An atmosphere filled with ornamental appeal and spiritual contentment!

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Even though most all decorations this month are focusing on fall and Thanksgiving, some people have already began decorating for Christmas-time as well with trees, lights, nativity scenes, and holiday plants. It’s actually fun to create a decorative environment with curb appeal including decorations of both dates as one transitions into the other. Christmas color will soon be all around us which includes the wonderful poinsettia plant too! Its color and stance help bring Christmas cheer into our hearts and homes.

These brightly colored plants are a definite indication of the Christmas season and are very much a part of our Christmas decor. The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the wise men to Jesus with the red colored leaves symbolizing the blood of Christ.

Poinsettias are not poisonous – university studies have shown that 500 to 600 leaves would have to be ingested to have any side effects (upset stomach and vomiting). And, since the leaves are not very tasty it is highly unlikely that people or pets would be harmed from ingestion. However, many plants in the Euphorbiaceae family discharge a milky sap which could cause a skin reaction in people with latex allergies.

Poinsettias will not tolerate frost, but they will grow in temperate coastal climates (southern California) reaching upwards to 10 feet tall. The colors of the bracts are created through photoperiodism (darkness control) requiring darkness for 12 continuous hours at a time for at least five days in a row to change bract color. However, once poinsettias complete the process of photoperiodism, they require abundant light during the day for the brightest and most attractive color.

Poinsettias will last through the Christmas season and beyond. In addition to price, here are some pointers to follow in your selection process. Select a plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line or to the top of the container. Select a plant with bracts (modified leaves) that are completely colored. Select a plant which does not have a lot of green around the bract edges. Select a plant that does not have fallen or yellow leaves. Select a plant that looks full, balanced and attractive from all sides.

And, select a plant that is 2 1/2 times taller than the diameter of the container. Select a plant that is not drooping or wilting. Select a plant that is not displayed in paper or plastic sleeves since plants held in sleeves will deteriorate more quickly (the sleeves are for transporting only). Select a plant that has not been displayed or crowded close together (crowding can cause premature bract loss). Select a plant that has moderate soil moisture (if it’s wet and the plant is beginning to wilt, this could be an indication of root rot).

And, select a plant that is pest-free (check the undersides of leaves for aphids and whiteflies). Select a plant that is mature (check the true flowers which are located at the base of the colored bracts – green or red-tipped flowers will have greater longevity than the ones with yellow pollen covering the flowers). After your purchase and placement in the home, be sure to cover it for cold protection if it is exposed to outside temperatures below 50°F.

The length of time that your poinsettia will maintain its color and vigor is dependent on the maturity of the plant, when you bought it, and how you treat it. If given proper care and maintenance, poinsettias should keep their beauty for weeks (some high-quality varieties will remain attractive for months). After you have made your poinsettia selection and purchase, be sure that it is wrapped properly because exposure to low temperatures (even for a few minutes) can damage the bracts and leaves.

Upon delivery, unwrap your poinsettia carefully from the sleeve and place in indirect light (about six hours of light daily is ideal). Once positioned in the home, the plant should not be touching cold windows. Also, be sure to keep it away from warm or cold drafts, air vents or open doors and windows. Poinsettias prefer daytime temperatures of 60 to 70°F and night time temperatures around 55°F (high temperatures will shorten its life). Keep a daily check on the plant to ascertain good quality and to monitor the micro-environmental effects (if any) from its new placement in the home.

Monitor the plant daily by checking soil moisture, good drainage, leaf responses to water and heating/cooling, and good vigor. Plants impacted by wilt tend to drop bracts prematurely. Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season by applying a good quality houseplant fertilizer once a month at label rates. Do not fertilize when the poinsettia is in bloom.

Happy Thanksgiving!