Re-Flowering
a Poinsettia...
all
it takes is a little Time and Patience
The
holidays have passed... the decorations have been packed away.
All that's left are some great memories and a Poinsettia. If your Poinsettia
still looks good you deserve a pat on the back... and your ready for the
next step. Re-flowering
a Poinsettia...
Re-flowering
a Poinsettia is really quite simple. All it takes is a little time and
patience. If you loose interest in
the project some where along the way... don't feel bad, your in the company
of others. Re-flowering a Poinsettia requires some dedication and effort. The
first step in getting your Poinsettia to re-flower is to provide the
plant with excellent care during the holidays. After the holidays place your
Poinsettia near a sunny window or in a heated sun room.  Come
February the bracts may start to fade. The bracts are the colorful
part of a Poinsettia. They're actually modified leaves. Their original
purpose was to attract pollinators. The insignificant cluster in the center
of the bract is the flower. This flower cluster is called the Cyathia.
During
March the bracts may start to dry out and fall off. Don't be
alarmed... this is normal. Just continue to care for the plant as you have
in the past.   Come April
it is
time to give your Poinsettia a hair cut. April 15th is the ideal date. Cut
your plant back leaving 6" of stems and leaves above the soil line.
Pictured
on the left is a Poinsettia before I cut it back. On the right is the same
plant after I cut it back. The stems will bleed a bit of white sap that may
irritate sensitive skin. Time
to start Feeding... During
May you should begin to start feeding the Poinsettia with either a
balanced 20/20/20 or 20/10/20 plant food at a rate of one teaspoon per
gallon. Fertilize the plant every third watering.  In
June check to see if your Poinsettia needs re-potting. Remove the
plant from the pot. If there is a mass of roots filling the soil ball your Poinsettia needs moved to the next size larger pot.
The pictured plant is not quite ready for transplanting. We
highly recommend using high quality potting soil from your local Garden
Center. Increase your fertilizer applications to every other watering.
July
continue to water and feed your Poinsettia. Be sure to keep the plant in
a sunny area. In August its
time for a second hair cut. This time cut the new growth back to 3"
to 4" leaving a few leaves per stem. Don't cut the plant where you cut
it in April. Continue watering and feeding as needed. Fooling
Mother Nature... From
the middle of September to the first of December its time to begin
altering your Poinsettias photoperiod. At 5PM place your Poinsettia in
total darkness until 8AM. Before you leave for work in the morning move
the plant back to a sunny window. Repeat this process until the bracts begin
to color up. Continue watering and feeding as usual. Come December stop
fertilizing and move your re-flowered Poinsettia to its display area. May
you have a happy and prosperous new year!
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