Repotting Poinsettias

Container Preparation

• A well-drained but moist potting mixture encourages healthy poinsettia growth. A combination of two parts soil, one part peat and one part sand provides both sufficient drainage and moisture retention. Use a pot one size larger than the previous container with a bottom drainage hole to allow any excess moisture to drain freely from the soil. Disinfecting the pot in a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water, and using only sterile soil, prevents disease and fungal problems after repotting.

Repotting

• Poinsettias require cutting back before you repot. Trim back the stems to a 6-inch height using clean shears. Once the stems are cut back, you can slide the plant from its old container and gently remove the excess soil from around its roots. Plant the poinsettia in the new pot at the same depth it was growing at in the old one. A light watering moistens the soil and settles it around the roots so they can establish more quickly.

After Care

• Temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit combined with all-day bright but indirect sunlight force new growth. The poinsettia needs watering only when the soil begins to dry to a 1- to 2-inch depth. Then supply only enough water to lightly moisten the soil throughout the pot. Once new growth emerges, you can begin application of a soluble balanced fertilizer at two-week intervals. Dilute ½ teaspoon of a 24-8-16 blend in 1 gallon of water and irrigate with the solution, or follow the package mixing directions.

Reblooming

• A repotted poinsettia can flower again if provided with 13 hours of darkness daily for 10 weeks. Achieve this by covering the plant with a black plastic bag or setting it in a completely dark location each night for the required period. Continue the dark period until the flower bracts have begin to open to ensure full flower production. During the day, provide bright, direct sunlight and continue to water and fertilize regularly.