Return to story

Poinsettias add color to your holiday decor

December 1, 2006 12:50 am

THOUGH I WATCH quietly as my wife and daughters scur- ry around turning our home into a festive sanctuary, I must admit that I enjoy the magical transformation. As a plantsman by nature, I most enjoy the old-fashioned style that utilizes plant material to celebrate this blessed holiday.

Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe may proclaim the coming of Christmas for many, but poinsettias are my favorite. There is something about the deep green foliage and scarlet red bracts that add a touch of elegance to any Christmas decor.

The botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima , which means 'very beautiful,' was given to this plant by the German botanist Wilenow. It received its common name, poinsettia, from William Prescott, a historian and horticulturist, who named it after Joel Roberts Poinsett. Poinsett, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, found a beautiful shrub with large red flowers growing next to a road in Mexico in 1828. The rest is history.

The poinsettia has become one of the most recognized holiday plants in America, and the best-selling flowering potted plant in the United States. In 2004, over 61 million plants were sold.

The poinsettia is a perennial shrub in its native habitat and may grow to 10 feet or more. The colorful parts of the plant are actually modified leaves called bracts. The true flowers are the small yellow structures that are surrounded by the bracts. The poinsettia is in the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family of plants. Many plants in the spurge family exude a milky white sap when cut. Though the white sap of the poinsettia can be irritating to sensitive skin, poinsettias are not poisonous as some believe.

Research conducted for decades by universities such as Ohio State has attempted to establish poinsettias' toxicity. All parts of the plant were studied, and no adverse effects were found. Actually, an Ohio State study showed that a 50-pound child who ate 500 bracts might have a slight tummy ache. (Go figure!)

Though there are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available, red poinsettias are preferred by 74 percent of Americans. Eight percent prefer white, and 6 percent like the pink.

No matter your color preference, you should be cautious when picking out your holiday poinsettia. Ron Wolford, University of Illinois Extension, lists the following pointers to consider:

Choose a plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line.

Choose bracts (modified leaves) that are completely colored.

Do not purchase poinsettias with a lot of green around the bract edges.

Do not choose plants with fallen or yellowed leaves.

The poinsettia should look full, balanced and attractive from all sides.

The plant should be 2 times as tall as the diameter of the container.

Choose plants that are not drooping or wilting.

Do not purchase plants that are displayed in paper or plastic sleeves. Plants held in sleeves will deteriorate quickly.

Do not purchase plants that have been displayed in a crowded fashion, because it can lead to premature bract loss.

Check the plant's soil. If it's wet and the plant is wilted, this could be an indication of root rot.

Check the poinsettia's maturity. Check the true flowers, which are located at the base of the colored bracts. If the flowers are green or red-tipped and fresh-looking, the bloom will "hold" longer than if yellow pollen is covering the flowers.

When you take the poinsettia home, be sure to have it sleeved or covered when outdoor temperatures are below 50 degrees.

Once you have made your choice, a little care will help your poinsettia stay in bloom for several weeks or even months. Before taking it home, make sure it is wrapped properly because exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the bracts and leaves.

Poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 60 degrees to 70 degrees and nighttime temperatures around 55 degrees. High temperatures will shorten the plant's life. Move the plant to a cooler room at night, if possible. Place it on a windowsill where it gets about six hours of indirect sunlight, but don't let the plant touch a cold window. Check the soil daily, and water it only when the top is dry. It is very important to discard any standing water in the saucer after you water it. Fertilize it only if you plan to keep it past the holiday season, but not while it is in bloom.

It is probably easier to discard it after Christmas rather than keep it for next year. If you are like me, however, and hate to throw any living plant away, you can get it to reflower next Christmas with a little care and patience. To promote new growth, cut back all the main stems to 4 to 6 inches in February or March. In late spring or early fall, repot your poinsettia in a pot 2 to 3 inches larger. When night temperatures are above 60 degrees, set the plant outdoors in a shady location for 2 to 3 weeks. This will allow it to become acclimated to the new environment.

After it is acclimated, you can plant it in your garden, pot and all, in a sunny location. Give the pot a quarter turn every week to allow even growth and to keep the roots from growing through the bottom hole. Pinch the new growth (the top ¼ inch) every three to four weeks until mid-August. Keep it watered when needed throughout the growing season. Fertilize it with a complete fertilizer such as a 20-20-20 every 2 to 3 weeks.

Before night temperatures fall below 55 degrees to 60 degrees, bring the poinsettia indoors to a sunny location and reduce the fertilizer applications.

Now the tricky part begins. Poinsettias are short-day photoperiodic. This means that they need at least 12 hours of total darkness for 60 to 85 days to initiate flowering. Starting in mid-September until Dec. 15, the poinsettia must be covered or moved to a closet from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. if the room where it is located is lit in the evening. Turning the light on, even for a short time, is enough to inhibit flower initiation. Of course the plant needs to be uncovered during the day. You can stop the darkness treatment when the flowers start to form and the bracts turn red.

If you follow these steps, you should enjoy your poinsettia for many years to come. Or you can just pitch it and buy a new one each year.