Colorful Stars of Christmas December
14, 2006 December –
the season of snow, gift giving, seasons greetings yuletide
and all that jazz. It is also the time to hang your
Christmas wreath.
Red Poinsettias
'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!
