Poinsettia 101
Baby it’s Cold Outside
Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico and thrive in warm weather. That means it’s important to protect them from cold temperatures on your way home from the store. Ask for an extra bag or sleeve that you can pop over your plant to trap warm air next to the leaves when you go out in the cold.
Once you are home, here are a few tips:
keep your plant away from cold drafts or hot blasts from heat ducts.
Keep it near a window that gives bright, indirect light.
Water when the soil begins to dry out. Poinsettias like their soil moist but not soggy.
Avoid root rot: Those decorative pot wraps are festive but they restrict drainage and can leave plants soaking in water, which causes root rot. To avoid problems, poke holes in the bottom of the decorative wrap and set your Poinsettia in a plant saucer or tray. (Be sure to drain the saucer if it fills with water.)
Is it Toxic?
According to the National Capital Poison Control Center, Poinsettias have gotten a bad reputation as a highly toxic plant. In reality, they can cause some stomach upset and the white sap from a broken branch may produce a rash in some people, but poinsettias are not deadly. Learn more at www.poison.org
Fun Facts:
The true flowers are tiny and clustered in the very center of the colorful “flower.” The color comes from the large red bracts, which are actually modified leaves. The bracts help pollinators find the tiny flowers.
For maximum bloom time, pick a Poinsettia with tight buds in the center, the colorful bracts will drop after the true flowers have finished blooming.
Wild Poinsettias grow to 10-12 feet!
There are more than 100 varieties ranging in color from red to salmon, apricot, yellow, and white. They can be speckled or marbled but the blue poinsettias you see are artificially colored.
Poinsettias are the #1 selling potted flowering plant. Upwards of 34 million are sold every year!
Poinsettias can go outside in May when the weather turns warm. They make attractive container plants!
For healthy plants and long-lasting color, keep Poinsettias away from drafts, close to bright windows, and be sure to poke holes in decorative wraps to improve drainage.
Poinsettias are happy to move outside in the summer. If you don’t cut them back, they may surprise you!