December
12 is national Poinsettia Day, so named for Joel Roberts Poinsett who introduced
the poinsettia plant to the United States from Mexico.
Today, we can enjoy
dozens of varieties of poinsettias, all stemming from the development of those
original plants. You should know that poinsettias are not poisonous, though
some people are sensitive to the white sap they produce. Poinsettias have thin
foliage leaves that vary in color from pale to dark green.
The showy parts of
the poinsettia that most people think of as flowers are actually specialized
leaves, called bracts. The actual flowers are the tiny yellow clusters found
at the very center of the bracts. In nature, the brightly colored bracts are
there to protect the plant and to attract insects to the flowers in order to
spread the pollen.
Poinsettias are available in a wide variety of breathtaking
colors from solid red to variegated leaves.
Poinsettias can be colored with food-based dyes to create some amazing
colors. Proper care for your poinsettia begins before you leave the store. We
will carefully bag your poinsettia when it’s cold to protect it on its way
home. Once you get your poinsettia home, unwrap it and place it in a room where
it will get bright light, but not direct sunlight. Poinsettias don’t like
drafts, either hot or cold, so keep away heater vents, fireplaces, doors and
cold windows.
The ideal room temperature should be around 70°F during the day
and no cooler than 60°F at night. Place the plant high enough to be out of the
reach of children and pets and away from traffic. Set the plant in a
water-proof saucer. If the pot is wrapped in foil, be sure to cut a drain hole
in the bottom of the foil, so the plant will drain properly. Water your plant
thoroughly when the soil surface is dry to the touch. Add enough water to soak
the soil to the bottom of the pot, then dump any excess water from the saucer.
Fertilize your poinsettia every 2 to 3 weeks with a 20-20-20 fertilizer.
With
the proper care, your poinsettia will last through the holiday season and
retain its beauty well into the New Year.
If you decide to keep your poinsettia
after the holidays, you should care for it as you would any other houseplant.
Keep it in a bright location, out of direct sun and water it regularly.
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