The Basics of Poinsettia Plants
Although poinsettias are most often associated with the
holiday season, they are actually tropical plants. In spite of their
origins, poinsettias can thrive during the holiday season and even
last long after the holidays have come and gone.
Poinsettias are native to Mexico and Central America. Aztecs
called the plant cuetlaxochitl. The flowering plant was first
introduced to the United States by Joel Poinsett, the U.S.
ambassador to Mexico, and was subsequently renamed the
poinsettia. The flowers of the poinsettia are actually the yellow
blooms at the middle of the bright red or white bracts that form
on the plant. Perhaps due to the bright red of the bracts, the plant
quickly became a popular Christmas plant.
It’s important to note that poinsettias grow
in a warm climate and therefore
must be kept in tropical
conditions to ensure
the plant’s
health. Furthermore, poinsettias bloom in response to shortening
daylight hours. That means they will need ample darkness each
night in order to simulate the dark nights of short, winter days. To
achieve this, you may need to put the plant into a dark closet for
12 to 14 hours each night.
During the day, the plant should be in a sunny window
where it will have access to bright light. The more light the better.
Keep the soil evenly moist. Misting the plant will help it to retain
some humidity. Also, fill the overflow saucer on your flower pot
with gravel to allow water seeping through the pot to evaporate
from the gravel. Hot temperatures indoors combined with high
humidity will help the plant to thrive. Even one day without
adequate moisture can cause the leaves to drop.
Furthermore, decreasing temperatures can cause
leaves to fall off. The goal is to keep the indoor
temperature consistent.
While many poinsettia plants are discarded
after the holiday season, these plants can
actually be cut back and saved for next season.
Trimming back any remaining leaves and
continuing to care for the plant by keeping it
moist can help. To force the blooms next season,
start reducing the plant’s exposure to sunlight in
mid-September to October. Again, this will
mean removing the plant to an area that is
shrouded in complete darkness. Even streetlights
or indoor lighting can affect blooming. If the
plant does not begin to turn color before the
holiday season, you may need to purchase a
new plant and try again next year.
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