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255054
by airyfairy 09 Oct 2018 ( edited Oct 09'18 20:42 )
+30

Just was wondering if anyone has tried to get a poinsettia to flower again. Last Christmas I was given one as a gift. Eventually the flowers fell off but the plant was healthy. I looked up on Google and found out that these plants need 12 hours of darkness each day to get the new leaves to turn red.

Every evening I shut my plant in a cupboard and it is starting to work - the top leaves are definitely tinged with red.

Comments (7)
140717
by spendlove 09 Oct 2018
+5
They are very sensitive to the day length. When grown commercially it is controlled very carefully to bring them into colour ready for Christmas.
The "flowers" are actually coloured leaves (bracts) so perhaps your cupboard is doing the trick!
1 comment
by airyfairy 09 Oct 2018
I have read so much on Google but it is all information from northern hemisphere. Our shops are full of poinsettias at Christmas time so it really does not make sense. I am just really trying it out. My plant is sprouting masses of new leaves so if I get no red ones it is still a nice plant.
11566
by momac 09 Oct 2018
+5
Hi Sarah, I don't know about a dark place, but here where we live, a friend and myself walk and there is a very large poinsettia growing in someone's yard along the way and is in full bloom now. This is in full sun and not in a dark place and doesn't seem to be getting any special treatment. Hugs Maureen in Durban
1 comment
by airyfairy 09 Oct 2018
The road behind us has a poinsettia tree. Every year it has the red bracts. It is not doing so well at the moment as we have had a month of strong winds
45918
by marianb 09 Oct 2018
+4
Here in Sydney I planted mine from last year into a large pot out the back it gets the morning to mid day light and it is the most glorious red. With daylight savings started here I may have to cover it closer to Christmas.
2 comments
by airyfairy 09 Oct 2018
If this trick does not work I will also probably do the same.
In a few weeks I will let you know if it had worked. I find it very odd that it is a Christmas plant both in northern and Southern Hemisphere. I think it originally comes from South America
by Kampfzwerg 09 Oct 2018
Poinsettias hale from Mexico, Middle and South America. It is a short-day-plant. Hugs
145305
by mops 09 Oct 2018
+3
Th bought ones usually has been treated to short daylight and they are treated to keep them compact. I have got them to flower again the next year but the plants were not as compact as the original ones - the bits of stem between the leaves were considerably longer.
1 comment
by airyfairy 09 Oct 2018
The Videos I have seen, cut the stems down to a certain point. Out of 6 stems, I have cut down 3. It will be interesting to see if they sprout new growth. All a bit hit and miss. 😁
7208
by AuntAnnie 09 Oct 2018
+2
Good luck! Please keep us posted.
1 comment
by airyfairy 10 Oct 2018
I will but I think it will take a bit of time
66927
by graceandham 09 Oct 2018
+4
Sounds like you're doing just right. When in bloom and in a pot indoors, they need careful care. Only just enough water every other day and no drafts, otherwise, they get moldy and drop flower pieces.
1 comment
by airyfairy 10 Oct 2018
I am watering every 3 - 4 days at the moment, just when the soil dries out a bit.
29726
by babash 09 Oct 2018
+4
Don't know about Poinsettia plants but thought I would add don't forget to fertilize
1 comment
by airyfairy 10 Oct 2018
Thank you for the reminder. I must find out about fertilizer