Poinsettia Red

One of the most delightful plants  available during the Christmas season is the poinsettia. The most common colour is red. However, there is a wide range of other colours available, including pink, white, marbled, speckled, and yellow. The coloured parts of the poinsettia, the bracts, are actually modified leaves. The poinsettia flower is small, and is green or yellow, and situated in the middle of the bracts.  

How to select a beautiful poinsettia 

Bract color

Choose plants which have coloured and expanded bracts. Avoid plants with too much green around the bract edges, as this is a sign of a plant shipped before it was sufficiently mature. Look for plants with dense, plentiful foliage all the way to the soil line. An abundance of rich green foliage is a vital sign of good plant health.  

Shape

Plants should appear balanced, full and attactive from all angles.  

Durability and freshness

Select plants with stiff stems, good bract retention and no signs of wilting, breaking or drooping. Be wary of plants displayed in paper, plastic or mesh sleeves, or plants that are too closely crowded in a sales display. A poinsettia needs its space, and the longer a plant remains sleeved, the more the plant quality will deteriorate. Crowding can reduce air flow around the plants and cause premature bract loss or other problems. Examine the plant's soil: it's best to avoid waterlogged soil, particularly if the plant appears wilted. Such a condition could signify root rot. When transporting the plant, protect it from chilling winds and temperatures below 50° F. Re-inserting the poinsettia into a sleeve or a large, roomy shopping bag will usually provide adequate protection for transporting the plant home when it is cold and windy.  

DO's of poinsettia care  

• DO place your plant in good light during the day.  

• DO provide room temperatures between 68 - 70° F. Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia.  

• DO water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch.  

• DO ensure that your plant is wrapped when taking it home to protect your plant when transporting it.  

• DO feed your plant AFTER THE BLOOMING SEASON with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.  

DON'Ts of poinsettia care  

• DON'T place plants near cold drafts or excessive heat. Avoid placing plants near appliances, fireplaces or the top of a television.  

• DON'T expose plants to temperatures below 50° F. Poinsettias are sensitive to cold.  

• DON'T over water your plant, or allow it to sit in standing water. Always remove a plant from any decorative container before watering, and allow the water to drain completely.  

• DON'T expose your plant to chilling winds when transporting it.  

• DON'T feed your plant when it is in bloom.  

How to get a poinsettia in colour again

When the poinsettia's bracts age and lose their aesthetic appeal, there's no reason to throw it out. With proper care, and attention, you can re-colour your poinsettia!  

By late March or early April, cut your poinsettia back to about 8" in height. Continue to regularly water, and feed your plant with a good, balanced all-purpose fertilizer. By the end of May, you should see vigorous new growth.  

Place your plants outdoors, where they can bask in the warmth of spring and summer, after the frosts have gone and night temperatures average 55° F or above. Continue regular watering during the growth period, and feed every 2 to 3 weeks.  

Pruning may be required during the summer to keep plants bushy and compact. Late June or early July is a good time for this step, but be sure not to prune your plant later than the beginning of September. Keep the plants in indirect sun and water regularly.  

Around the beginning of June, you can pot your poinsettia into a larger pot. Select a pot one size larger than the original pot. Use a multi purpose compost. 

The poinsettia is a photoperiodic plant. It sets bud and produces flowers as the Autumn nights lengthen. It will naturally bloom in November or December, depending on the flowering response time of the individual cultivar. Timing to produce blooms for the Christmas holiday can be difficult outside of the controlled environment of a greenhouse. Stray light of any kind, could delay or entirely halt the re-flowering process.  

From the beginning of October, the plants must be kept in a room that only ever has natural daylight - No artificial light of any kind. To do this move the plants to a room that is never used at night, or by covering the plant overnight with a large box or black bin liner. During October, November and early December, poinsettias require 6 - 8 hours of bright sunlight daily, with night temperatures between 60 - 70° F. Temperatures outside of this range could also delay flowering. Continue normal watering and feeding. Carefully following this routine for 8 to 10 weeks should result in a colorful display of blooms for around Christmas. 

In the USA, December 12 was set aside as National Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death in 1851 of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who is credited with introducing the native Mexican plant to the United States.