“Legend has it that a poor child (Pepita) in Mexico having nothing to give the Christ Child on His birthday gathered some weeds into a lovely bouquet; the only gift she had to offer. When she brought her gift to the manger, the simple weed was transformed into a brilliant red bloom — a poinsettia. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the ‘Flores de Noche Buena,’ or the Flowers of the Holy Night.” — Anonymous. 

November is on its last pages and December is the next chapter. Christmas is only 29 days or about 700 hours away. As always, Christmas Day will be celebrated in families throughout our nation and abroad with love, gifts, songs, smiles, foods, gatherings and prayers. Let’s get that Christmas spirit glowing and flowing — the spirit and adoration for Jesus Christ, forever, in our hearts and minds.

However, many people have already began decorating for this special time — from Christmas trees, lights, and nativity scenes to holiday plants and gifts. Christmas color is all around us — and that includes the poinsettia too! Its color and stance help bring Christmas cheer into our hearts and homes. These brightly colored plants are a definite indication that the Christmas season has arrived and are very much a part of our Christmas decor. The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise men to Jesus with the red colored leaves symbolizing the blood of Christ.

Poinsettias were so named in the United States in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett (botanist, physician and the first U. S. ambassador to Mexico). While in Mexico and with an interest in botany, he scouted the countryside in search of new plant species. And, in 1828 he found a beautiful shrub with large red flowers growing alongside a country road. He took cuttings from the plant and propagated them in his greenhouse in Charleston, South Carolina. Poinsett had an outstanding career as a congressman and ambassador, but his greatest contribution to society was the introduction of the poinsettia into this country. Poinsettia Day is Tuesday, December 12, which marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1851.

The showy colored parts of poinsettias are actually modified leaves (bracts) not flowers. The actual flowers (yellow) are located in the center of these colorful bracts. The poinsettia drops its bracts and leaves immediately after the flowers shed their pollen. Therefore, choose those plants with little or no yellow pollen showing for the longest duration of color.

Poinsettias are not poisonous. University studies have shown that 500 to 600 leaves would have to be ingested to have any side effects (upset stomach and vomiting). And, since the leaves are not very tasty, it is highly unlikely that people or pets would be harmed from ingestion. However, many plants in the Euphorbiaceae family discharge a milky sap, which could cause a skin reaction in people with latex allergies.

Poinsettias will not tolerate frost, but they will grow in temperate coastal climates (southern California) reaching upwards to 10 feet tall. The colors of the bracts are created through photoperiodism (darkness control) requiring darkness for 12 continuous hours at a time for at least five days in a row to change bract color. However, once poinsettias complete the process of photoperiodism, they require abundant light during the day for the brightest and most attractive color.

Over 100 varieties of poinsettias are available in the marketplace in colors of red, pink, white, yellow, purple, salmon, and multi-colors. The red poinsettia continues to be the color of choice with Prestige Red being a best-selling hybrid. Poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant with most of them being sold within a six-week period prior to Christmas. Once Christmas day has arrived, the dollar value of those poinsettias remaining in the market drops immediately and drastically as stores re-open on Dec 26.

Poinsettias will last through the Christmas season and beyond. In addition to price, here are some pointers to follow in your selection process. Select a plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line or to the top of the container. Select a plant with bracts (modified leaves) that are completely colored. Select a plant which does not have a lot of green around the bract edges. Select a plant that does not have fallen or yellow leaves. Select a plant that looks full, balanced and attractive from all sides.

Also, select a plant that is two-and-a-half times taller than the diameter of the container. Select a plant that is not drooping or wilting. Select a plant that is not displayed in paper or plastic sleeves since plants held in sleeves will deteriorate more quickly (the sleeves are for transporting only). Select a plant that has not been displayed or crowded close together (crowding can cause premature bract loss). Select a plant that has moderate soil moisture (if it’s wet and the plant is beginning to wilt, this could be an indication of root rot).

Also, select a plant that is pest-free (check the undersides of leaves for aphids and whiteflies). Select a plant that is mature (check the true flowers which are located at the base of the colored bracts — green or red-tipped flowers will have greater longevity than the ones with yellow pollen covering the flowers). After your purchase and placement in the home, be sure to cover it for cold protection if it is exposed to outside temperatures below 50 degrees F.

The length of time that your poinsettia will maintain its color and vigor is dependent on the maturity of the plant, when you bought it, and how you treat it. If given proper care and maintenance, poinsettias should keep their beauty for weeks (some high-quality varieties will remain attractive for months). After you have made your poinsettia selection and purchase, be sure that it is wrapped properly because exposure to low temperatures (even for a few minutes) can damage the bracts and leaves.

Upon delivery, unwrap your poinsettia carefully from the sleeve and place in indirect light (about six hours of light daily is ideal). Once positioned in the home, the plant should not be touching cold windows. Also, be sure to keep it away from warm or cold drafts, air vents or open doors and windows. Poinsettias prefer daytime temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees F and night time temperatures around 55 degrees F (high temperatures will shorten its life). Keep a daily check on the plant to ascertain good quality and to monitor the micro-environmental effects (if any) from its new placement in the home.

Monitor the plant daily by checking soil moisture, good drainage, leaf responses to water and heating/cooling, and good vigor. Plants impacted by wilt tend to drop bracts prematurely. Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season by applying a good quality houseplant fertilizer once a month at label rates. Do not fertilize when the poinsettia is in bloom. With appropriate care and maintenance, the poinsettia should be on display about six-to-eight weeks in your home.

May the results of your holiday efforts be photo ops and memory-makers for seasons to come. Select awesome seasonal plants for the upcoming holidays. Enjoy the Christmas lights in your area. Also, plan a road trip to enjoy Christmas lights with all that splendor and beauty of the season.

“Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:23-24

Seagle is a Sustainability Associate (Golf Environment Organization, Scotland), Agronomist and Horticulturalist (CSI: Seagle – Consulting Services International), Professor Emeritus and Honorary Alumnus (Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College), and Short-Term Missionary for Peru (Heritage Church, Moultrie). Direct inquiries to csi_seagle@yahoo.com.