photos by Rita EllIOtTYou have dutifully pruned your poinsettia around March. Now, you wonder how to get it to bloom again in time for the holidays.
Simple. You should know that poinsettias are induced into blooming by shorter day length. In late September/early October begin placing the plant in total darkness for 13 to 14 hours every night. The spot must be really dark - no street lights shining in, no occasional visitors turning the lights on. A dark, unused closet is a good spot. Each morning, bring the plant out and place it in bright light for the remaining 10 or 11 hours, placing it back in the closet each evening. This will give them the short days they need to trigger the response to colour up in time for the holidays.
Keep an eye on the plant, and when the bracts have started showing colour again - usually about four weeks later - you can stop the nightly ritual and treat them like any other house plant. Place them in a bright spot and keep soil evenly moist, almost dry.
