Question
I GOT A POINSETTIA FOR CHRISTMAS LAST YEAR. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. IPUT IT OUTSIDE IN THE FLOWERBED AND IT DID WONDERFUL, IS PRETTY AND GREENNOW I HAVE BROUGHT IT INSIDE NOW AND HERE IS MY QUESTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET IT TO BLOOM IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS?
I HAVE HEARD THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY HOURS OF DARKNESS? DO I STOP WATERING IT?
I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE ON THIS. THANKS

Answer
Hi there,

I am not sure what conditions you have provided for the past two months, but here is what should be done.

Getting your Poinsettia to re-bloom is not complicated, but it芒鈧劉s not easy either. Beginning in late September, you must provide your poinsettia with 12 hours of complete darkness each night and 12 hours of good light during the day. Even a small amount of light from a light bulb for a short time at night can disrupt the formation of the new flowers. In addition, night temps should drop to 63 degrees.

You must maintain this regimen for about eight weeks, by moving your poinsettia to a completely dark and cool place every night and back to the sunny windowsill each day. You water it normally throughout this period.

Once the colorful leaves called bracts are well established (usually about eight weeks), you can stop schlepping it to a dark place every night and leave it where it can be enjoyed.

This is a lot of work. Most people prefer to purchase a new poinsettia each holiday season.

Good luck with yours and please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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