Poinsettias add festive color to holiday decorations

As people make preparations for the holiday season, many choose to decorate their homes with festive decorations.

One way to liven up holiday decorations and add vibrant color to the home is to use poinsettias. The poinsettia is the traditional Christmas plant and is native to Mexico, said Mike Schnelle, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service ornamental floriculture specialist.

“Poinsettias have been in the United States for nearly 200 years. They first arrived here in 1825 and have continued to offer an abundance of holiday cheer,” Schnelle said. “Most decorations get put in the attic or thrown away at the end of the season. However, with proper care, the poinsettias you purchase for the holiday season can last throughout the year. Despite wide-spread belief, poinsettias are not poisonous. However, it’s still good practice to keep any ornamental plant out of the reach of children and pets.”

To ensure maximum longevity, consumers should purchase their poinsettias from a business that specializes in greenhouse plants. When choosing a poinsettia, look for one that has foliage from the pot’s rim up to the showy bracts. The plant should show no sign of wilting, which could indicate root rot or chilling injury.

In addition, the foliage should be a healthy medium to dark green, and the bracts should be well expanded and colorful. For the greatest beauty, poinsettias should still have clusters of yellow cyathias in the center of the bracts. These cyathias are the true flowers of the poinsettia.

“The selection process isn’t the only part of buying a poinsettia. You have to make sure you’re able to get the plant home without exposing it to cold weather,” he said. “Be sure to ask for a plant sleeve if the outdoor temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Even a grocery bag can help protect the plant from the cold weather. An unprotected poinsettia shouldn’t be exposed to freezing temperatures even for just a short walk to the car. Poinsettias are especially chill sensitive and will wilt, and then begin to drop their leaves if they get too cold.”

Consumers should immediately unwrap their poinsettias once they reach their destination. The plants should be placed in a location with bright natural light, but not direct sunlight, as it will cause the bracts to fade. The ideal temperature for poinsettias is the typical home temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid placing the plants in areas that are exposed to drafts of heat such as from appliances, radiators or furnace ducts, or drafts of cold such as from doors or windows.

Proper watering is the key to keeping poinsettias healthy. Many commercial growers use a soilless mix, which is much lighter weight than a soil-based potting mix. This can make it difficult for consumers to tell when the plant needs water.

“Probably the best way to tell if the poinsettia needs water is to lift the pot to judge its weight. If it is lightweight, the potting mix is dry and a thorough watering is needed,” Schnelle said. “The best method of watering is to remove the potted plant from its decorative wrap, set it in the kitchen sink and water thoroughly until water drains from the holes in the bottom of the pot. Allow excess water to drain from the pot before returning the potted plant to its decorative wrap. If a poinsettia is kept too wet, the roots will rot and the plant will eventually die.”

With proper care, consumers can enjoy their poinsettias throughout the year. In January, move the plant near a sunny window, and in April, cut the stems back to about six inches above the potting mix.

Beginning in May, consumers should fertilize their poinsettias with a balanced fertilizer, following label directions.

As the temperatures begin to warm in June, remove the plant from the pot to see if it needs repotting. If you do repot, use a commercial potting mix and a pot that is no more than two inches larger in diameter. The plant may be grown outdoors for the summer, but be sure to protect its tender foliage from Oklahoma’s intense summer sun. An east exposure, where the plant will receive only morning sun, is best. In July and August, poinsettias should be grown in partial sun only.

In the middle of August, cut the stems back, leaving three to four leaves per shoot.

From mid-September to the first part of December, the plant should be grown indoors in direct sunlight. In order to induce flowering for Christmas, the poinsettia must experience complete darkness from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. every night.

Under most household conditions, poinsettias that are reflowered pale in comparison to the beauty of a fresh, professionally grown plant. Most homeowners are better off purchasing new plants each year.

As the new holiday season draws near, consumers will once again be able to decorate their homes with the Christmas plant.

“Poinsettias add such a festive note to holiday decorations. With proper care, consumers are sure to enjoy these beautiful plants throughout the season,” Schnelle said.

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Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating: The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.
 
Trisha Gedon
Communications Specialist
Agricultural Communications Services
Oklahoma State University
136 Printing Services Building
Stillwater, OK  74078
405-744-3725
trisha.gedon@okstate.edu