Looking for Miss Perfect Poinsettia
Posted: Tuesday, December 07, 2010
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
She wins the prize - display in your home
T'is the season for
Poinsettias. From gardening centers, to discount stores, to big box stores and
even "tail gate vendors," Poinsettias are on display, beckoning you to bring
one or several home. Living right beside the popular, well-known Poinsettia is
the Christmas cactus with its numerous pink, red, purple-hued colors also
clamoring for shelf space in your home.
These seasonal plants are in
great abundance this time of year, and they are a joy to have brightening up a
windowsill or other spot in your kitchen, bath – wherever – they are pretty and
easy-to-care-for beauties.
You'll have a long-term
relationship with your plant(s) if you start with a very healthy, spectacular
specimen. I'd like to share what I've learned about choosing a healthy plant
and, better yet, how to care for it through the holidays … and beyond.
You can select from plants
in amazing colors – they can be red or pink or speckled or white – and there
are other choices too. Find one that "speaks" to you, and make that your
favorite type. Regardless of your preference, however, you'll want to select
one that is super healthy, vigorous and vying for America's Next Top Poinsettia
title.
It will help you to know a
little biology about your intended flower or multiple flowers – Poinsettias
have green leaves, primary or muted color leaves that resemble flower petals,
and very small true flowers. The plant's leaves are generally deep green or a
rich forest green color. The leaves with the bright colorations, known as
bracts, are also leaves; they're just not green. The true flowers of
Poinsettias are located in the center of the bracts and are hardly more than
little nubs. 
These should be green and tightly closed. They may or may not be
edged in yellow. You should avoid any plants with fully open flowers that
appear fuzzy. That is pollen and open flowers combined with pollen are
indicators of an older plant, one that is no longer as fresh as it could be.
As you look over your
intended purchase, make sure all bottom leaves remain on the plant and are a
rich green. If the main leaves are missing or have yellow edges, do not
purchase it. Look over the plant for any little creepy crawlers – Poinsettias
are mostly pest free – but just make sure. Then look over the bracts. The ideal
plant has bright bracts with perfect edges. Bracts should be bright and fully
colored, without apparent (green) leaf veining.
Now that you have found some
plants that measure up to expectation, check out those important "underpinnings."
Look at all the stems. The perfect plant presents leaves all the way down to
the soil with no missing leaves anywhere. If it is not vigorously growing green
leaves along the stems, or worse the stems are "naked," then the plant might be
root bound, have root rot, or it's been neglected with over or underwatering.
In a Poinsettia, bare stems spell out "n-o
t-h-a-n-k-s."
Finally, before you shell
out your money, an overly heavy pot or an unusually lightweight pot spell
trouble from caretaker neglect. Just walk away.
In some parts of America,
the weather is now very cold and your newly purchased Poinsettia will not take
kindly to being stranded in your automobile while you are shopping. Don't
subject your perfect specimen - hard won over all the other Poinsettia "tire
kickers" that wanted it - to any time in the cold. These holiday cheery plants
hail from warm climates and simply adore warm weather.
You've probably already
earmarked ideal locations for the new arrivals in your home. Remove the foil
and set the plants on saucers or into decorative pots. If you intend to keep
the plants wrapped in foil, then cut out the bottom of the foil and place on a
saucer to catch any water. If you leave the plants in the foil, water will
accumulate and hasten "waterlog sickness" or even drowning.
You have found several
amazing Poinsettias and are the envy of everyone that sees them – well, maybe
not, but caring for them is relatively easy and you can keep them around to
become long-term friends. Remember that their native environment is dry and
warm, so you'll want to mimic it. They'll be happy at around 70 degrees or a
little warmer during the day, and they appreciate it a little cooler at night –
just like you. They are not fond of wet feet so don't just throw water at them
once a week. Instead, wet test them with your finger and add water when the
soil is dry to your finger's first knuckle.
Poinsettias can be kept
year-around following some of these pointers. Just because the holidays have
come and gone doesn't mean you give them a death warrant; after all, they've
served you well. Give them lots of safe sunlight, water sparingly but wisely
and put them aside to once again grow brightly colored leaves. You'll be a
Poinsettia grower with bragging rights.
Of course, if you're one of
the warm-climate "fortunatos", you can merely step outside your home and enjoy
naturally growing Poinsettias; no need to muss and fuss.
But
for those of us not as lucky, I leave you with this: A Christmas tree is to
Christmas, as a Pointsettia is to holiday decorations. Enjoy the season!
Your photographs are absolutely beautiful, and I like the font as well. I love Pointsettias. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, Heidi!Actually, it's hard not to get a great photo of a poinsettia. They are colorful, have these great shaped leaves and the color variation makes a stunning composition. Please have the best Christmas and prosperous, health New York as well. Heidi
Great spotlight feature! I think my cats would chew them and understand this is not good for the cats... when my folks lived in Hawaii they grew 3-4 feet tall and were all across the front of their house! Beautiful.Great point about the cats. I know they are toxic to pets if they chew enough on them - thought about adding a warning but then forgot about it in the end. I know when they are given the right temps and climate, they are a yard adornment as for your folks in Hawaii. Aaahh Paradise. Thanks Marijo. Hope you have a blessed Christmas season and happy, prosperous New Year.
I m glad I read this. Timely.I appreciate the read and comment. Thank you.
