The Poinsettia – a reminder that Christmas is near

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

The poinsettia – a reminder that Christmas is near – or here !

Available in a slew of colors and shapes - poinsettia

Introduction

Euphorbia pulcherrima is a commercially important ornamental flowering plant. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays.

Picture of typical Mexican dry forest

Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia is a shrub or small trees up to 12 ft tall.It grows in dry tropical forest – not rainforest – a key to keeping one alive in your home !

typical shape tree with few leaves except at the tips

Care

For best results - water well and let it dry out thoroughly before watering again – but before it wilts. Keep the room warm, and give it a LOT of light – like a south or west window.

Toxicity

Though often stated to be highly toxic, the poinsettia is not that dangerous.However, consuming the plant most often results in nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. So in my book – keep away from children and pets !

milky sap

The milky sap can cause a skin irritation or dermatitis. It also dries to sticky rubber like compound which is impossible to wash off with soap and water.You need a solvent like acetone! I know….

Commercial production

In its natural habit its grows long stems and only forms floral bracts at the end.Because it tends to be leggy or lanky, commercial nurseries treat them chemically to keep them short.

Nursery with poinsettias

Reblooming one at home

I tried doing this ONCE (many years ago) and it felt like I was producing an Opera.

The poinsettia did give me some color in the bracts at the tip – but nothing like what you get from a nursery or grower.

But here goes….

At the end of September move the plants into a completely dark room (like a closet). You have to shield the plants from all light sources, including street and reading lights. Not even one night may you skip this.

Give the plants 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night.

Next day bring them out to the sunny spot they were growing in. Yes, really…

Keep the night temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit to help promote flowering. This may be difficult to do at home. Where do I find a dark cold closet near a sunny bright west window ?

Continue this short days and long nights treatment for seven to eight weeks. That’s TWO months of a daily moving back and forth. Ugh !

Once you see color forming in the bract tips, you can stop putting them in the dark place at night and leave them in the sunny window.

Like I said – Opera…

Palacio de Bellas Artes – Mexico City Opera House

Need some Holiday plants ?

Call us we know our Poinsettias !  

PLANT SPECIALISTSGREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

   Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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