By Tom Yoder
Just in time for the holidays comes this cheerful and most beautiful plant that becomes a focal point in many homes for spot decorating and color.
Poinsettias come in many sizes and colors-from small six inch high plants to mega-size plants that may reach 3 feet tall and a spread equal in size. Grown in a greenhouse they will flourish, but outside that atmosphere, special care is required.
When stores and florists receive fresh plants from the grower, they are usually in boxes or “sleeved” so as to keep them from their worst enemy — cold air and breezes. When moving poinsettias from the grower to a retailer, special care must be taken by the transporting company to protect these delicate plants from the conditions they are grown in, to sometimes extreme conditions that exist on the way- hence, beware and examine plants closely for wilting and damage from weather related circumstances.
In a home environment, try to keep plants in indirect lighting and out of direct sunshine and not in a dimly lit area. A bright area that is away from common doorway drafts and heat sources should prove to be a plant-friendly atmosphere that will allow your poinsettia to flourish.
Breezes aren’t the only enemy however, irregular watering practices are also a problem. When choosing a plant, check for wilting and leaf drop which is a tell-tale sign of neglect. Watered on a regular schedule and only when needed is a must. Dryness isn’t the only cause of wilting — over watering will also cause wilting and eventually damage and cause root-rot and leaf drop.
The usual culprit is improper drainage and pots sitting in water in a foil liner or saucer. Purchase large and costlier plants from a reputable dealer that takes pride in healthy practices so that you won’t be disappointed.
New colors arrive on the market every few years so if you desire something other than the common red, there are pink, cream or white, purple, red/white splattered (candy cane), and others. There is also the pouf leafed poinsettia that offers something a little more unusual.
Poinsettias were introduced into the U.S. in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, our first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who discovered them growing on a hillside and brought them into the country to grow and sell them to other countries in the European market. They were first sold in the U.S. about 1850 and today over fifty million are sold annually.
Flowering generally last through the holidays and longer depending on the health of the plant and can even be kept for the next season. This, however, requires some special planning and care, some of which most of us don’t have the patience for. When bracts fall leaving bare stems, cut them back to 6 inches above the rim of the pot and feed with a general purpose liquid plant food (10-10-10) about every two to three weeks and place outside when temperatures rise above 50 degrees.
When weather is warm enough place pots in the ground in a protected area and continue to feed, taking them up in mid September and placing them in a 50 degree temperature in total darkness for 14 hours a day with no variance- not even a lightbulb turned on or it will delay blooming. Plants should bloom in time for the holidays if this regimen is kept.
