How to Re–bloom Your Poinsettia

When your poinsettia starts to age and lose its vibrant color, there’s no reason to throw it away. With the proper care and a little luck, you can re-bloom your poinsettia!

Begin in late March or early April by cutting your poinsettia back to 8” in height. Continue to water in the same manner, and fertilize your plant with a good fertilizer. You should begin to see vigorous regrowth by the end of May.

Your poinsettia may require some pruning during the summer months of June through August, but don’t prune your plant later than September 1st. Keep your plant in indirect sunlight and water regularly.

You will also need a larger pot for your growing plant. Around June 1st, transfer your plant to a new pot no more than 4 inches larger than the original pot. Choose a soil mix with a considerable amount of organic matter such as peat moss or leaf mold.

Starting October 1st, your poinsettia needs complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. You can either move your plant into a dark room, or cover it in a large box. Stray light of any kind could delay the flowering process. During this time, it is also crucial that your plant gets 6 to 8 hours of bright sunlight daily, so when bringing your plant out of the darkness, choose a sunny spot for it to live.

Follow these simple steps, and your poinsettia will start to rebloom in November or December, just in time for the holidays!