The popular Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a welcome addition to our homes during the dark days of December. Local greenhouses start producing these plants in September where they are carefully regulated for specific lengths of darkness each day, temperature control, amount of water, and fertilizer to produce the lush plants we find in our stores.
Poinsettias originated in Mexico where they grow wild, often in ditches by the roadside. In the 1820’s, John Roberts Poinsett, who was a botanist and the first U.S. minister to Mexico, brought it back to North America where it rapidly gained popularity as a holiday decoration.
Because it needs high temperatures outdoors, we keep them indoors in the winter. They are very sensitive to cold, and since they grow locally in very controlled environments, when you buy a plant it’s important to shelter it on the trip from the store to your home. Cover it in a paper bag, with crumpled newspaper all around to protect it from our cold weather.
They are available in a wide variety of colours but the most common are red, pink, and white. The vivid blues and purples are actually dyed but certainly give our homes a dramatic effect.
If you want to grow them in your summer garden, when the leaves fall off during late winter, cut the stems back to 2 buds and reduce watering to a minimum. Store them in a cool place and plant in your garden after the last frost of Spring.
To assure the best-looking December indoor plants, keep them in a sunny area, water moderately without letting them sit in water, and mist them occasionally. The milky sap in their stems can be irritating to our skin, so they should be handled with care. Enjoy your plants and best wishes for a happy holiday season.
