What does the Poinsettia Mean to You?

By: Christina T.

The Poinsettia is a holiday staple for some, some may not have heard of it, and others gift one to their friends and family.

Poinsettias Growing in our North side Greenhouse

For us, the poinsettia is our history. They have helped us create roots in the Maple Grove Community and have helped us grow into the business we are today! For 40+ years Poinsettias have lined our greenhouse aisles, filling them with holiday color as each leaf starts to turn color. Over the many years of growing our growers have found a knack for growing a variety of strong, healthy poinsettias. All our Poinsettias are homegrown earning the title: Minnesota Grown and we couldn’t be prouder.

December 12 is National Poinsettia Day!!

Join us this weekend in celebrating such a wonderful houseplant that brightens your home and brings cheer to so many.

Pink and Marbella Poinsettias

How do we grow our Poinsettias?

Each year our Poinsettia cuttings arrive in July. Yup, that’s right, July. It’s always Christmas in July! Before our cuttings have arrived, our production crew has already prefilled different sized containers to grow different sized Poinsettias. This year we have filled just above 18,000 containers. Keeping in mind that some pots have 2 or 3 Poinsettias growing, making the total for grown Poinsettias even higher.

Poinsettia Cuttings Establishing Roots

Once the cuttings arrive, we hand stick each cutting into the soil of each container. Our misters are then set to go off every so often to provide enough water for each cutting to grow roots and establish into their new home. Once a substantial root system is established, then each poinsettia is moved to another greenhouse where they are properly spaced for room to grow and irrigation tubes are set for proper watering. In this greenhouse temperature, lighting, and water can all be controlled to create the perfect environment a Poinsettia needs to grow.

How do I select the best color and size?

Our best seller is the 6” Single Red Poinsettia. A single Poinsettia is large enough to fill a small to medium space, with the foliage filling out nicely. A red Poinsettia is most common essentially because of the color, but there are other colors and sizes to choose from.

Single Red Poinsettia

Our 4.5” straight-ups and pixies are perfect for gifting and centerpiece arrangements, whereas larger sizes like our 8” or even 10” are great for large areas, events, a gathering space (which may not be happening so much this year.)

Pixie Poinsettias

Now that you have a general idea of what size you need let’s talk about color. Common color choices are red, white, pink, and off-white. However, there are some nice Novelty Poinsettias for those looking for something non-traditional. We offer Marbella, Red Glitter, Monet, and Burgundy. The Red Glitter is one of my favorites, because each one has unique coloring. I also enjoy finding different leaf shapes like the single white Poinsettia versus the single red Poinsettia. Notice how the white one looks like an oak leaf?

How to pick the best Poinsettia?

Every year our growers hand picks the healthiest, most sturdy Poinsettias available to make sure our customers are getting the best product possible.

So how do you pick the very best Poinsettia? The ‘best’ Poinsettia is different for everyone, but here are a few tips I recommend. When picking any plant, I look at the integrity of the plant. I check the base, stems, and roots to make sure the plant is healthy overall. Without a good structure, the longevity of the plant might be questionable. We hand pick all our Poinsettias before they come down to the store so fortunately this step is already accomplished for you.

Next, I look at uniformity. I like my plants symmetrical; meaning branches are all about the same length, full, mounding shape of foliage, and even color all around. Now, this may not be as important when selecting just one Poinsettia, but when shopping for a pair to match, it can be nice to find two that are very similar in size, height, and shape.

Did you know: The colored leaves are commonly mistaken for flowers; however, they are called bracts or modified leaves. The flower is the yellow center that opens, producing pollen. For the longest lasting Poinsettia, choose a plant that has little to no yellow pollen emerging.

How to care for a Poinsettia?

Right! Now that you have picked out the right size and your favorite color, how do you take care of this holiday plant? Here are a few tips on transporting your Poinsettia to your car and then to your home, home care, and pet caution.

Transporting

Poinsettias prefer temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so we need to be careful when transporting these plants and exposing them to the outside elements. Before you leave our store, a team member will cover your Poinsettia with a paper sleeve to protect the foliage. Once you get it home, we recommend removing the paper 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. Try to keep them away from doors that open to let cold outside air in or next to warm vents or heaters. They also struggle if they are standing in water. We recommend watering your Poinsettia over a sink letting excess water drip away and place back in the pot cover when no water is dripping. 

Are Poinsettias poisonous?

No! Although it is not recommended to ingest the leaves of a Poinsettia, a pet or human would have to ingest over 500 bracts (or leaves) to have any side effects. A study conducted at Ohio State University disproved the charge that Poinsettias are harmful. In any case it has been said that their leaves do not taste that great anyways.

Did you know: In Mexico it is known as La Flor de la Nochebuena, meaning “Christmas Eve Flower.” In Chili it is called the “Crown of the Andes” and in Guatemala it is referred to as “The Flower of the Holy Night.” The Poinsettia has significance around the world, and here in the U.S. we think it’s fair to say the Poinsettia flower represents the holiday season in a nutshell.