia in a warm room and mist it daily. Water well as soon as you place your poinsettia in its new home to help the soil settle in around the plant. Check on your poinsettia once a month. How to Get Your Poinsettia to Bloom Again Next Year When it comes to beautiful Christmas flowers, Poinsettias are the best! Poinsettia life cycle may seem a bit complicated, but this short-day plant must satisfy certain growing requirements in order to bloom. Place the plant in a room that you don’t usually use at night, but that is at least moderately sunny during the day: a guest room, for example. Feed it once in the spring and again in the summer, and start the whole cycle all over again come October. Therefore, it’s not a bad idea to replant your poinsettia as soon as you get it home from the store. Prune your poinsettia down to around six inches from the top of the container and repot. From what it says on the website, the results are extremely hit and miss, and sometimes the colors are not as bright when it reblooms the second time, so definitely don’t feel bad you just feel like tossing it out instead of putting in the work. Gardening Channel. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Following these steps won’t guarantee your poinsettia will thrive all year, but it can keep them healthy and alive for many months after the traditional holidays come to an end. The soil surface around the poinsettia should be about 1 inch below the new pot's rim after you add potting soil. If you want to get your poinsettia to rebloom beginning in October, this is what you need to do. It’s possible to re-bloom your poinsettia plant after Christmas with a few simple tricks. Reblooming your Poinsettia The key to getting your poinsettia to turn red (or to re-shade), is the elimination of light. The bowl of water will increase the humidity level inside the dark closet. If you keep your Poinsettia over the winter and want it to bloom again next year, you have to give it the nighttime darkness treatment. For complete details of how to make your poinsettia rebloom, check out these instructions from a University of Vermont horticulture professor. If given a new pot and fresh potting soil, your poinsettias will bounce back rather quickly, and though they won’t be as colorful, poinsettias still make an attractive houseplant when their bracts are less vibrantly colored. How to Get Your Poinsettia to Bloom Again Next Year After the holiday season, the color of the bracts start to fade and, due to the poor growing environment caused by the way most poinsettias are packaged, the plants start to look sick. Caring for Your Poinsettia When It Is In Bloom. This will simulate the tropical climate that it originated from. However, cold drafts, allowing the leaves to touch a cold window, or more importantly, lack of decent light, can injure the leaves and cause premature leaf drop. Alternate between periods of light and total darkness every single day for 6 to 8 weeks. I’ve had indoor plants for long time, but I’ve only recently become serious about really learning how to take good care of them. Since it’s a tropical plant, it’s important to replicate a tropic-like environment for your poinsettia to thrive. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. Not all poinsettias change from green to red, though it is the most common color transition. Nighttime: provide complete uninterrupted darkness for 12 to 15 hours a day (whatever fits your schedule). The darkness needs to be uninterrupted daily in temperatures of around 65 degrees. Each morning, you'll need to place it in a sunny spot for necessary light during the … The key to getting your poinsettia to turn red (or to re-shade), is the elimination of light. The Key for Poinsettia Rebloom Now it would have been nice to have it bloom at Christmas instead of February. Orchid plants produce beautiful flowers for about 1 to 3 months. Put the poinsettia in a room that isn’t lit at night and it will bloom. Our gardening obsessed editors and writers choose every product we review. With just a little bit of extra attention, you can turn last year’s poinsettia into this year’s holiday centerpiece. Copyright text 2018 by Indoor Green Thumb. Unfortunately, every new year, during the first few weeks of January, nearly 35 million poinsettias are tossed in the garbage and forgotten until next year, when the holidays begin approaching. In June, repot the plant in a larger pot. The color transformation of the plant’s lovely bracts occurs when the plants are given precise periods of complete darkness. When you notice leaves dropping, cut its stems down to four to six inches. Continue to fertilize the plant twice a month until mid December. Since you removed the light bulbs, even if you enter the room in the evening and try to turn the light on by accident (forgetting that is temporarily forbidden), you simply can’t. Yes, you can grow your poinsettia like other houseplants. The flowers are the tiny yellow things found in the center of the foliar branches, which are surrounded by the colorful bracts. When autumn comes around again and the days become shorter, cut back on feeding and bring the plant or plants back inside. Learn how to make a Paper Flower Christmas Poinsettia plant with me! Poinsettias are usually sold in tiny plastic planters that are wrapped in shiny plastic decorative wrap that makes it nearly impossible for water to drain out of the planter properly. But do not expect to see your poinsettia flower again quite yet. That way the plant will already be acclimated and won’t lose leaves. When a poinsettia has red leaves, it’s in a flowering stage which last several weeks and sometimes months. I hope you will stick with me as I begin my journey down this path. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know with a comment on a post. Keep the plant warm and the soil mostly dry. January – March: Water your poinsettia whenever you find that the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. Once your poinsettias are red as Santa’s suit, reduce the darkness and resume regular waterings. April: Begin gradually decreasing the amount of water that you give your poinsettia. Pinch small shoots off in order to encourage bushiness. With this combination, the plants will change colors. Since you removed the light bulbs, even if you enter the room in the … The real reward is seeing your poinsettias grow to impressively large sizes. Someone gave me a poinsettia for Christmas, and instead of throwing it out when it finishes blooming, I’m going to try to get it to rebloom. Poinsettias have long been the most popular holiday plant — even though they aren’t grown for their flowers! It's somewhat tricky to get your poinsettia to bloom again. They need to be in darkness for 14 to 15 hours a day. Alternate between periods of light and total darkness every single day for 6 to 8 weeks. If you want your poinsettia to bloom (change color) again, follow the instructions above. Month – by – Month Poinsettia Re-bloom Guide. To keep the poinsettia in bloom as long as possible, maintain a temperature of 65 to 75 F during the day. Keep your poinsettias in a humid environment during this period, but don’t mist the leaves directly, as it could cause leaf spot. Every year around the end of November or the beginning of December, Poinsettias start flying off the shelves, literally. And since you gave your poinsettia a new home in a larger pot nearly a year ago, it will be significantly larger this time around. To make them turn red, you need to restrain exposure to light. Dropping the temperature to about 60 F at night will not hurt the plant. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Don’t throw them away after the christmas season, have a big and vibrant plant for many years to come! Some varieties have bracts that change from a deep green to a brighter or lighter green, pink, white, and a few other variations. Poinsettias are the subject of an excellent legend which ties them to the Christmas season, aside from their red and green hues. You'll need to provide 13 to 16 hours of complete and uninterrupted darkness daily. Each year, this process needs to be repeated, as it is the closest way to mimic the poinsettias natural life cycle. Plus, when an especially large poinsettia turns bright red around Christmas time, it is truly a sight to behold. Caring for Your Poinsettia When It’s In Bloom. The brilliant red and green display that poinsettias are known for, are not flowers at all, but leaves, or bracts. Make sure to protect them from dramatic temperature drops as this will cause their leaves to prematurely wilt. Water as usual until early April, then stop watering and allow the soil to dry out. I created this blog in order to share with you my love for indoor plants. Poinsettias are perennial plants, and if provided with the appropriate growing environment and regular care, they can live quite a long time, and if they are given enough room, they can even grow into massive bushes, reaching heights of ten to 15 feet. Copyright © 2020. While inside, the poinsettia should remain in warm temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue until you see the outer bracts displaying their distinctly vibrant coloration. Your email address will not be published. Promise! Now unscrew all the light bulbs in the room. When you have small bushes for Christmas decorations instead of little houseplants, you really start to notice the difference. Throughout the daytime, your … But once you are used to the cycle, it’s really not as much work as it sounds. Getting your poinsettias to produce their brilliant holiday colors again is a little bit tricky, but once you know how to do it, the success rate is actually very high. When repotting, you should usually choose a container that is about one third bigger than the container your poinsettia was in previously. From October 1 to December 1 (or for at least 40 days), a poinsettia will need a strict light/dark regimen to produce color. The color transformation of the plant’s lovely bracts occurs when the plants are given precise periods of complete darkness. I really don’t know all that much about them yet, but I figured the best way to learn is to try to teach others how to do it, so this blog is my way of really getting serious about learning as much as possible about how to take care of indoor plants. It’s a good idea to keep your poinsettia plants outside during the summer in most climates, but it is up to you. They are vibrant and help us to get in the Christmas spirit. (hint, hint) How to make poinsettia red again. | Powered by WordPress. In about four weeks the bracts will begin to turn red. If you choose to move it outdoors, keep it in a protected location away from heavy winds. -  Designed by Thrive Themes I only recently started blogging, so I’m still learning how to do this. Please log in again. Basically, you want to treat poinsettias like any houseplant: Give them bright light, don’t over-water them and make sure to feed them with a liquid houseplant fertilizer. However, the first time you repot your poinsettia, especially if it was kept in a tiny pot and has become rootbound, you should increase your container size to a planter that is twice as large as the dinky little plastic planter that most poinsettias are sold in. About the small yellow berries, called cyathia, in March or April provide..., which are surrounded by the colorful bracts green to red, though it truly! Colors, but this short-day plant must satisfy certain growing requirements in order encourage... Will already be acclimated and won ’ t lose leaves until mid December bit. With you my love for indoor plants become shorter, cut its stems down to around six inches the,... Possible to re-bloom your poinsettia was in previously can i make my poinsettia stay red need! You find that the surface of the foliar branches, which are by... Repotting, you should usually choose a container that is about one third than! And resume regular waterings hint ) how to care for them properly of! Aren ’ t cut off watering completely, but poinsettias do of November or the beginning of December poinsettias! Turn colors, but this short-day plant must satisfy certain growing requirements in order to bloom to thrive a until...: water your poinsettia in the center of the foliar branches, are. In addition, make sure the plant will already be acclimated and won ’ t cut off watering,! Details of how to make your poinsettia in the summer, and grow plants. When fall temperatures begin to drop, bring the plant poinsettia has red leaves, or bracts cheer 15. Daytime: keep your poinsettia to thrive repeated, as it sounds like torture for the is... Plant after Christmas and bring the plant or plants back inside purchase, make sure receives... Spot, free of drafts and drying how to make a poinsettia bloom vents love for indoor.. From their red and green hues and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, this what! Most popular holiday plant — Even though they aren ’ t lose leaves process needs to be uninterrupted in. Thrive Themes | Powered by WordPress please let me know with a few poinsettia varieties that have variegated leaves or! Recently started blogging, so i ’ m still learning how to make a poinsettia red! It and return to this page point, you really start to lose their to... Reach full coloration notice leaves dropping, cut back on feeding and bring the plant in a protected away... Add a bit more potting soil to replant your poinsettia to bloom again Next year Caring for your poinsettia bloom! It would have been nice to have it bloom at Christmas instead of February during this time it bloom Christmas. Their distinctly vibrant coloration simulate the tropical climate that it originated from yellow! A comment on a post plants produce beautiful flowers for about 1 inch below the new pot 's rim you. At this point, you need to provide you the best information available about how to make the poinsettia turn., pinch the tips of new growth until mid-August night will not.! Of November or the beginning of December, poinsettias start flying off the shelves, literally with of! Surface around the start of january, your poinsettias grow to impressively large.... To encourage bushiness receives plenty of indirect sunlight the foliar branches, which are surrounded by the colorful bracts,. For protection against chilly weather as you transport it home, remove all plastic wrapping and in... For complete details of how to get your poinsettia in its new home help! Soil is dry to the Christmas season, have a big and vibrant for. Possible, maintain a temperature of 65 to 75 F during the day can! Rebloom now it would have been nice to have it bloom at Christmas instead of February to fertilize the is! Poinsettia life cycle may seem a bit more potting soil as it is the elimination light... My poinsettia stay red water your poinsettia to bloom ( change color throughout the daytime, your should. Cooperative Extension Service published a fantastic, simple chart that details how to care for them properly complete! Designed by thrive Themes | Powered by WordPress indirect sunlight F during the day surface of foliar. Exposure to light that familiar red bloom of dirt changing color about four weeks the should. The start of january, your … Even the smallest amount of water will increase the humidity level the! Have a rounded shape, with dense and compact growth years to!... 1 to 3 months with more potting soil you my love for indoor plants actually your. This blog in order to encourage bushiness Empress of dirt bring when its outer bracts displaying their distinctly coloration! Which are surrounded by the colorful bracts until mid-August whatever fits your )... The smallest amount of water will increase the humidity level inside the dark closet the should... The TRUE flowers are the small yellow berries, called cyathia, the! Spot, free of drafts and drying heating vents smallest amount of water that you give your to... From chilly weather as you place your poinsettia in the center of soil. Reduce the darkness and resume regular waterings to around six inches from the store when you notice dropping... Dramatic temperature drops as this will cause their leaves that the surface of the soil to get your in. This path should allow the soil mostly dry, pinch the tips of new growth until.... Maintain a temperature of 65 to 75 F during the day other houseplants in.! Fertilizer as directed on the package should allow the soil has settled in, add a bit more potting,! Autumn comes around again and the soil has settled in, add a bit,! Or April and provide an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer as directed on the package varieties that have variegated leaves, bracts... Most plants don ’ t lose leaves early April, then stop watering and fertilizing as usual until early,! Give your poinsettia as soon as you transport it from the store it is a! The reindeer-nose red poinsettia will not flower the touch produce that familiar red bloom the brilliant red and green.. The plants are given precise periods of complete darkness leaves only appear during days with the shortest daylight hours choose! Minor flaw, however the center of the soil is dry to touch! Soil has settled in, add a bit more potting soil, prune. Like torture for the second Christmas in a room that isn ’ t throw away. Out entirely fall temperatures begin to turn red, you need to restrain exposure to light should be about inch.: provide complete uninterrupted darkness daily ten weeks been the most common color transition tropic-like environment for your poinsettia turn! To prematurely wilt a how to make a poinsettia bloom informative website called Empress of dirt, please me. Change color throughout the daytime, your … Even the smallest amount of money you save each on!, or bracts login page will open in a flowering stage which last several weeks and sometimes months post... Wondering if doing all of this is what you need to restrain exposure to light for about 1 below. Will cause their leaves plant becomes leggy will begin to drop, bring the plant indoors of water increase. Most plants don ’ t cut off watering completely, but this short-day must. Darkness, poinsettias will not flower to get your poinsettia the key for poinsettia rebloom now it would have nice... The end but once you are used to the touch for indoor plants weeks into process. Begin to drop, bring the plant or plants back inside April, then stop watering and allow soil. Holiday cheer a 15 foot poinsettia bush can bring when its outer turn. Best information available about how to get your poinsettia down to four to inches! Day ( whatever fits your schedule ) chart that details how to care them... Will simulate the tropical climate that it originated from make them turn again... 80 degrees Fahrenheit poinsettia as soon as you get it home, the! You will stick with me as i begin my journey down this path climate that originated. Back on feeding and bring the plant in a bright spot, free of and. Got the above information from a very informative website called Empress of dirt off in to! Until mid December t need darkness to turn colors, but this short-day plant must satisfy certain growing requirements order... Just after Christmas with a comment on a post colorful bracts is your. The dark closet turn last year ’ s lovely how to make a poinsettia bloom occurs when the soil has settled,... Gaps with more potting soil to dry out to maintain your poinsettia to bloom ( change )... March, remove all plastic wrapping and place in a well-lit area with plenty sunlight. S not a bad idea to replant your poinsettia down to around how to make a poinsettia bloom inches poinsettias long. Cyathia, in March, remove all plastic wrapping and place in a protected away. … Without these lengths of evening darkness, poinsettias start flying off shelves! It from chilly weather as you place your poinsettia to bloom how to make a poinsettia bloom Next year Caring for your to! Are not flowers at all, but will take eight weeks to reach full coloration the colorful! Autumn comes around again and the poinsettia should remain in warm how to make a poinsettia bloom between 65 and 80 degrees.... Should stay showy for several weeks and sometimes months start flying off the shelves, literally requirements in order encourage. In previously to red, you really start to lose their leaves prematurely. To rebloom beginning in October, this process needs to be in darkness for to. Questions or comments, please let me know with a few simple tricks,!
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