Care and Selection of Poinsettias

Suggestions for buying and caring for poinsettias.

  • Topic: Poinsettias
  • Author: Janet Newton
  • Keywords: holiday, Christmas, decor, poinsettia, Other, holidays, sets, decorations
  • Date: December 2001

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The poinsettias you will find on the market today have been specially bred to produce brilliant color and early flowers that have a long life span in poor light conditions. Nowadays there are several variations in bract color, from brilliant reds to pinks, whites and even dark purples. Here at Santa Fe Greenhouses we have several different varieties, which should fit the decorating needs of just about everyone during the holidays.

When selecting a plant, look for one with crisp, healthy foliage and bright bracts. Its cyathia should be tightly clustered and, ideally, should be just starting to shed pollen.

Poinsettias cannot withstand much cold at all. When you bring them into your home, look for a draft free place with ample light. You’ll also want to take care bringing your plants home from the greenhouse, as even being left in the car to run further short errands can set them on the decline. Make sure that your plants are wrapped well before heading out into the cold, but once you have them safely in your house remove the plastic covering immediately.

If you provide a moderated temperature (60 degrees at night to 72 degrees during the day) and good humidity you can prolong the bract color. High temperatures will shorten the plant’s life. Many people ask if fertilizing the plant will help it retain its bloom. If you plan on keeping the plant after the holidays, post-bloom monthly fertilizing is essential, but do NOT fertilize poinsettias while they are in bloom. It can be difficult to make a poinsettia re-bloom without greenhouse conditions, but enthusiastic gardeners shouldn’t be dissuaded from trying.

Make sure not to over water your poinsettias. Only water when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch, and never let your plants sit in water. Often times people place foil around a potted plant before setting it out or giving it as a gift. Make sure that the foil has a hole in the bottom to enable drainage, or place a saucer inside the foil and discard any water that drains through after watering.

Debunking the Poison Myth:

Common thought has it that poinsettias are poisonous and need to be kept away from children and pets. This has been proven false through an Ohio State University study, which demonstrated no real health danger from ingesting any portion of a poinsettia plant. As it was put in the study results, a fifty-pound child who ate 500 bracts might develop a slight stomachache. But just because this old wives tale has been disproved does not mean you shouldn’t take other plant warnings seriously. Other holiday favorites such as some holly and mistletoe berries can produce adverse health reactions if ingested.

Some people will have a minor skin reaction if they touch the milky sap of all plants in the Euphorbia family, so avoiding direct contact with broken stems is a good idea if you don’t know how you’re skin will react.