The Top Veiw

Anybody Else???????

Its certainly not unusual to have still a poinsettia into February, March, April...and maybe get it outside in the warm sunshine while still bearing some color.
But, we put the colour aside when we decide to keep it going out of doors. We cut it back to about 4" or so and give it the best sun we can.

Most --99% maybe, do not though entertain thoughts of trying to bring it back to its former glory by giving it the treatment necessary. The 12 - 16 hour of darkness, followed by the remaining light hours...every day.
Still, poinsettia makes for a fine small plant and even when it doesn't turn colour, it is appreciated for continued growing.

I purchased a Marble Star this past Christmas, and except for the middle buds (blooms?) drying up and falling off, it still looks good, actually better then when it was stuffed in amongst it's buddies in the store.

I had some fairly large seed pods developing, and entertained the thought of letting them mature, then changed my thinking to "let's see if I can grow this through the summer and talk it into changing colour for me this coming winter", so I picked them off. I'm thinking fertilization may have occurred when they were all stuffed together on the shelves and getting moved around? Precocious bunch of poinsettias!

It might prove interesting if Ninecrow were to explain what her routine is to bring about such color...year after year.

The others who confirm such is being reached--that the plant has again coloured up, year after year, I believe
they believe in the tooth fairy.

And I'm NOT Surgesting anything, I DO Bring my Point back to Colour Every Year, I've Done it Every Year for 6 Years! WHY, Why Not?

Dravens Stem

But bringing this plant to full color on an annual basis is not difficult, not a mystery, and not a chore. It does take some knowledge of plant health care and of the poinsettia's daylight/darkness requirements.

We've enjoyed seeing 'Draven' for years, and I will expect that we will do so for many more.

There are many more threads on it, but I'm sure you know how to do a search.

The whole batch didn't color up! We were horrified! The whole Va. Tech community always bought thousands of plants from us every year!

We were assured that the graduate student who was in charge of the black-out shades had been steadfast in his job. He was (as were we all) totally in the dark (sorry for the pun) about what had happened.

Come to find out, the grad student was the scoundrel after all! He had rambled though the poinsettia greenhouse for a few nights early on in the dark treatment WITH A FLASHLIGHT!

That idiot was trying catch several night blooming cereus in full display.

Well, the bracts began to color up nicely early in February. We had so much fun with our new marketing ploy: 'Nothing says "I love you" like a Valentine Poinsettia!' 'Give that Special Someone something they won't forget.'
'One time only! Get your Valentine Poinsettia while they last!'

As I recall, we sold out. I still remember seeing pretty pots of points in all of the offices and classrooms in the middle of February! tee hee

Draven is still looking good for 6 years old!! Congratulations on a great job, year after year.
I have two that I have been re-blooming since
Dec '06...this year it still has some red bracts,
not as nice as last Christmas...it got some cold damage this year(unseasonably cold winter for us). I live in Fl, so I don't do much with it. I place it under a Palm tree where it gets diffused sunlight and when Oct comes around the palm leaves keeps it nice and dark at night(even from the full moon), and by Dec...its red again.

So it can be done, there are several different ways to do it. It just depends on what and how you choose your method.

Beetle, nice pointsettia...Love the color on that one!
really have to do much to get it to rebloom. I put
it under a palm tree most of the year. It gets

One needn't be a slave to them to do this.

My seed starting area of my basement didn't get any use from Fall to Feb so it is the perfect spot. Put the plants on the floor, lower the lights according to plant height, surround them with cardboard from a water heater and a refrigerator, set the timer for 10 hours on, 14 hours off, and water as needed. Photoperiodism satisfied. Me too.

tj

Puglvr
Thanks.... Granny ALL ways asks about him

tsugajunkie
13 Years Old *WHOOOT* What Colour is He/She and Do you have any Photos to Share?

tj

Photos tomorrow if I remember!

Thanks, can't wait to see the photos.

kioni

I've always wanted a Poinsettia but I have no luck with bringing flowering plants back after they've finished their display. I'm so afraid that I'd kill it. But I want one so bad. *Tear*

Ninecrow, does Draven get outdoor time during the summer, or is he strictly an 'indoor' Point?

Also, for those who have mentioned their points summering outside until first frost, does this mean their points can handle temps dipping below the 50F that some poinsettia websites seem to caution against? If that is the case, then that would sure shorten the amount of time mine can be outside for the summer.

Thanks.

They get ridiculous growth all summer and don't lose it
when they come in, and I know it must be going below
50.

I haven't lost a point or other plant yet, but that doesn't
mean that my luck won't run out one of these years.
Probably not wise to try it.

Hmmm...I'll certainly remember to pay more attention and
take notes this year!

sewobsessed
PLEASE Do take Notes, will be interesting to see what what your findings are...

Something Good is Happening to Draven, but I don't want to say anymore in case I Jinx it....

Is Draven expecting?!

tj

My points are still looking 'not bad' for the season. When does everyone normally cut them back and how far down do you go? Also, what size pots does everyone have their points in? Mine always seems to need repotting. Can you root prune to keep it at a manageable size?

That is so beautiful ninecrow!!!

Now my mother, a hater of plants wants to try!!:-)

Beetle Please can you post what yours looked like again?
Thanks

I attached a link below on how to post pictures...someone from the Fl Forum was nice enough to explain in great detail how to post pictures here...HTH

Tommyr- why do you cut yours by half? Do you do a follow up pruning and why? Is it too early to prune back fully?

Correction on the above post of mine-
I meant to say a 15 cm pot not a 12.

Easy peasy as they say!

I smile inside when I see that thing still kicking. Even when there's a small pile of now empty pots on her porch that formerly held so nicely planted things.

This is my new red point with a pink one newly acquired this last christmas.

Close up of the red one

close up of the pink

This is my last and oldest point at the end of this last summer. He was too big to put a box over and got an early prune back. He is not doing as well as last year. This was him in his "glory days."

How's everyone else doing with their points?

Draven got a Treat today, Did a water Change on my Fish Tank and he go the Water from That.... LOTS of Fish Doo To fertilize him....

How Old is the Big one and what Colour is She/He?
Thanks

This is year two for the big point christmas of '07. That was him at the end of this last august. He is a common red type. He was too big to do the blooming thing by the end of september. I had to cut him back early this year. I cut him to eight inches as per directions of many websites, but now he is bare underneath and not looking so good. Could I prune him again shorter? Too late? Too much stess on the plant if I did? What do you think?

Here he is as of today, a mere shadow of what he once was.

***Sat, Jul 18, 09. Well, I've just done a Root Trim and Repot... Should of been done a while ago, compost was HORRID!!!! Poor Draven
Photos to Follow***

Was hoping to see some improvement by now... *Sigh*

http://www.ghorganics.com/page33.html

***WOOT***
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