Poinsettias are beautiful star-shaped red blooms, as delightful to boosting our Christmas spirits as Christmas trees and stockings hanging off a fireplace. If you have purchased flowering plants to enjoy during this Christmas season, chances are you have at least one poinsettia. The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), is one of the most popular winter holiday plants and a native to the area around Taxco, Mexico. Joel R. Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico, introduced this lovely plant to us after seeing them grow in Mexico to be large woody shrubs, often reaching heights above 10 feet!
The Poinsettia is a member of the spurge family and is characterized by small, inconspicuous flowers and large, brightly colored, leaf-like bracts. Poinsettia bracts may be red, pink, white, yellow, speckled or marbled; the most popular color is red, although horticulturists at OSU have introduced an orange poinsettia for their fans, and you can purchase these orange beauties at the OSU-OKC Horticultural center during their annual sale which lasts until Dec 14.
Poinsettias are often thought of as poisonous, but research indicates that poinsettias contain no chemicals commonly considered toxic, and they will cause nothing more than perhaps a mild stomach upset if a part of the plant is eaten. Another deterrent to ingesting these plants by your children or pets is that the plant has an extremely bitter taste, so usually a leaf or two will give the message to a curious toddler or rambunctious pet. The white sticky sap however, may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. For pet owners, the ASPCA states that "Poinsettia ingestions typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Keeping this plant out of the reach of your pet to avoid stomach upset is still a good idea, but you need not banish the poinsettia from your home for fear of a fatal exposure altogether."
How do you care for the lovely poinsettia for best Christmas bloom? First, you should place your plant where it will receive a maximum amount of indoor sunlight, and remember that there are a few problems associated with poinsettia care. First, premature leaf drop is one of the main problems you may encounter. To avoid this, keep your plant out of drafts, as rapid temperature fluctuations will cause premature leaf drop; even touching a cold windowpane can cause injury to the bracts. Night temperatures should be no cooler than 60 to 65 degrees F. and day temperatures should not exceed 80 degrees F. Additionally, if you fail to water your plant frequently, it will wilt and lose its leaves too. Keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy, and water thoroughly; make sure your pot has good drainage, and empty out any water that may be left in the pot saucer after watering.
Always remove any paper or plastic sleeve, because ethylene gas can accumulate within the sleeve and cause premature flower drop and leaf curling. Fertilization is typically not needed for the first month because the potting mix includes a slow-release fertilizer, but after the first month, fertilize once every two weeks until the plant loses its brightly colored bracts.
Yet, for years these marvelous plants have been removed from the tables and put far out of reach, safely away from small children and pets.
Poinsettias are short-day plants, which means they flower about 10 weeks after the daylight shortens to 12 hours or less. If you want your plant to bloom again next year for Christmas, place it in full darkness – a closet is ideal - between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. from early October until late November; put your plant in a sunny window during the day hours, and continue fertilizing until mid-December.
Enjoy your poinsettia this Christmas, and consider keeping it through the summer! With a little effort, it will reward you with blooms again next year!
Kautz is a retired Air Force Colonel and Master Gardener.
