Tips to Get Your Poinsettia to Bloom

Tips to Make Your Poinsettia Bloom When fall temperatures begin to drop, bring the plant indoors. From October 1 to December 1 (or for at least 40 days), a poinsettia will need a strict light/dark regimen to produce color. You'll need to provide 13 to 16 hours of complete and uninterrupted darkness daily.

How do you get a poinsettia to rebloom?
Why is my poinsettia not flowering?
How do you keep a poinsettia alive year round?
How often do you water a poinsettia?
What is the life expectancy of a poinsettia plant?
When should I put my poinsettia in the dark?
Do poinsettias like sun or shade?
Can a poinsettia survive without leaves?
How do you care for a poinsettia plant indoors?
How do you care for a potted poinsettia indoors?
How do you take care of a potted poinsettia?

How do you get a poinsettia to rebloom?

Temperature and fertilizing

Fertilize with a 20-20-20 product every two weeks. Starting in November, fertilizer with more potassium, like 15-15-30, will help promote flower formation. After the darkness treatment, care for your plant as described earlier in this leaflet (while in bloom).

Why is my poinsettia not flowering?

Flower formation is actually triggered by periods of darkness. During the day, poinsettia plants require as much bright light as possible in order to absorb enough energy for color production. At night, however, poinsettia plants must not receive any light for at least 12 hours.

How do you keep a poinsettia alive year round?

Keep the poinsettia plant actively growing all summer by watering and fertilizing regularly. When the top of the soil feels dry, liberally apply water to moisten the soil completely, and allow the excess to drain away.

How often do you water a poinsettia?

In your home, put the poinsettia in a well lighted area away from drafts and heat vents. Water the poinsettia when the pot becomes lightweight or when the soil becomes dry to the touch, about once a week. Water the plant thoroughly in a sink, letting it drain, before putting it back where it was.

What is the life expectancy of a poinsettia plant?

"Home gardeners generally keep their poinsettias one or two years. If they're really dedicated, maybe a little longer. But the life span for interior plants when you live in the North is measured in months, not years."

When should I put my poinsettia in the dark?

To re-flower your poinsettia, you must keep the plant in complete darkness between 5pm and 8am daily from the end of September until color shows in the bracts (early to mid-December). The temperature should remain between 60 and 70 degrees F.

Do poinsettias like sun or shade?

Poinsettias need a minimum of six hours of indirect sunlight each day. Protect the plants from freezing temperatures, especially when transporting them. Place them in a light-filled room away from drafts. They do best in rooms between 55 and 65 F at night and 65 to 70 F during the day.

Can a poinsettia survive without leaves?

Poinsettias are known for their colorful red bracts, but they are also known as temperamental plants. Dropped leaves are common, but with proper care, poinsettias with fallen foliage will recover their health.

How do you care for a poinsettia plant indoors?

How to Care for Poinsettias

Light: Place your poinsettias in an area where they'll receive a minimum of six hours of bright (but not direct) sunlight each day.
Temperature: These plants prefer temperatures from 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and from 60 to 65 degrees at night.

How do you care for a potted poinsettia indoors?

Place potted poinsettias indoors in indirect light. Six hours or more of light (natural or fluorescent) is best. Keep them comfortable, ideally between 65 and 75 degrees, day or night. Lower temperatures will make them drop leaves almost immediately and shut down.

How do you take care of a potted poinsettia?

Keep soil moist.
Water plant when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch, or pot feels lightweight when lifted. Never allow poinsettias to get so dry that they wilt. Remove from decorative foil or outer pot before watering. ...
Continue watering as needed January through March.