Happy National Poinsettia Day

National Poinsettia Day - December 12

By: Christina T.

The Poinsettia, a timeless holiday classic

It wouldn’t be the holidays without a beautiful flash of red, pink, or white. When you think of the holiday season and what best represents its beauty, you might think of the poinsettia. Through its leaves it provides joy and happiness during a time when the sun is in high demand, but hard to come by. For this reason poinsettias make wonderful gifts for loved ones, friends, and co-workers.

Did you know: the colored leaves are commonly mistaken as flowers; however, they are called bracts or modified leaves. The flower is the yellow center that produces pollen. When the flowers open they shed their pollen causing the leaves to fall soon after. For the longest lasting poinsettia, choose a plant that has little to no yellow pollen.

How we grow our beauties year after year

We have a funny saying around here: Christmas in July. Why you might ask? Well, July is when we get our poinsettia cuttings. We start our poinsettias from small cutting with no roots. By sticking them in the soil we start our growing process by misting them until they establish a root system. From there they are moved to another greenhouse where they are properly spaced, and irrigation tubes are set in place for watering. Here our growers can maintain the right temperature and lighting to create the perfect color for your holiday enjoyment.

Did you know: All our poinsettias are grown right here on site. Each year two of our main greenhouses are filled with beautiful green plants, and each year they begin to change color right before your eyes.

How-To: Caring for this holiday plant

Transporting: Poinsettias prefer temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures in Minnesota get well below this, so it’s important to use a paper sleeve to protect the foliage. We recommend removing the sleeve as soon as possible. Do not leave the paper sleeve on for more than 24 hours.

Home Care: Poinsettias enjoy natural lighting and evenly moist soil. They do not appreciate drafts of cold air or excessive heat from appliances. They also struggle if standing in water. It is best to water over a sink letting excess water drip away and place back when no water is dripping.

Are Poinsettias Poisonous

Contrary to belief poinsettias are not poisonous. Although it is not recommended to ingest the leaves of a poinsettia it would take a 50-pound child ingesting over 500 bracts to have any side effects. A study conducted at Ohio State University disproved the charge that poinsettias are harmful to humans and animals. In any case it has been said that leaves from a poinsettia do not taste great anyways.

Did you know: In Mexico it is known as the Flor De Noche Buena, meaning “Christmas Eve Flower.: In Chili it is called the “Frown of the Andes” and in Guatemala it is referred to as “The Flower of the Holy Night.” The poinsettia had significance around the world and here in the U.S. We think it’s fair to say the poinsettia flower represents the holiday season.