As the holidays pass, they usually take with them the colorful blooms of the poinsettia plant. There are ways, however, to extend the life and blooms of the plant. Here are some tips:
Place the poinsettia in a sunny window.
Do not let any part of the plant touch cold window panes.
Indoor temperatures from 60F to 70F are ideal for long plant life.
High temperatures will shorten the life of the colorful bracts.
Water only when the soil is dry.
Placing your poinsettia in a cool room (55F to 60F) at night will extend blooming time.
Do not fertilize when plant is in bloom.
Avoid temperature fluctuations and warm or cold drafts.
The plant can be moved outside in the spring.
The key is to preserving poinsettia is timing. Here's a helpful shedule based on holidays compiled by University of Vermont professor Dr. Leonard Perry:
New Year's Day: Fertilize with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer at recommended rates. Continue to provide adequate light and water for prolonged bloom for several weeks.
Valentine's Day: Check your plant for signs of insects such as white fly. If your plant has become long and leggy, cut back to about five inches tall.
St. Patrick's Day: Remove faded and dried parts of the plant. Add more soil, preferably a commercially available sterile soil mix. Keep the plant in a very bright interior location.
Memorial Day: Trim off two to three inches of branches to promote side branching. Repot to a larger container using a sterile growing mix.
Father's Day: Move the plant outside for the summer; place in indirect light.
Fourth of July: Trim the plant again. Move it into full sun. Continue to water and fertilize but increase the amount to accelerate growth.
Labor Day: Move indoors to a spot that gets at least six hours of direct light daily, preferably more. As new growth begins, reduce the amount of fertilizer.
Autumnal Equinox: Starting on or near Sept. 21, give the plant 13 hours of uninterrupted darkness (put the plant in a closet, basement, or under a box) and 11 hours of bright light each day. Maintain night temperatures in the low 60-degree F range. Continue to water and fertilize. Rotate the plant daily to give all sides even light.
Thanksgiving: Discontinue the short day/long night treatment. Put the plant in a sunny area that gets at least six hours of direct light. Reduce water and fertilizer.
Christmas: Enjoy your "new" poinsettia.
Poinsettia should be fertilized once a month with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer.
To get a poinsettia to bloom you have to keep it in total darkness between 5 pm and 8 am. Start this around October 1 and continue until color shows on the bracts, usually around early to mid-December. Any exposure to light can prevent flowering. Covering the plant with a light-proof bag and placing it in a closet may work. Nighttime temperatures above 70-75F can decay or prevent flowering.
Before watering, be sure to remove foil covering drain holes before watering. Water only when the soil is dry. Do not let the poinsettia wilt. Do not let it sit with water in the saucer. Empty the saucer.