Poinsettias are Canada’s favorite Christmas houseplant, with millions sold each holiday season. Their vibrant colors bring warmth and festivity to homes. With proper care and selection, your poinsettia can thrive throughout the holiday season and beyond.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Poinsettia
- Look for healthy plants: Select poinsettias with strong stems and vibrant foliage. Avoid plants with yellowing or spotted leaves.
- Inspect for pests: Check the undersides of leaves for signs of insects.
- Check the flowers: The small yellow flowers at the center of the red bracts should still be intact. Remember, the red "petals" are actually modified leaves called bracts.
- Avoid over-sleeved plants: Never purchase poinsettias kept in tightly wrapped plastic or paper sleeves for extended periods, as this can cause yellowing and leaf drop.
TAKING YOUR PLANT HOME
Our garden centre will provide your poinsettia with some protection when transporting it to your home. Never expose the plant to cold temperature for more than a few minutes; a chilled or frozen plant will drop leaves very quickly. When you have the plant at home, remove the protective wrapping immediately.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR POINSETTIA
With proper care, your poinsettia will last through the Holiday season and right into late winter. Play close attention to the following tips:
- Place in a room where there is bright natural light but not where the sun will shine directly on the plant.
- Keep the plant away from locations where it will receive hot or cold draughts.
- Place the plant high enough to be out of reach of unmonitored children and pets.
- Set the plant in a water-proof container to protect your furniture.
- Water the plant thoroughly when the soil surface is dry to the touch. Discard any excess water which remains in the saucer after 10 minutes.
- The bright colour of the bracts will remain longer if temperatures do not exceed 22 degrees C.
REFLOWERING YOUR POINSETTIA
If you cannot bear to throw your poinsettia out when it is finished providing colour, you may want to try your hand at reflowering your poinsettia next year.
POINSETTIA PLANTS
The botanical name for poinsettia is Euphorbia pulcherrima. The United States first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett, sent several plants back to his home in Greenville, South Carolina in 1825. The poinsettia is not a poisonous plant. Research has proven that the poinsettia is not lethal to humans or pets unless eaten in extremely large amounts. However, your poinsettia and all other houseplants should be kept out of the reach of small children and pets since varying degrees of discomfort may be experienced if plant parts are ingested.
Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association represents the leading garden centres in Ontario. As one of the select garden centres which has achieved “Approved Member” status, we assure our customers receive a high level of service, a good range of quality plants and associated products, together with professional advice and information.