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 easons
Greetings! Every year tens of thousands of poinsettias are given as gifts,
evoking a similar response in all who receive them, "Oh, how beautiful".
It's no surprise that Euphorbia pulcherrima, the botanical name given
by German botanist Wilenow, literally translates "Very Beautiful". Most
people, including myself, are more familiar with the common name:
Poinsettia. The genus Euphorbia, of which the poinsettia is a member,
contains mostly succulents.
The poinsettia contains the same milky
latex sap and small unique flowers as its family members. The large showy
"flowers" are actually not flowers at all, but rather colored leaves known
as bracts. The actual flowers are the small yellow “cyathia” located in the
center of the bracts. New cultivars are introduced each year through the
science of plant breeding which allows botanists and horticulturists to play
with many colors, variegations and leaf shapes.
The name “poinsettia” was given by
William Prescott, a historian and horticulturist, to honor Joel Roberts
Poinsett. Mr. Poinsett was a member of the United States House of
Representatives and was appointed by President Madison as the first
Ambassador to Mexico. Mr. Poinsett was an avid botanist and had his own
greenhouse in his home state of South Carolina.
While in Mexico, Mr. Poinsett would
often roam the countryside looking for interesting plants. He stumbled upon
a very large bush, did what every plant lover still does today - took a
cutting - and had it shipped home to his greenhouse. He enjoyed propagating
this plant and sharing it with friends. I wonder if this is how the
tradition of giving a poinsettia as a holiday gift started?
December 12th, by an Act of Congress, is
National Poinsettia Day. This day marks the death of the plant’s namesake.
Poinsettia Myth:
Ingesting leaves or bracts, is highly toxic and could result in death. This
is a long running fallacy!
The American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) does not include the poinsettia on its list of toxic
plants. This is not to say your pet will not get sick if he or she ingests
some of the bracts. The reaction will be the same as if that pet ingested
the leaves of many other house plants. From experience, I can safely say my
cat has tried many poinsettias during the holiday season and has experienced
only an occasional bout of vomiting. This also has occurred when he dined on
my favorite coleus. I must admit, the poinsettia does not look as nice after
a nibbling incident, but I just remove the leaf and the plant is back to
looking wonderful.
In the early 1970’s, research was
conducted by scientists at the Ohio State University to determine if
ingesting poinsettias leaves was toxic to humans. The results from these
studies and other findings compiled by POISINDEX, a reference used by many
poison control centers in the US, concluded that a 50-pound child would have
to eat more than a 1 ¼ lbs of poinsettia leaves (approximately 500 to 600
leaves or bracts) to exceed the amount used in these studies.
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/p/poinsettias.htm
The Care and Feeding of your
Poinsettia
Of first and foremost importance is
watering. When the soil surface is dry, apply enough water (approximately 12
oz. of water for a 6 inch pot) so that it runs generously through the
container’s drainage holes. Do Not let the plant sit in the
saucer of water! This will cause the roots to rot from excess moisture and
lack of air circulation.
 The plant should have ample light, in a
south or east facing window. You can also place the plant in a brightly lit
room. Most poinsettias will adapt well when placed on a dining or kitchen
table, provided there is overhead lighting.
Cold is the number one killer of
poinsettias! These plants are native to very warm climates and temperatures
lower than 60 °F can promote root rot. Always, cover your plant with plastic
when taking it outside during the northern winter months! All florists and
greenhouses will automatically cover the plant with plastic when you leave
their facility. Do the same if transporting from your home to another home!
Fertilize your plant through the month
of December with a dilute solution of water soluble fertilizer such as 1/4
tsp/gallon. Jack’s Classic® Blossom Booster 10-30-20 with
its 1:3:2 ratio has all of its nitrogen in the nitrate (NO3) form
and higher P and K to promote long-lasting, deeply colorful bracts and
leaves.
Keep your poinsettias growing year
round
Yes, it is possible! It will take some
work and thought on your part, but it can be done. Keep watering your plant
as needed through early April, then allow more time between waterings to
allow the plant to dry, but not to the point where the stem shrivels. In
May, cut the plant back to 4-5 inches and transplant it to a slightly larger
pot with fresh potting mix. When new growth appears, start fertilizing with
Jack’s Classic® All Purpose 20-20-20 every time you water
at a rate of ¼ tsp per gallon of water or every 10 days with a rate of ½ tsp
per gallon. In June, after all danger of frost has passed, place the plant
outside in a location with lots of indirect light – not direct sun. In July,
pinch back about 1 inch of new growth. In September, pinch back to leave 3-4
remaining leaves and bring indoors. Maintain a 65-70 °F night time
temperature and continue fertilizing at a slightly higher rate (about 250
ppm) or 1 tsp/gallon every time you water.
Now for the fun part! From early
October to Thanksgiving, keep your plant in the dark (in a closet or in a
heavy box) from 5 PM until 8 AM. This must be done every day without
failure! Keep in mind you are still watering and fertilizing at this time.
Any exposure to night-time light or cold during this time and your yearlong
progress will be deterred and flowering will be delayed. During the brief
daylight hours, allow your poinsettia to have lots of sunlight. After
Thanksgiving, leave your poinsettia in a sunny and warm location, and
continue watering and fertilizing. You should be rewarded with a beautiful
plant.
While I must admit, I have tried only
once to keep a poinsettia growing year round. The main reason is I forget to
keep it in the dark, but also there are so many new and exciting cultivars
each year that I just have to bring some home!
I use the poinsettia as a means of
knowing when to start indoor sowing of my garden plants. When the poinsettia
is nearing the end of its showy season, you can start you seedlings!
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