About Poinsettia Plant Care

House Plant Care: Poinsettias

The Poinsettia(Euphorbia pulcherima)

HISTORY:
The Poinsettia plant is native to Mexico. There it grows as a shrub, sometimes reaching as high as 10 feet. The Aztecs were to first known to have cultivated this plant and they spread it throughout parts of their Empire where climatic conditions allowed. These plants where highly reguarded by King Montezuma, but they could not be grown in his capital, which is now Mexico City.
The Aztecs called the Poinsettia "cuetlaxochitle" and highly reguarded this plant for its seasonal beauty and its medical uses. The bright red bracts were used to make a reddish-purple dye and a medicine for fever was made from the plant's latex.
Because of its brillant color and Christmas Holiday blooming time, Franciscan priests, near Taxco, Mexico began to use the flowering plant in the Fiesta of Santa Pesebre, a nativity procession. This is believed to be where the Poinsettias became first associated with the Christmas Holiday.
In early 1825 Joel Robert Poinsett, America's first ambassador to Mexico, discovered these plants growing wild in the hills near Taxco, Mexico. Poinsett, a botanist had some plants sent to his home in Greenville, South Carolina. He began culitvating a few plants in his greenhouses. He then shared same slips with friends and neigbors. One of these friends was John Bartram of Philadelhia. Bartram then gave some plants to Robert Buist, a nurseryman, who first sold the plants as Euphorbia pulcherima. In 1833, a German taxonomist had already named the Poinsettia Euphoria pulcherima. But in the English speaking countries the plant is known asEuphorbia poinsettia. The plant was given the name, Euphorbia poinsettia, in honor of Mr. Joel R. Poinsett. The commercial cultivation of the Poinsettia in this country had began from this start.

Cultivation:
This commercial cultivation continues today with over 67 knowned varieties.
Varieties sold in garden centers include Poinsettias in red, and shades of white, cream, yellow, red, pink, and peach. Some are with variegated bracts that are striped, marbled, or spotted. Poinsettias are one of the most important floricultural crops prduced in this country. More poinsettias plants are sold in November and December than any other plant through the year. And the Poinsettia is easily the traditional Decenber Holiday plant.
Horicultural commitments to improve the size, foliage, shape, and lengthening of the time for the brilliant foliage display of the Poinsettia has made this beautiful holiday plant accessible to any budget. With the continual improvements of the very popular Poinsettia plant, these hardy and robust plants will usually maintain the their beautiful bushy foliage well into the Spring months.

CARE & HANDLING:

During Winter:

Water: Moisten the soil, but not to soggy. Placing the plant's cantainer on a pebble tray or saucer helps to provide necessary humidity. Water when dry to touch, empty excess water from the plant saucer. Learn to judge the amount of water in the plant container by the heaviness of the container. When it feels light, give the plant some water. If it feels heavy enough, do not water. Do not allow the pot to stand in water, as this can cause root rot.
Light: Bright and natural light. In our Northwest, any sunny windows is a perfect spot. However, prevent a hot afternoon sun from shinning directly on the plants. And, avoid direct heat sources and any cold or drafty locations.
Temperature: Poinsettias need warmth, but not too much. A temperature ranges from 63 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit will do fine. Night time temperatures should remain above 63º F during the winter months.

During Spring, Summer, and Fall:

Spring/Summer: When the red bracets fade, cut back the stems to about 8" high. New growth will appear in a month or two, filling out the bare stemms. Keep the plant containers near a sunny window and enjoy their foliage throughout the summer months. Prunning back the stems a second or maybe a third time will incurage and enhance bushiness and bract count for their Holiday display. Occassional feeding with a well balanced NPK fertilizer promotes a hardy, robust, and healthy Poinsettia. When repotting is needed in late summer, re-pot in a container that is not more than 2" larger than their present one. In late summer, gradulely decrease the daylenghts to be 14 hours at the October
Fall: In early October, 14 hours of complete darkness in necessary for the plant to form their small white or pale yellow flowers. Place in a cool dark room each night, or cover the plants with a large box or a similiar device. Nightime temperatures must remaind below 70 ºF for proper flower developement. Remove the box each morning and provide 6 to 8 hours of bright sun. And make sure that the air temperatures stay warm, between 60 and 70 degrees. Flowers should begin to appear from September 20 to 25. Clear skies will cause later beginning. Cloud cover in the early morning or late evening will encourage early flowering. A minimum of five weeks of short days is needed to ensure development of normal complete flowering. And no cold drafts, remember this plant has a semi-tropical origion.

Are Poinsettias poisonous? Click here to find out.

Feeding and for more information about care. Click here to find out.

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