from last December, and this photo shows only a small portion of it. I kept two of them alive all during last winter and repotted both plants into one large pot in May and set it on my deck. In no time at all, it was 3 feet tall and even wider than that. They really do make wonderful, lush plants to keep outside in the summer. But they are not supposed to turn red and bloom again unless you perform the necessary things to make that happen. In early October, I noticed that the top-most leaves were beginning to turn red. About October 15th, I brought the plant into the house and set it in front of my dining room windows, which are a southern exposure. It lost a lot of leaves in the first week, and then it started to put out new leaves, which, within 2 weeks, had turned almost completely red.
According to my friend who has a degree in Horticulture from NCSU, I am the only person she knows who has poinsettias that bloom again - and I have done it twice! I have no idea why the poinsettias I have decide to bloom again, but they do.
Supposedly, you have to bring them into the house and set them in a dark closet for a while, and that "resets their internal clock" and then they can re-bloom, but mine seem to like the conditions in my home, so they do their thing for me.
In Costa Rica, I saw a poinsettia plant that was so large it looked like a tree. The main trunk was as large as my arm, and the plant was over 6 feet tall. If I can find the photo of it, I will post it soon. Have you ever had a poinsettia plant that bloomed the second year?
You know that I am, like Hoss, always trying to "make my pile". I think I'll hire out as a poinsettia re-bloomer. You can bring all your left-over poinsettias to me and I will bring them back to you next December, blooming their little hearts out! How much would you be willing to pay for that??
That is so cool!
ReplyDeleteIt really looks pretty - I like them small and sprawling...
via Michele...
I'm here from Michele's, but most of the time I come here all on my own.
ReplyDeleteHouse plants do not thrive in my house. Heck, they don't last a full week, most of the time.
I can't believe it did that for you! I've only ever seen poinsettias die. :-(
ReplyDeleteGood for you! It looks very pretty!!!
I've never been able to keep one alive through the winter. Have you ever been to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania? At Christmas they have indoor displays in the warm hot houses. One is almost a jungle of poinsettias, some ten feet tall. It was a long time ago, but so amazed me, I still remember it. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThey decide to re-bloom for you because they like you.
ReplyDeleteWhy else? Maybe you play music for them too!
You really have the Green/Red Thumb with these plants!! Incredible Judy...
ReplyDeleteThe Pointseta I have..(well it's about 4 plants in one planter..) is always red from year to year and I've had it since 1988...Yes! It's fake!!!
I used it in a play that I wrote, which was pridyced here in L.A., called: "THE DRESSING ROOM", that was set at Christmas time, in New York City, in the Backstage Dressings Rooms of a Broadway Theatre...These 4 BEAUTIFUL plants were in the "Star's" Dressing Room, in the very Planter Basket that it is STILL in, and it was supposed to be very lush..very beautiful..And it was and is! I put it out on my front porch every year and never have to worry about it dying!! (lol) So, I won't be needing your services but I think that's a GREAT idea, for an unusual business....Good Luck, dear Judy!
i cant make a plant last one christmas season, let alone a whole year and bloom again! and now we no longer do poinsettas because my son is in the "I MUST PUT EVERYTHING IN MY MOUTH" phase.
ReplyDeleteHoss is awesome. i nominated him in BoB awards! hope he wins!!
here from michele's, but you knew that already huh!
One year my neighbor and I decided to try and make the poinsettias bloom again. She succeeded as she is good with plants and animals. I, on the other hand gave up when it seemed the plant was requiring more attention than my children. I did have one grow quite large and very lovely outside.
ReplyDeleteI'm still perfecting the art of amaryllis reblooming. I've got that down to about 8 out of 10. Poinsettas get the boot around here but I'm perfecrtly willing to pack them up and send them to you, all desicated and leaveless, if it will help you make your pile. Maybe I'll send the rest of the Christmas schlock- old cookies and fudge, the wreathe, etc.- that gets pitched on the 12th Night- esp. if it helps you make YOUR pile.
ReplyDeletecongrats! me having a plant is a death sentence to the plant...i just don't see how people do it!
ReplyDeleteclicked in from micheles!