When is best time to stop watering poinsettias and place them in dark setting?

Answer 1

By late March or early April, cut your poinsettia back to about 8" in height. Continue a regular watering program, and fertilize your plant with a good, balanced all-purpose fertilizer. You can place your plants outdoors, where they can bask in the warmth of spring and summer, when there is no risk of frost. The first week of June is a good time to transplant, use a pot no more than 4" bigger than orginal container, use a rich organic mixture. You may need to prune them near the beginning of July, to keep plant full and bushy.

The poinsettia is a photoperiodic plant. It sets bud and produces flowers as the Autumn nights lengthen.

Starting late September to October 1, the plants must be kept in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. Move plants to a totally dark room, or cover them overnight with a large box. Just remember, stray light of any kind can delay or halt re-flowering process. During October, November and early December, poinsettias require 6 - 8 hours of bright sunlight daily, with night temperatures between 60 - 70° F. Continue the normal watering and fertilizer program. Continue this regime for 8 to 10 weeks the results should be a colorful display of blooms.

Good Luck

Answer 2

If you are in the northern hemisphere, place the poinsettias in a dark closet early October.