It is getting chillier in Alabama! Aside from the weather, one thing that tells us that the holidays are near is the flood of beautiful red poinsettias filling up local nurseries and home improvement stores.
The poinsettia has been used as a decoration during the holiday dating back to when the first missionaries included them in their Advent ceremonies during the 17th century. Did you know that poinsettias are actually native to Mexico?
Poinsettias were first introduced in the United States in 1825 when the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, was enchanted by the blooms and sent some home to Greenville, South Carolina. In 1833, the plant was given the common name—poinsettia—after Poinsett.
Aside from Christmas trees, the poinsettia is the ultimate holiday plant. The red bracts, usually mistaken for flowers, are actually leaves. These red leaves are the reason poinsettias are known as “The Red Christmas Star.” Poinsettias come in a variety of colors including red, white, pink, corals, variegated and many others. While there are many color options, the traditional red is the most-purchased color.
Caring for your poinsettia plant is easy. After buying the plant, keep the plastic sleeve on the pot to decrease damage while transporting it home. If you plan to leave the sleeve on the plant after arriving home, make sure there are drainage holes for watering purposes. Avoid keeping your plant near heaters or cold drafty areas indoors. Ensure your plant is kept within its ideal temperature range, staying between 65 and 75F. If the temperatures are below 55F, protect the plant from the cooler weather.
Do not overcrowd poinsettias. Overcrowding can lead to damaging of the red bracts.
Poinsettias need bright, indirect sunlight. Before watering your poinsettia, make sure the soil is dry to the touch. Water at the soil level and not over the leaves or bracts. Use a water can and avoid using a hose. Lastly, do not let poinsettias stand in water. It is important not to overwater. Only water again when the soil is dry.
If you’d like to keep your poinsettia alive to use next holiday season, prune the plant to about 4 inches tall during April. Keep the poinsettia at a normal inside temperature and repot in a larger pot in May. Continue to water the plant when dry and apply a household plant fertilizer every two weeks. When November comes back around, put the plant in daylight for 12 hours and then in a cool room with 12 hours of complete darkness. A cool room will encourage the red bracts to flourish.
With these care tips under your belt, you are ready to take care of your poinsettia during this holiday season and for seasons to come!
(This article first appeared in the Alabama Farm Federation's Neighbors magazine and is reprinted there with permission.)
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