One of the most traditional and delightful decorations at Christmas is the poinsettia. While the classic color choice is a vibrant red, these days there is a wide array of other colors, including pink, white, marbled, speckled, and lime. The colorful parts of the plant, the bracts, are actually modified leaves. The flower (cyathia) is small, green or yellow, and situated in the middle of the bracts. Native to Central America, the plant was called cuetlaxochitl by the Aztecs, who used the plant for dying textiles, cosmetics and medicinal purposes.
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| Joel Poinsett |
The poinsettia was “discovered” by Joel Roberts Poinsett, a hobbyist botanist, who was appointed by John Quincy Adams as the first U. S. Ambassador to Mexico in 1825 and fell in love with this unique plant.
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| We step it up for our poinsettia displays |
CARE OF POINSETTIAS:
Place plant in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day. If direct sun can’t be avoided, diffuse the light with a shade or sheer curtain.
Provide room temperatures between 68–70°F. Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia. Water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch.
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| Abby and Chris man our sleeving station |
Allow us to “sleeve” your plant to protect it from the cold and other damage while in transport.
Fertilize your plant AFTER it blooms with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.
Keep plants away from cold drafts or excessive heat (avoid open windows, fireplaces, appliances, ventilation ducts, etc.).
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| Painted purple for the Ravens! |
Don’t expose plants to temperatures below 50°F. Poinsettias are sensitive to cold, so don’t put them outside during the winter months!
And, like most plants, do not overwater or allow your plant to sit in standing water. Always remove the potted plant from the decorative foil or pot cover to water and then drain.
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| Longwood displays inspire |
Re-Blooming your Poinsettia
With proper care, dedication and a certain amount of luck, you too can re-bloom your poinsettia! As the beauty of the plant begins to “fade” by late March or early April, cut it back to about 8” in height. Continue a regular watering program, and fertilize your plant with a balanced fertilizer. By the end of May, you should see vigorous new growth. After all chance of frost has passed and night temperatures average 55°F or above, place your plants outdoors in indirect sunlight. Continue regular watering and fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks. Pruning may be required in late June or early July to keep plants bushy and compact. Do not prune after September 1.
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| Breeders are constantly improving the colors and positive traits of the poinsettia |
In early June, you may transplant your poinsettia into a larger pot. Select a pot no more than 2” larger than the original pot. A soil mix with a considerable amount of organic matter, such as peat moss or leaf mold, is highly recommended.
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| Leah and our greenhouse team keep displays beautiful |
Starting October 1, the plants must be kept in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. Accomplish this by moving the plants to a totally dark room, or by covering them overnight with a large box. During October, November and early December, poinsettias require 6-8 hours of bright sunlight daily, with night temperatures between 60–70F. Temperatures outside of this range could delay flowering. Continue the normal watering and fertilizer program. Carefully following this regime for 8 to 10 weeks should result in a colorful display of blooms for the holiday season!
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| We grow most of the poinsettias in our own farm greenhouses |
The Legend of the Poinsettia
Pepita was a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child on Christmas Eve. As Pepita walked sadly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart felt no joy. “I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable,” said Pedro consolingly. Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt embarrassed by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.
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| Just after the morning watering |
She laid the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.
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| Poinsettias are safe for pets, according to the veterinary schools at Penn State, Cornell, and Ohio State. The sap in the stems may be slightly irritating. |
Toxic or Safe?
According to a recent national poll, half of Americans mistakenly believe that poinsettias are toxic. In fact, no other consumer plant has been as widely tested as the poinsettia. Researchers at Ohio State University (OSU) have measured the effects of ingesting unusually high doses of all parts of the plant (including the leaves, stems and sap) and found the plant to be non-toxic. According to POISINDEX®, the information resource used by the majority of U.S. poison control centers, a 50-pound child would have to eat 500 to 600 leaves to even get a bellyache!! The sap, however, can be irritating to the skin. As far as pets, the ASPCA says Poinsettia sap can be “Irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, but generally over-rated in toxicity”. (aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/poinsettia)
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| John has been growing our poinsettias for about 30 years |
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