Isn’t it sad to think you’ll pitch that beautiful poinsettia? Have you ever thought of trying to re-bloom your Christmas flower again next year. It can be a fun thing to do but there are a couple of tricks that are necessary to make this happen. The benefits are that you can have a beautiful shrub in your garden for the summer and secondly you can have one huge poinsettia plant for next Christmas for free! When you are successful, you will be the envy of all your friends. Here’s how:

Enjoy your poinsettia until you are just simply tired of it. It can stay in a sunny window or put it in the basement or a cool place where it will not freeze. Only water it once a month or when the soil dries out. The leaves will drop off and it may look dead, but the stems should stay green. Cut the stems back to about 4-6” above the pot and hold onto it until spring.

About the 20^th of May when the danger of frost is past and using a potting soil like Metro Mix 360, transplant your plant into a pot that is at least 2” larger in diameter than the size it is currently in. A clay pot would be best to use but plastic will work. “Plunge” the newly transplanted plant, pot and all, into the soil in a full sun location. This will allow the roots to develop and prevent disturbing the plant’s root system in September when you “lift” it and bring it into the house.

Keep the plant watered during the summer. Apply a tablespoon of Osmocote fertilizer to the pot when you “plunge” it in the yard or plan to feed it with a liquid feed once a week when you water it. Once it is growing well it will be necessary to “pinch” the new growth when new shoots are about 3” long. This will cause the plant to develop more branches and many flowers later. The last pinch should be made about the middle of July.

About the third week of September, before a chance of frost, bring the plant indoors, keeping it in a sunny window. Keep the soil moist and feed it with your liquid fertilizer, like Miracle Gro, until November 1. Do not fertilize after that date.

September 24^th is a magical date….days begin to get significantly shorter. Day length is what triggers the poinsettia to “bloom” turning the plant the brilliant colors we desire. They will only bloom when the days are less than 12 hours long. Mimicking natural day length and night length are essential. It will be necessary to give your plant a full day of sun but only the natural length of daylight. Keep the plant in total darkness as soon as the sun sets which means no interruption to the night with a light, not even for a quick flip of the switch. Some people put a “black out” box over the poinsettia plant if there will be lights on in the room in the evening. Remember, you must have a long night for the plant to bloom at Christmas.

When your poinsettia is fully colored, discontinue darkness treatment. Place the plant in a location that receives plenty of natural light. Sit back and enjoy your success!

If you’re faithful in following this in all its detail, you will have your same plant in bloom for Christmas next year. We’ve had one blooming for three seasons now. Remember, this is the season of hope and believing! Give it a try.

Merry Christmas from all of us!