If anything is associated with Christmas, it is the Poinsettia. In Spanish-speaking countries and the United States, we know it is Christmas when we see poinsettias in stores.
My wife and I have no Christmas without having some poinsettias and flowers. After the Christmas season is over, we take the plants out into the yard. Some of them are still living and blooming next year. We have the joy of two of them withstanding the combat of time and blooming this year.
Poinsettias are a popular Christmas plant native to Mexico and Central America. They are commonly grown annually for winter holiday displays. Still, they can also be developed as perennial garden shrubs in regions where winter temperatures remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (ca. 10 degrees Celsius) (ca. ten °C).
Joel Robert Poinsett, the first ambassador to Mexico, introduced poinsettias to the United States around 1827. As the plant grew in popularity, it was eventually named after Poinsett, who had a long and honorable career as a congressperson and founder of the Smithsonian Institution.
The well-known red species have been joined by even more striking shades thanks to hybrids that have expanded the range of colors.
Some colors of the Poinsettia are:
1. Red: The classic. Its velvety, dark red leaves can also combine different shades.
2. Pink: Associated with softness and serenity, pink is associated with gratitude and appreciation in some cultures.
3. White: White is associated with purity, and if we add that we are in Christmastime, we already have the perfect plant. The white Poinsettia is less common than the red Poinsettia, but also relatively easy to find.
4. Orange: Orange poinsettia are uncommon and will take longer to find. Ask nurseries or specialized stores for help, and you will surely get it.
5. Mottled: This is various red plants whose leaves have speckles or white areas, a veining that gives it a beautiful touch.
6. Blue: Although Mother Nature doesn’t delight us with blue Easter, they can be obtained artificially. You can even ask for glitter or glitter to be added.
Provide plenty of filtered sun, heat, and water to keep your Poinsettia healthy and vigorous year-round. If you follow a specific care regimen, your plant could bloom again next holiday. If grown as a landscape shrub in warm climates, Poinsettia requires a sunny spot and well-drained soil. Here are some tips:
- Light: Poinsettia does best when placed in bright, diffused sunlight, so place your plant near a sunny window where it will receive at least six to eight hours of diffused light daily. Although plants can survive with fewer hours of light, they will be less vigorous and long-lived. Keep in mind that exposure to direct sunlight can burn the leaves.
- Soil: While poinsettias are usually purchased in pots at a garden center or nursery, if you’re planting (or replanting) a poinsettia, choose a well-draining peat-based potting soil for the best success. In warm climates (9 to 11), poinsettias can be planted in the landscape, where they thrive best in well-drained, acidic, neutral soil.
- Water: Water your Poinsettia whenever the soil’s surface feels dry. Be sure to water the plant thoroughly, allowing excess moisture to drain from the bottom of the pot.
- Never let the plant sit in standing water, leading to root rot.
