Fall Care and Re-blooming Phase: When to Put Your Poinsettia in the Dark
When it comes to re-flowering your poinsettia, timing is crucial. To ensure that your poinsettia develops vibrant and colorful bracts during the holiday season, you need to provide it with the right conditions, including periods of darkness. So, when should you put your poinsettia in the dark?
The process of inducing color in poinsettias involves manipulating the amount of light they receive. Poinsettias are short-day plants, which means they require longer periods of darkness to trigger the color change in their bracts. The specific timing for putting your poinsettia in the dark depends on when you want it to re-flower.
Typically, the end of September marks the start of the fall care and re-blooming phase for poinsettias. At this point, you should begin the process of providing the plant with uninterrupted darkness. To be more precise, you should keep the poinsettia in complete darkness between 5 pm and 8 am every day. This means covering the plant with a light-proof material during these hours.
Maintaining the correct temperature during this period is also important. Ideally, the temperature should remain between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15-21 degrees Celsius). Fluctuations in temperature can disrupt the re-blooming process, so try to keep the environment as stable as possible for your poinsettia.
It’s worth noting that the length of time your poinsettia needs to be in darkness may vary slightly depending on the variety and the environmental conditions. Generally, it takes about 8 to 12 weeks of darkness to see color development in the bracts. This means that by following the September to mid-December timeframe, you should be able to achieve re-flowering in time for the holiday season.
During the dark period, it’s crucial to avoid any exposure to light. Even the smallest amount of light can interrupt the process and prevent the poinsettia from developing its characteristic vibrant colors. Make sure to check your poinsettia regularly to ensure that no accidental light exposure occurs, especially during the designated dark hours.
To summarize, the optimal time to put your poinsettia in the dark is from the end of September until color shows in the bracts, which typically occurs in early to mid-December. During this period, you should provide the plant with complete darkness between 5 pm and 8 am, while maintaining a temperature between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15-21 degrees Celsius).
Remember, each poinsettia may respond slightly differently, so closely monitoring your plant’s progress is essential. By following these guidelines, you can maximize the chances of re-flowering your poinsettia and enjoying its vibrant colors during the holiday season. Happy gardening!
