Poinsettias need to be kept in total darkness for 12-14 hours every night beginning in September or early October to promote coloring of the bracts by Christmas. The best way to provide the necessary darkness is to place your plant in a closet or cover it with a bucket or cardboard box to block out all light, from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. every night. Take it out into a brightly lit place during the day but be sure to cover it or put it in a closet every evening. It sounds finicky, which is why many people purchase new plants every year. But it can be fun to see your old plant friend change color as the holidays approach.
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