Poinsettias herald the holiday season
The holiday season begins when the poinsettias are for sale in nurseries, garden centers, grocery stores and floral shops. New colors, shapes, blooms and sizes are found in all price points, making this gift available and affordable.
Native to Mexico and Guatemala, poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are commercially grown in the United States. Historically, poinsettias were cultivated by the Mayans and Aztecs.
The earliest time estimate of the poinsettia's association with Christmas was its use in southern Mexico in the 1600s, where Franciscan priests decorated nativity scenes with poinsettias. Poinsettias were brought to the United States around 1827 by Joel Robert Poinsett, the nation's first ambassador to Mexico.
Eventually, Euphorbia pulcherrima was named after Poinsett, and poinsettias continue to adorn homes and businesses.The stem's green leaves and colored bracts draw the eye to the yellow cyanthia, the center of the poinsettia plant, which are the poinsettia's flowers. When purchasing poinsettias, look for cyanthia that are tight and free of pollen.Shop around for the perfect poinsettia for yourself or for a gift. Purchase poinsettias that are well-watered and cared for. Bracts sprayed with paint or glitter are interesting but may not live as long or may drop their bracts sooner than those that are natural.Inspect the plant for insects by checking under the leaves. Peek into the foil wrapper and check the integrity of stems, leaves and soil.Keep the foil wrapper intact until presentation; then, remove the foil pot cover (or punch drainage holes into the bottom of the foil), and place a saucer under the plant. Remove any dead or dry leaves from the plant or the soil.Keep the poinsettia away from drafts and heating vents, and place them in bright, indirect light.While poinsettias are not poisonous, their leaves and sap can cause an allergic reaction in individuals with latex allergies. Wash your hands after handling broken stems or leaves.Ingesting poinsettia leaves or bracts can cause an upset stomach and vomiting in pets and children. Place poinsettias out of their reach.Care for poinsettias by providing consistent temperatures and moist soil, which should keep them hardy through the winter months. Discard poinsettias that lose their leaves or show signs of disease or insects. In early summer, repot the poinsettia into a slightly larger container and place it outside in a shady location. Pinch the stems to encourage branching and fertilize regularly.Try forcing the poinsettia to bloom by keeping the plant in total darkness for at least 12 hours a day, beginning the first week in October through November. You may have a poinsettia blooming for the holidays!Penn State Extension offers detailed information on caring for poinsettias as well as how to force a poinsettia to rebloom at https://extension.psu.edu/poinsettias; https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/susquehanna/penn-state-master-gardener-articles/poinsettias-to-rebloom-or-compost; and https://extension.psu.edu/poinsettia-and-christmas-cactus-care.To learn more about the poinsettia's history and newer cultivars, visit https://extension.psu.edu/poinsettias-whats-new-with-this-old-plant. If you have questions about poinsettias, call the Master Gardener Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, ext. 7, or email the Master Gardeners at butlermg@psu.edu.Lisa Marie Bernardo, Ph.D., RN, is a Penn State Master Gardener of Butler County.
