Poinsettias are ubiquitous during the holiday season.
First, a little history. The poinsettia plant is part of the Euphorbiaceae or Spurge family and is one of the most popular potted flowers in the United States, although native to southern Mexico.
The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, a botanist, physician and the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Poinsett introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States in 1825. Today, poinsettias decorate nearly every American household and business during the winter holiday season. Most people discard their poinsettias once the holiday has past; however, it is possible to keep the plant in good condition until March. Some people have better luck or may be more skilled than others at keeping them.
And let’s dispel the unsubstantiated tale that has been told since 1919 claiming the poinsettia plant is poisonous. It is not.
Years ago, the Society of American Florists and Ohio State University undertook a scientific investigation to determine the safety of the poinsettia plant. This research undeniably disproved the charge that the poinsettia plant is harmful to human and animal health. Of course poinsettias are not intended for either human or animal consumption, but eating them will not kill you.
Poinsettias thrive on bright, sunny natural daylight – at least six hours is recommended and placement near a sunny window is ideal. To keep the “bracts” of the plant bright in color, the room temperature should not exceed 70 degrees during the day or fall below 65 degrees at night. The plants will be seriously injured if they are exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees, even briefly in transport. Avoid placing the plants near drafts or excess heat and dry air that could emanate from appliances, fireplaces or ventilation ducts.
The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think of as the flowers are actually colored bracts or modified leaves. The plant’s tiny yellow “flowers” or cyathia, are located in the center of the colorful bracts.
Poinsettias do best in moist soil; they do not like to be either too wet or too dry. Water poinsettias thoroughly when the soil’s surface feels dry to the touch by moistening the plant’s surface with water from a watering can, letting the water filter down through the plant until it just barely starts to drain out the bottom of the pot. Allow it to drain thoroughly and then place the plant back into its outer pot or onto a plant saucer. Do not let the pot sit in standing water as it could cause permanent root-rot damage.
As for fertilizing your poinsettias, it is not necessary during the holiday season, which usually runs 6 to 8 weeks. However, if you would like to try saving the plant for a longer period of time, promoting new growth and maintaining its rich, green color, choose an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer and apply it at half strength. Repeat in another 6 to 8 weeks.
The regimen for preserving your holiday poinsettia and for it to hopefully re-flower takes more than a little vigilance, perseverance and patience to be successful. But it can be done.
For more information, visit the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension website, extension.unh.edu, and search for “poinsettia care.”
(Joyce Kimball is a member of the Bow Garden Club and a Master Gardener.)