By Peter Sandercock
Every season has its traditions and its flowers. Roses for Valentine’s Day, tulips in the springtime, mums for Mother’s Day and the poinsettia for winter holidays such as Christmas and Hanukkah. Poinsettias are versatile for holiday decorating and their bright leaves make a great contrast to the greens of cedar and pine boughs. As a gift, you never have to worry if the recipient already has one because there is always room for another poinsettia. From a centerpiece on a dining room table or as an arrangement for the office, poinsettias make the perfect holiday gift.
Buy Local
Poinsettias are a short-day plant meaning they only for flowers when the day length is less than 12 hours per day. In Canada, our long dark nights are perfect to help encourage the vibrant blooms of poinsettias. Poinsettias are available in red, white, pink and even speckled or marbled patterns. It is well worth a visit to your local poinsettia grower to see the sea of different colours spread throughout an entire greenhouse.
Buying locally grown plants not only supports our local horticulture industry but you end up with a healthy plant that has not undergone the stress of traveling for a long distance.
Selecting a Healthy Poinsettia
Choose poinsettias with bracts (leaves) that are thoroughly coloured and open. The bracts are the colourful part of the poinsettia, while the true flowers are the small yellow centers. Look for plants with dense, plentiful foliage all the way from the soil line to the top tips of the leaves. The plant should be about 2 1/2 times larger than the pot it is in. Select plants with strong, stiff stems and no signs of wilting or yellow leaves.
Keeping Your Poinsettia Healthy
To ensure your poinsettia thrives through the entire holiday season and beyond, follow these tips:
- Make sure your poinsettia is protected from the cold while it is traveling from the store to your home. Wrap your poinsettia thoroughly in plastic and/or paper plant sleeves at the point of purchase and warm your vehicle so the poinsettia doesn’t catch a chill.
- Display your poinsettia in indirect light, away from cold drafts or excessive heat. An even room temperature is ideal.
- Water your plant thoroughly before it wilts or when the soil is dry beneath the surface. Do not over water as the plant will wilt and drop its leaves.
- Fertilize your plant after the blooming season with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.
Are Poinsettias Poisonous?
Recent research shows that poinsettias are less toxic than once believed. The rumour that they are poisonous was based on hearsay and has since been refuted through several studies. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should start using them in salads. As with all ornamental plants, the poinsettia is not intended for human or pet consumption. Besides, who has room with all that great holiday baking!
Some people can experience a mild, itchy rash or eye irritation from the touching the plant. If this happens, wash skin with soap and water or rinse eyes with water.
After the Holidays
Poinsettias are actually perennial plants in Mexico so with proper care,; you should be able to keep your poinsettia year after year. Here are a few tips to try to keep your poinsettias.
In about April, the coloured bracts will begin to turn brown or fall off. When this happens, cut the plant back to about 4 to 6 buds. Keep the plant near a sunny window, water and fertilize regularly, and by the end of May, you should see new growth. Continue to nurture your plant with regular watering and fertilizing. Some people even move their poinsettia outdoors for the summer.
In the fall, bring the poinsettia back indoors before the nights get too cold. The poinsettia will begin to set buds and produce flowers as the nights become longer. Beginning around October 1, keep the poinsettia in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. During the day, allow 6-8 hours of bright sunlight. Continue this process for 8-10 weeks and your poinsettia will develop a new colourful display of holiday blooms!
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