Plant Protection - Poinsettia Care
The Poinsettia is a popular plant for the winter season, and is usually thought of as a temporary display to be discarded after the holiday season.
Some people carry the Poinsettias through the winter as a houseplant, and attempt to rebloom them in the fall.
Poinsettias carried through the winter need to be cut back to 4" stubbs in late April. The plants should be repotted in fresh fertile soil and watered and fertilized abundantly throughout the summer. Occasionally snipping out the tips will produce a compact plant with many branches. If you want a tree-form plant, snip off the side branches and stake the main leader. Your main object should be to produce a healthy and shapely plant by mid-September.
Starting September 15, the Poinsettia must be placed in a completely dark place such as a seldom-used closet from 4 or 5 in the afternoon until 8 or 9 the next morning. From morning to afternoon it must be placed in full sun; do not place outdoors if temperatures are expected to drop below 50 F. This procedure must be religiously followed for at least six weeks (42 days) until the plant begins to develop red coloration. After this stage, (early November), normal houseplant culture should follow to develop fully red bracts by the holiday season.
You should realize that giving the plant complete darkness for 14 uninterrupted hours during the night period is absolutely essential. Even opening the closet door for one minute will delay bloom for one week. Additionally, the plant must have full sun during the day. Most people find this schedule somewhat trying if not impossible, and simply buy new plants each holiday season.
For more details about growing Poinsettias, see:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/greenhouse/guides/Poinsettia/index.html
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