Have you ever successfully forced a poinsettia to "bloom"?

[Anonymous]

I have a beautiful poinsettia I was given 5 years ago. It started as a tiny little thing (picture one of the $5 red poinsettias from the grocery store) and surprisingly I have kept it alive long enough that it's turned into a full on 2 foot high 5 branched plant. I'm thinking of tempting fate and trying to force the red to come out.

Most of what I've read online says that making the Bracts (?) Change color is either a.) exceptionally difficult or b.)totally easy as long as you keep to a schedule.

So..... Have you ever gotten a poinsettia to turn colors after the initial "blooming"? Any tricks or tips you can share? Can something go horribly wrong that I should know about? The poinsettia was a present that I value, so I'd rather keep a green leaves than injure the plant. At this point I'm just curious to see how it works.

TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a beautiful poinsettia I was given 5 years ago. It started as a tiny little thing (picture one of the $5 red poinsettias from the grocery store) and surprisingly I have kept it alive long enough that it's turned into a full on 2 foot high 5 branched plant. I'm thinking of tempting fate and trying to force the red to come out.

Most of what I've read online says that making the Bracts (?) Change color is either a.) exceptionally difficult or b.)totally easy as long as you keep to a schedule.

So..... Have you ever gotten a poinsettia to turn colors after the initial "blooming"? Any tricks or tips you can share? Can something go horribly wrong that I should know about? The poinsettia was a present that I value, so I'd rather keep a green leaves than injure the plant. At this point I'm just curious to see how it works.

TIA

Yes. However, the bracts were very thin. It was kind of pretty, though. Unfortunately, it didn't turn red until around February. This was kind of accidental and unplanned.

Years ago, I tried. I followed directions about putting them in a closet part time and that type of thing, but I couldn't manage to stay on schedule. The ones that turned last year were sitting in a bathroom window ledge with pretty full sun. Since the bathroom light is not on that much in the evening, they turned. From what I understand, they need to be in the dark for at least a half day to turn. I'm sure you can google it and find some information.

But, it's a lot of trouble--but kind of interesting to see if it works.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Did the plant continue to grow as usual once you went back to regular sunlight Etc?

[Anonymous]

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/poinsettia/how-to-make-poinsettia-turn-red-make-a-poinsettia-rebloom.htm

[Anonymous]

My poor mother tried for several years with hers. It was one of my chores to take the plant and put it in the dark closet every night. It never worked. She finally gave up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! Did the plant continue to grow as usual once you went back to regular sunlight Etc?

I didn't play the closet thing with this one. I just kept it on the bathroom window ledge. If you have a room that you don't use much, you could put it in a window there. Supposedly, turning the lights on keeps it from turning.
Just don't forget to water it occasionally.
But, like i said, mine did not turn until February.

[Anonymous]

I was given a puascenta a few years ago. For me it's a Christmas flower. And there's a separate place in the house for him. In the first year my flower did not bloom after flowering. I was upset. I read a lot about pouacentia and studied the peculiarities of care. That the puascentia bloomed need the right soil and transplant.
For poinsettia suitable a loose nutrient mixture of turf, leaf land, sand and peat in equal quantities. Acidity should be close to neutral. Choose a large pot, so that the plant in it grew at least two - three years, the same height and width. I chose a large indoor plant pots Lecguza classico 21 https://getpotted.com/planters/size_sml-large/arrangement-indoor/ for its flower. In too large a pot, excess moisture may linger, and with frequent watering and poor drainage, the roots can rot.

[Anonymous]

I'm in Los Angeles and you can plant them outside here and they will grow and rebloom. But they get leggy so I don't do it.

I'm excited for you, OP, that you are going to try this! It's a little inspiring...I might plant one with one of the soft pink ruffly varieties.

[Anonymous]

I had a white one last year that has rebloomed this year. (I posted that I've had this happen before. I keep it in a bathroom with a bright window, and very little light at night.) But, it is not pretty. The blooms don't have the leaves around them. It is just not attractive at all. It was beautiful last year when I purchased it. Honestly, Unless you just want to try it for fun, it's really not worth the effort.

[Anonymous]

OP again the last time I checked this thread, no one had responded so I haven't been back in ages.

I actually did it for about a month-and-a-half, but it became a pain in the ass so I gave up the effort. However, while I didn't get any more "flowers", a week or two after I just left it where it usually stays the plant actually sprouted a ton more leaves along the main stems. It's still green, but it has far more "density" than it did when I posted originally.

I'll call this first experiment "successful" and I may try it again just to see what happens. thanks for the advice everyone