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December 2001
'Tis the season for holiday preparations.......cooking, shopping,
wrapping, and decorating. One of the traditional favorite symbols of
Christmas cheer is available at your local florist right now: the popular
Poinsettia plant, with colorful, star-shaped blooms that last well beyond the
holiday season.
Poinsettias are members of the Euphorbia family, a diverse group of
mostly succulent plants which includes the Crown-of-Thorns, the Pencil
Cactus, and the Candelabra Trees of Africa. Poinsettias themselves are native
to Mexico, where, in 1828, they were discovered growing by Joel Roberts
Poinsett, who was the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and who had a strong
interest in botany. Poinsett brought plants back to grow in his own
greenhouses in South Carolina, propagated them, and eventually shared some
with his friends and nurserymen in the area. They were first sold
commercially in 1836, and the rest is history. Incidentally, contrary to
common mythology, Poinsettias are not poisonous.
It's interesting to note that the colorful parts of the Poinsettia which
we call "flowers" are not really flowers at all. They are actually "bracts":
modified leaves which serve to call attention to the small and insignificant
true flowers (the little yellow nubs in the centers). These bracts may stay
colorful well into the spring if the Poinsettia is given proper care. The
plants will do well if they receive at least 4 to 6 hours of bright, indirect
sunlight each day. Keep the plants warm (above 68 degrees Fahrenheit) and
away from drafts or chilly windows. Water the plants when the top inch of the
soil is dry to the touch, and never allow them to sit in water. Fertilize
every two weeks with a balanced houseplant fertilizer. In the late spring,
after danger of frost has passed, Poinsettias may be cut back to around 6
inches from the top of the pot and placed outside in the garden. Repot them
into a rich, organic and well-drained soil, and continue fertilizing until
the end of summer.
With a little bit of effort, Poinsettias may be re-bloomed the following
year. Before night temperatures fall below 50 degrees, bring the plant back
indoors. Maintain regular watering, but discontinue fertilizing.
Poinsettias are so-called "short day" plants, meaning that the bloom cycle is
initiated only after the night time period of darkness is at least 14 hours
long. So, to ensure flowers for Christmas, place plants in a closet, under a
box, or in a dark corner of a basement or storage room, from late afternoon
until morning, beginning the latter part of September through the first part
of November. During this time, the light from even a single bulb at night can
interrupt the bloom cycle. By day, keep the plants in their normal warm,
sunny location.
Poinsettias have been extensively hybridized, with new cultivars
appearing almost every year, so that today we have a wide range of choices
beyond the traditional red or white. For example, "Marblestar" is a variety
with large, crisp, pointed bracts which are a deep coral pink with ivory
edges. "Jinglebell" has pink flecks on a red background. "Monet" features
soft bracts ranging through shades of peach to pink and speckled with
burgundy. The "Heirloom" series displays red, pink, or peach bracts atop
green foliage with white margins. In the past couple of years, we've seen the
appearance of "Winter Rose", a dwarf hybrid with small, dark red, ruffled
bracts, and "Plum Pudding" with dainty, amethyst colored blooms.
Your professional florist can provide you with these and other colorful
choices, perfect for gift-giving or for brightening up your own home for the
holidays. Let a Poinsettia plant be the star of your Christmas decorating
scheme!
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