How to Get Poinsettias to Bloom

Instead of discarding the poinsettia, encourage it to bloom the follow Christmas season.

Poinsettia perennials need proper care so that they produce blooms during the Christmas season. After the plants finish blooming, the leaves drop and the poinsettias stay dormant until the warm weather arrives. Enthusiasts grow poinsettias as houseplants indoors in order to regulate the lighting conditions properly. Providing a period of complete darkness will encourage the large blooms to develop so that you can enjoy the poinsettia plant again during the holidays.

Things You'll Need

• Water-soluble houseplant fertilizer
• Pruning shears
• Box or black bag

Instructions

1. Move the poinsettia to a cool location after the holiday season ends. The plant will lose its leaves and go into a dormancy stage. Water the soil only when it feels dry to the touch and avoid fertilizing the plant.

2. Move the poinsettia outdoors when the temperature remains at 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Transplant the poinsettia into a larger pot with fresh potting soil. Avoid placing the poinsettia in direct sunlight.

3. Water the poinsettia to keep the soil moist. New leaves and shoots will grow on the poinsettia. Apply a water-soluble fertilize for houseplants once a month by following the dosage settings.

4. Cut the plant down to 6 inches above the soil level during the spring. Cut new shoots in the summer and pinch new stems back in the fall.

5. Provide the poinsettia with 12 to 14 hours of complete darkness each day starting in late September or in early October.

6. Cover the poinsettia with a box or black bag that will completely shut out the light. Move the poinsettia back outdoors in the sunlight for the other 12 hours. Follow a strict schedule until mid-November such as covering it between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. every day.

7. Stop the light and dark schedule once the flower bracts form and grow. Do not fertilize the poinsettia while it blooms. Water the poinsettia regularly and maintain a temperature range between 55 and 60 F. Temperatures above 75 F at night can prevent the poinsettia from producing blooms.

Tips & Warnings

• Any additional light such as streetlights or night lights will inhibit the poinsettia from blooming.

• Do not place the poinsettia in a location where warm or cold drafts occur.

References

• All Free Crafts; Caring for Poinsettia; Jane Lake; 2007
• University of Vermont Extension; Caring for Your Poinsettia Year Round; Dr. Leonard Perry
• University of Illinois Extension: Frequently Asked Questions The Poinsettia Page
• Texas A&M University: Poinsettia