Moxie Gardener

Poinsettias

In America, no other blooming plant says Christmas like the poinsettia.  First introduced to the United States from Mexico in 1828, it is as much a part of Christmas as the tree itself.

In its native habitat in Mexico, poinsettias, or Euphorbia pulcherrima, reach the size of shrubs or small trees.

Poinsettias thrive indoors at comfortable room temperatures with bright indirect light.  Kept in these conditions and well watered, Christmas poinsettias can continue to look spectacular long past the new year.

It is possible to get your poinsettia to bloom again next Christmas, although it requires consistent attention (as in every day) for about six weeks in fall.  Ready to make the commitment?  Below are the steps to take to make your poinsettia bloom again next Christmas:

1. For the rest of the winter, keep your poinsettia in bright light and water when the surface of the soil feels dry.
2. Put your poinsettia outside in the shade for the summer, at the same time you move your houseplants outside.
3. It is a good idea to repot the poinsettia in a pot only slightly larger than the one in which it is growing, using indoor potting soil.
4. Prune the end of each branch to just above a leaf node.  This will cause the poinsettia to branch out and form a more lush plant.
5. Beginning in mid-September, the plant must receive twelve hours of complete darkness every night for at least six weeks.  Complete darkness.  The light from a city street light will cause the poinsettia to fail to bloom.  The best way to provide complete darkness is to put the plant in a closet or cover with a light proof box every night for at least twelve hours. During the day, put your poinsettia in bright, indirect light at comfortable room temperatures.  Also, cut down on the amount of water you give the plant during this time, but not so much that the leaves wilt.
6. At the end of October, or after about six weeks of total nighttime darkness, you should notice buds swelling at the tips of the branches.  You can now grow your poinsettia in normal indoor conditions, along with your other houseplants.  The buds will open to reveal tiny yellow flowers, and the red-colored bracts, which are actually leaves, will slowly emerge.

That’s it.  Not terribly difficult, but it does require dedication during those six weeks of nighttime darkness.  Why not give a try to cultivating your poinsettia to bloom again next Christmas?