Also known as Mexican flame leaf, poinsettias are mainly grown for their brightly colored leaf structures or bracts, which bloom at the top of the plant in striking shades of red, pink, white and other colors.

Unfortunately, poinsettias are often thrown away when those leaves begin to fade at the end of the holiday season. However, with proper care and a little ingenuity, you can learn how to rebloom poinsettias and enjoy these vibrant plants in your home or garden for many years.

Basic tips for poinsettia care

Poinsettias can be kept as houseplants or grown outdoors year-round in zones 9 through 11. But while poinsettias can survive on your kitchen counter or bookshelf for a few weeks around the holidays, these plants need a little more attention if you want to grow them. poinsettia perennial.

• Remove pots that drain poorly. Poinsettias are usually sold in pots with decorative foil and no drainage holes. To prevent root rot, remove the plastic wrap as soon as you bring your plants home and, if necessary, repot the poinsettias in well-draining containers.
• Provide enough light. Indoors or outdoors, poinsettias grow best in bright, indirect light. Low light can cause these plants to lose color early, while too much sun can lead to sun damage.
• Protect the plants from the cold. Indoor poinsettias grow well at room temperature, while outdoor plants should be protected from cold weather. Temperatures below 50°F causes poinsettia to die back, so be sure to bring in outdoor plants before fall.
• Water correctly. For best results, water poinsettias when the top of the soil feels dry and don’t let your plants sit in water.
• Prune as needed. Keep houseplants bushy and compact by pinching them down to the leaf node as needed. Poinsettia sap irritates the skin, so gloves are essential.
• Fertilize sparingly. Poinsettias do not need much fertilizer, and houseplants should only be fertilized during the growing season with a liquid, organic fertilizer diluted to half strength. Outdoor plants, on the other hand, should grow well with an annual application of compost.

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How to make poinsettias bloom again

As long as you provide poinsettias with regular water and bright, indirect light, poinsettias are relatively easy to grow as foliage plants. But if you want your poinsettias to turn red again, you’ll have to “trick” them into blooming by withholding light. This can only be done once a year in the winter, just in time for the holidays.

1. Remove the old leaves of the leaves: When your poinsettia leaves have faded, cut the bare stems back to the leaf node. Care for your plants as usual until they go dormant and shed about half of their leaves.
2. Watch out for dormant plants: When your poinsettias are dormant, move them to a cool, dark place that won’t freeze and reduce watering.
3. Move plants outdoors in spring: As new growth appears, increase watering and light levels and move your plants outside when temperatures are above 50°F. During the summer, water, fertilize and prune poinsettias as needed.
4. Bring plants indoors in the fall and reduce light: Before the temperatures drop below 50°F, put the poinsettias back inside and cover them with a lightproof box every night for about 10 weeks. Poinsettias should be placed in a window during the day, but they need 16 continuous hours of pure darkness to bloom again.
5. Enjoy the colors of the poinsettia: Poinsettia blooms are triggered by the short days of winter and plants may not rebloom if exposed to even a few seconds of light in the evening. Once your plants have color, stop depriving them of evening light and place them in a place in your home where you can enjoy them.

Stages of poinsettia care, based on the month

As you can see, poinsettia care changes throughout the year – especially if you want your plants to bloom again. To help you keep up with those changing care requirements, here’s a quick look at how to care for poinsettias throughout each season.

flowering (December)

Place the poinsettias in bright, indirect light and water them regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. There is no need to prune or fertilize poinsettias at this time, but plants in pots with poor drainage should be transplanted into containers with drainage holes.

dormancy (January-March)

When your poinsettia leaves have faded, cut them back to the leaf node. Continue to water your plants regularly until half of their leaves have dropped. Then move your plants to a cool, dark place and water just enough to prevent the stems from shriveling.

Regrowth (April-September)

Once your poinsettias start to put out new growth, increase lighting and watering and move the plants outside when temperatures are consistently above 50°F. You can plant outdoor plants directly into your garden or keep poinsettias in pots if you plan to bring them back inside in the fall.

Cut your plant’s stems back to six inches above the soil line in June, pinch the growing tips back one inch in August, and fertilize once a month with a diluted liquid, organic fertilizer.

Rebloom (October-December)

Check your plants for pests and bring them indoors before the temperature drops below 50°F. During the day, provide the poinsettias with bright, indirect light, and in the evening reduce the room temperature to about 65°F and completely deprive your plants of light. Continue this treatment for about 10 weeks until your poinsettia leaves develop their full winter color.