More than You Wanted to Know About P's, but You Can't Just Let the Poor Things Die

The Poinsettia: More than just a holiday treat

A favourite of many during the holiday season, most people are unaware of the rich history of the poinsettia.

A native plant of Mexico, the poinsettia originated in a region near present-day Taxco. Joel Roberts Poinsett, a Southern plantation owner
and botanist, was appointed the first United States Ambassador to Mexico (1825-1829). While visiting Taxco, he was impressed with the
brilliant red plants he found blooming during December. He had some plants sent to
his plantation in Greenville, South Carolina. They did well in his
greenhouse and he distributed plants to his horticultural friends. A
German taxonomist gave it the name of Euphorbia pulcherrima, but the
common name, poinsettia, remains the accepted name. Joel Poinsett passed away on
December 12, 1851, but the poinsettia went on to become a living symbol
of Christmas and the number one flowering plant in the United States.
Each Christmas, poinsettia sales of over 52 million plants nationwide
exceed the total annual sales for any other flowering potted plant.

The "old wives' tale" that poinsettias are poisonous is simply
not true. The Ohio State University and Society of American Florists
conducted scientific research disproving the myth that poinsettias are
harmful. The Poisindex Information Service, the primary information
resource used by poison control centers, states that a 50-pound child
must ingest over 500 poinsettia bracts to surpass experimental doses.
Yet even at this high level, there was no toxicity indicated. The
safety of poinsettias has been clearly proven. Of course, like all
ornamental plants, the poinsettia is not intended for human or animal
consumption.

The traditional Christmas flower has come a long way in the
past 25 years. It wasn't long ago when the poinsettia had its place
next to the Christmas tree, along the curbside after the holidays.
Those early varieties were extremely fragile and short-lived, with a
tendency to drop all their green foliage and red bracts after
Christmas. But, thanks to extensive research and breeding work, the
varieties of today exhibit desirable characteristics such as stronger
stems, larger bracts and better keeping qualities. The vigorous,
long-lasting poinsettia varieties of the 90's are available in a wide
range of beautiful colors. For increased enjoyment of your holiday
poinsettias, follow these tips:

Location and Temperature


Poinsettias thrive in bright, sunny natural daylight for at least
six hours daily. Placement near a sunny window is ideal; however, be
careful of locations where the hot afternoon sun may shine directly on
the colorful bracts. In this situation, it may be desirable to pull a
light shade or sheer curtain to diffuse the light for an hour or so to
avoid fading of the bright red bracts. To prolong the bright red of the
bracts, temperatures ideally should not exceed 70 degrees during the
day, or fall below 65 at night. Avoid placing the plants near drafts,
fluctuating air currents, excess heat and dry air from appliances,
fireplaces or ventilating ducts.

Water and Fertilizer

Poinsettias do best with a moist soil condition. Water the poinsettia thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch. The best indication of a thorough watering is when the water begins to seep through the drain holes. Discard any
excess water, as poinsettias left sitting in water may suffer from permanent root-rot damage.

It is not necessary to fertilize your poinsettias while they
are blooming. However, a household plant fertilizer will help maintain
the rich, green foliage color and promote new growth after the holidays. Follow the directions on the fertilizer label for amounts to add.

After the Holidays

Continue to enjoy the beauty of your poinsettia throughout the year as an attractive green foliage plant. In early April, when the bracts begin to turn a muddy green, cut the plant back to about 8 inches. The plant will look rather stark, but by the
end of May you will see lush green foliage. Keep the plants near a sunny window.

You may place your plants outdoors where they can bask in the
warmth of spring and summer when the outside night temperatures are
warmer. Continue to water the plants regularly during the growing
season. Fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks through the spring, summer and fall with a well-balanced, complete fertilizer.

Around June 1, transplant your poinsettia into a larger pot,
about 2 to 4 inches bigger than the original inner pot. Use a soil mix
that incorporates a considerable amount of organic matter such as peat
moss or a well-prepared garden bed rich in organic matter and with good
drainage. Your poinsettia will do best in a protected area, preferably along a south
garden wall. Immediately after transplanting, water thoroughly with a
double soaking.

Reflowering

The poinsettia is a photoperiod plant, which means it begins to set buds and produce flowers as the winter nights become longer. The plants will naturally come into full bloom during November and December depending upon the flowering response time of the
particular variety. This can be tricky to do outside of a controlled greenhouse environment,because any stray artificial light such as a street light, pool light
or household lamp will delay or halt the flowering.

Starting October 1, keep the plants in complete darkness for 14
continuous hours each night by moving them into a dark room or closet.
During this period, the plants require 6 to 8 hours of bright sunlight
and night temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees. If the temperature is
too high or too low, it will halt the initiation of the flower buds.
The blooming process may also be delayed or disrupted by any stray
light that may shine near the plants during the critical darkness
period. This regimen must continue for approximately 8 to 10 weeks in
order for the plants to develop a colorful display of blooms for the
holiday season. Obviously, the re-flowering process takes more than a
little vigilance, perseverance and patience to be successful.

Source: Linn Mills, a horticulturist for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and www.flowerscornwall.com

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