Spotlight: Poinsettia Plants
It’s about time that we covered this classic Christmas plant: the Poinsettia. You know them because you’ve seen them at every single grocery store and nursery this time of year. But do you really know them? Let’s learn more about this iconic holiday beauty —
about the poinsettia plant
The Poinsettia is known as America’s number one holiday plant with its vibrant red leaves. What’s Christmas without Poinsettias, right? They are native to Mexico and were historically used by the Aztecs to regulate fevers and also used to create red dye for multiple purposes. Because of the tropical weather they call home, they typically can grow up to 15 feet tall. However, here in the States, they are only sold as a small to medium sized holiday houseplant. And although they are from Mexico, they are mostly grown throughout California, but are also grown in all states!
prismatic poinsettias
Not all Poinsettias are red! Even though this is the iconic color we all know and love, it also comes in different shades that are just as lovely. They come in over 100 kinds with a variety of leaves: cream, pink, orange, yellow, and even purple! You can also find ones that have multiple colors as well with marble or speckled effects.
how to care for them
Unfortunately, because the Poinsettia is mostly sold only throughout the holiday season, they are usually disposed of in the new year. However, with the proper care, they can live for as long as you want it to! Although they’ll only bloom for an additional couple of months, they can stick around til the next season to bloom fresh fronds.
Remove Packaging: the plastic can cause poor drainage and ultimately kill your plant! Make sure to remove packaging as soon as you get it and repot it into an alternate vessel.
Light: they do best during fall and winter since they need both bright sun and darkness to grow bouncy and tall (this is the drastic light they receive in their native tropical climate). They can tolerate lots of different light circumstances though, so you can’t go wrong in any light situation! They’ll adapt quite well. *Note: They will grow more lanky and less luscious in dark lighting situations.
Watering: they prefer to be equally consistently moist and drained. You’ll have to do some work and decide how often that watering will tend to be to maintain that slight moisture. *Tip: don’t let any water sit in the saucer!
On the other hand, when you see dropping leaves, that means your plant is too dry and will severely struggle to recover! In other words, don’t allow your plant to fully dry!
Temperature: It’s important that it’s not too cold or too hot for your plant. 60-65 degrees is the sweet spot!
Fun facts
If your Poinsettia is on it’s way out, give them one more life by cutting the stems and using them as decor!
Although Poinsettias are only heavily sold for about 6-7 weeks each year and make over 2 million in profit
The Aztecs originally called the Poinsettias “cuetlaxochitl”
Their sap contains latex!
The red leaves are often mistaken for petals, but they aren’t! They are leaves named “bracts"
Their sap can cause skin irritation and can be potentially poisonous to pets - be aware of its placement!
