How to Rebloom 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! Late March or early April - cut your Poinsettia back to about 8 inches in height. Continue a regular watering program, and fertilize your plant with a balanced allpurpose fertilizer. By the end of May you should see vigorous new growth. Place your plants outdoors 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.  Late June or early July - Prune to keep plants bushy and compact. Do not prune your plant later than September 1. Keep the plants in indirect sun and water regularly. Around June 1 - Transplant your Poinsettia into a larger pot, no more than 4 inches larger than the original pot. We recommend a soil mix with a considerable amount of organic matter, such as Calloway’s Premium Potting Soil. 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 variety. 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 - 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!