01/02/2026
This is my poinsettia. Two of them were gifted to me this time last year. When I received them, they were that beautiful vibrant red that we've all come to expect around Christmas time. ๐๏ธ
Not long after I set them in the windowsill of my kitchen, did they start turning green. ๐ฟ
Come to find, it takes a lot of time and energy and intentionality to create the very specific environment these plants need for their leaves to turn that gorgeous hue.
For over a month, every night right before I went to bed, I put my plants to "bed" in a 100% dark room, too. They need 12 hours of complete darkness. And then they need 12 hours of sunlight. Lots of moving plants. ๐ช
I was really hoping that even though I hadn't been doing this practice for the 8-12 weeks (that the internet told me I needed to), I would still get my sweet plants to turn. ๐
The week before Christmas, I had (yet another) big life event.
{typical of 2025}
Our nighttime routine changed.
The hope of my red leaves was all but gone.
I accepted that I would just have green poinsettias for another year, and hopefully remember to start our routine earlier in the season.
..Then last night, on Jan 1st, I was cleaning my kitchen and pruning my plants when I saw this ๐
๐a tiny red leaf ๐
Life doesn't always happen on our timeline.
Sometimes it happens when we need it most, instead.
Here's to new growth, new beginnings, and hope
โจHappy 2026, friends โจ
newyearsameme forever_brett