Last year, I decided to try to keep them alive all year so I’d have them ready for the next holiday season. It was introduced to the States by US Ambassador Joel Robert Poinsett after he discovered them growing wild in parts of Mexico in 1825. DON’T Forget to Protect the Plant in the Car. If, on the other hand, you really enjoy a gardening challenge and tend to think of your plants almost as pets, then consider pampering your poinsettias through the seasons. Continue to keep your poinsettias in a place with plenty of light and water as directed above. Summer is also the time to help your friends propagate. Poinsettias flood the market during the winter holidays, claiming the title of best-selling potted flowering plant. Prune the stems of the poinsettia back to 6 to 8 inches long at the end of March or beginning of April. I am curious, will you still be gardening now, eight years later? Spring Pruning. Poinsettias are usually sold with the containers wrapped in colorful foil. Most of these I planted over the years but some grow wild, adding to the beauty each year. Remember to be consistent and not to skip a single day. Be sure to choose a pot that will continue to allow for proper drainage, such as a terracotta with drainage holes in the bottom. As spring turns to summer, you will enjoy watching your friends flourish and grow. Around Valentine’s Day, start fertilizing your plants every two weeks and provide them with a little more sunlight. You should begin to see plenty of new growth by May. Rebecca Mealey (author) from Northeastern Georgia, USA on January 05, 2020: Aurelio Locsin from Orange County, CA on January 04, 2020: We actually got a poinsettia for Christmas. However, there are a few things you can do to make a poinsettia more comfortable, and, with a bit of luck, even enjoy a second flowering next year. Because they are tropical plants, they crave humidity. Poinsettias can stay attractive for months. Continue to keep them away from drafts and high heat. Avoid areas with high heat and cold drafts. Glad to be of help! Inspect the plant for bugs (most plants won't show bugs in the greenhouse but they will show up after about two weeks in the home). Photo Credit: Muffet via Compfight cc, Your email address will not be published. Linda Chechar from Arizona on January 02, 2020: I had no idea that poinsettias were able to re-bloom for the next holiday season. Getty Images. • Poinsettias need bright light, and their soil needs to dry up a bit between waterings. Give them enough sun, warmth, and water and your poinsettia will provide perfect seasonal color. There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias, ranging from red, salmon, and apricot to yellow, cream, and white, along with marbled varieties blending several colors together. This should promote new growth. February – Prune; Check for insect pests. If you want to re-bloom your poinsettia indoors you will need to observe the following steps, beginning at the end of September. Water them only when they are dry and do not fertilize them. But stick to this simple six-step process, and we guarantee your poinsettia plants will re-bloom next year. Thank you for sharing this information. Keep your Poinsettias cut back to around eight inches in height as the spring months continue. By now you have really become protective of these plants that you have nurtured. I hope it'll work out for you next time. Now is the time for selective pruning. They love a splash of liquid fertilizer, too. Do this by placing them in a very dark and cool place for those 14 hours, and do it for 40 days. I was just going to throw it away after the holidays but now that I've come across your article, will give taking care of it a go. How Do You Keep a Poinsettia From Year to Year? Garden soil will cause root-rot and you will lose your friends. The plant's colorful leaves are known as bracts. Want to save it and rebloom it next holiday season, but was told it was too difficult? • Now comes the hard work: When temperatures start to drop, bring your poinsettias inside. After all, at last count roughly 35 million poinsettias are sold each year … Be sure to place them where they will receive plenty of indirect sunlight. And good luck with your poinsettias. Demas W Jasper from Today's America and The World Beyond on April 23, 2020: You may recall, but probably will not, reading a Hub on seeds from previous years that might and might not be viable still this year. Leave two or three leaves on the old stems, as new growth comes from buds on the leaf. Beautiful shot of Londons Kew Gardens. Choose a healthy plant, one that will keep going through the … Make sure the plant gets plenty of moisture and indirect sunlight, and--if you live in the right climate-- introduce it … Late March or early April: cut your poinsettia back to 4-8" above the soil. We purchased them in memory of a love one who went to heaven, so I do hope I can nurse it along this winter. arrives, and nighttime temperatures reach above 55° F, it’s safe to move your poinsettias outside, where they’ll get better light. Beginning around Thanksgiving and just in time for the holiday season, you should be rewarded with showy, colorful blooms once again (if you have done your job correctly). Chances are, somewhere in your home or office, there is at least one poinsettia brightening up the room. The beauty of poinsettias can persist from Thanksgiving through Christmas, and sometimes even to Valentine's Day. Then you can transplant them to your garden in January, and let the natural changes in daylight trigger their color later in the year. [1] X Research source Before purchasing, shop for healthy-looking plants that have been kept away from drafts and excessive heat. Keep the temperature around 60–68 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply stick it in a closet or cover with a large box every evening and then return the plant to its sunny window during the … When spring arrives, prune the flowering stems back 4 to 6 inches. You can keep your poinsettia healthy and vigorous throughout the holiday season with the right care. • Once spring (finally!) Start by pruning the dead leaves to create room for new growth. If you received a poinsettia this holiday season you can save it to rebloom next year with these simple tips. Take care not to give your new plants a cold ride home if you are in an area with a chilly climate. Even Saskatoon blueberries. As your little "grandchildren" grow, give them the same care as your adult poinsettia. To get poinsettias to re-bloom, limit its exposure to sunlight or this will affect the blooming process. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. Bring your poinsettia back indoors on October 1st. Although poinsettias are difficult to re-bloom, you may find it rewarding to keep them throughout the year and force them to bloom for the holidays next year. Remove the wrapper as soon as you get home to allow for proper drainage. Continue to water your poinsettia, keeping the soil moist, but not wet, at all times. Garden to Table: 39 Delicious Things To Do With Rosemary, Garden to Table: Crescent Pizza Stockings, How to create a cozy winter outdoor patio, Have Some Fun With Outdoor Garden-themed Thanksgiving Decor, Your Fall Garden: What to trim, what to transplant and what to leave alone. Ingesting enough of it can induce gastrointestinal distress. What great gifts they will make when your friends and neighbors realize that you grew them yourself! Place a layer of small rocks on the bottom of the larger container to help with drainage. 1 – 2 days after watering, remove the poinsettia from its current planter by turning it upside down while keeping one hand on the soil to hold the soil in place. Continue to let your plants lose leaves naturally. This spring special offer ends June 9th at 11:59pm CST. Here are some tips to try: • Poinsettias need bright light, and their soil needs to dry up a bit between waterings. Poinsettia Care Tips. The cuttings should take root in three to four weeks. Dandelion greens, chives, and chicory. With a little time and attention, you can keep a poinsettia alive to flourish again next year. As spring turns to summer, you will enjoy watching your friends flourish and grow. This helps generate new flowers. Start with a Healthy Poinsettia Plant. A few weeks later, the bracts should be brightly colored, and you’ll have gorgeous plants for the holiday season! Learn how to care for yours so you can keep it blooming year after year. After Christmas, keep your poinsettia indoors and in a spot where it receives bright light, watering it regularly in a pot with good drainage to keep the soil moist. If you’re going to keep it through the year move the poinsettia to a cool, dark area and slowly decrease your regular watering schedule to allow the plant to dry out a little. As to existing vegetable annuals, add on elephant garlic and Jerusalem artichoke. Move your plants to a cool place, then stand back and let them be, watering a small amount of water now and then. Some stores sell poinsettias in cellophane cones that … You should begin to see plenty of new growth by May. Some gardeners are not satisfied with this long season of indoor beauty and attempt to save the plants to re-bloom the following winter. Check. • The bracts will fade and drop off, and when they do, cut the stems back to just below the flowers. Rebecca Mealey (author) from Northeastern Georgia, USA on December 24, 2019: That makes me feel so good, Ruby Jean. Re-blooming a poinsettia for next Christmas is a challenge that will bring you great satisfaction. Given them about eight hours of sunlight. Caring for them in colder climates and getting them to rebloom takes much effort as you nicely have shown in this post. Touch the soil and make sure it is neither too wet or overly dry. This lovely cycle can continue as long as you like. Poinsettias need at least 14 hours of complete darkness each night for six to 10 weeks to trigger bloom. Rebecca is a retired special education teacher, a freelance writer, and an avid recycler. Pick a Color Theme Interior designers often work with a color palette – a selection of colors chosen to give a room or a home, Botanical Photography My Garden Treasures A collection of spring blooms gathered from my magical woodland garden including hellebores, daffodils, hyacinth, periwinkle and muscari. Thanks, Peggy. Poinsettias are particularly popular around the holidays. Poinsettia care should begin immediately. Since then, it’s been symbolic of the holiday season, with more than 34 million sold in the U.S. each year. Pinch the tips of the new growth often for the bushier look and less often for bigger blossoms. It is probably also time for a bigger pot. When the nighttime temperature stays consistently around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it is time for your floral friends to go outside and enjoy the spring. If the plant is infected, it is best to throw it out and purchase another for keeping over. You have gotten your Christmas poinsettias safely through the long, cold winter without over or under watering and have avoided cold drafts and hot heaters.