What Is the Trick to Keeping Poinsettias Alive?

After-holiday Care

• Poinsettias will drop their leaves and go dormant shortly after the tiny yellow flowers are spent. Once about half the leaves have dropped, give less water gradually until the soil is dry to the touch. Store the plant in a dark location where the temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit until the beginning of May. In storage, water the plant once a week, just enough to keep the wood from shriveling away.

Repot in Spring

• When your poinsettia begins to show new growth around the first of May, pull it from storage and repot it into a larger container. Use a potting mixture of two parts soil, one part peat moss and one part sand to create a poinsettia-friendly medium. If there is more than one plant growing in the original pot, separate each into its own pots. After repotting, cut the stems back until they are about 6 inches tall, and water until the soil is damp. Allow all excess water to drain; do not leave your poinsettia in standing water.

Short Day Plants

• Re-blooming a poinsettia is one of the most difficult parts of keeping it for many years. Poinsettias require long nights to set flowers; 12 to 14 hours of total darkness at night is mandatory if blooms are to be achieved. In about 10 weeks, the poinsettia should begin to bloom again. While the plant is actively growing, maintain ambient temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees, and water your poinsettia regularly. Fertilize the plant once a week using a complete fertilizer.

Simulating Short Days

• Beginning in early October, place your poinsettia in a dark spot, such as a closet in an unused room, for at least 12 hours to simulate long nights. Nights that are 12 to 14 hours are recommended for best blooms. In late November, the plant can be released from its simulated nights and rejoin the Christmas decor.