EDITORS NOTE, I was on leave when this blog was created-it should have run sooner. However, I think it will help for future reference.
I just brought home my first Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrina) of the season, and with any luck, they'll add holiday cheer to my home thru the New Year. With a little bit of care, you too can keep your poinsettia looking healthy for about 6 – 8 weeks.
Let's start with a bit of background information.
o The poinsettia originates from Mexico and was introduced to the United States in 1828 by Mr. Joel Roberts Pointsett: the then United States Diplomat in Mexico.
o In the early 1920s that the poinsettia started taking root in American culture. Paul Ecke, a second-generation farmer in California, discovered a grafting technique that caused the seedlings to branch.
o Paul Ecke Jr. later advanced sales of the poinsettia through shipping and marketing.
o In 2002, The House of Representatives created Poinsettia Day, December 12th, to honor the father of the poinsettia industry, Paul Ecke. The date of December 12 also marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, the man responsible for bringing the plant to the United States.
The poinsettia is the #1 best-selling holiday potted plant is the United States and Canada with over 250 million dollars in sales each Holiday season. The Poinsettia comes in a wide range of colors from white to orange, with red being the most popular color.
Here are a few tips to keep our Poinsettia growing:
- Ample Light/Temperature:
- Place your Poinsettia in a sunny location, away from heating vents and drafts.
- This plant prefers indirect light, with indoor temps between 65-70 deg. F. Lower temperatures will make their leaves drop; higher temperatures will shorten their lifespan.
- Having a small holiday party? Decorate your front porch with your poinsettias, however, place them outside just before your guests arrive, and bring them inside as your wrapping up your night.
- Keep them hydrated.
- Touch the soil; if it feels dry to touch, time for some water. Likewise, if you lift up your plant and it feels light, another good indicator of time for water. Don't let your plant sit in water, they don't like soggy feet. If you notice your plant leaves wilting, the soil is too dry.
- Poke some holes in the foil wrapper and place your plant on a saucer or plate. This will help drain the soil as these roots do not like to get soggy!
- I like to remove my plant from the foil wrapper, water it thoroughly in the sink, and then let it drain completely before placing it back in its foil wrapper.
- You do not need to fertilize your plant during the holidays.
Every year, I try to save my poinsettia plants – but to be honest, I have never been able to successfully save a poinsettia much longer than the Holiday season, as I am most likely a lazy gardener: my poinsettias are recycled in my compost pile; giving back in another manner!