Select A Healthy Poinsettia

Lovely decorations and popular gifts, poinsettias are sold at every garden center, plant nursery, corner florist, grocery store and who knows where else from about Thanksgiving through Christmas. With so many to pick from, it can be tough to decide which one to buy. Here’s how to purchase a good, healthy plant that will continue to look good for as long as possible.

Look for Fully Developed Color

Poinsettias are traditionally red, but modern breeding has brought us a variety of colors from silver to pink to coral. Look for deep, rich color. The existing color will fade over time — except for the new novelty painted or dyed poinsettias.

Look for Flowers and Buds

For long lasting color, your poinsettia plant should be fresh. Poinsettias get their brilliant color from the bracts (which are modified leaves.) The tiny true flowers (cyathia) are located at the center of the bracts. When in bloom, the yellow flowers open fully and then, when past their prime, they fall off. Select a plant whose flowers are just opening. This rule applies to many but not all cultivars; some newer varieties normally have very few cyathia.

Select Plants with Healthy Foliage

Poinsettia foliage should look perky and crisp with a uniform dark green color. The stems should be upright and sturdy with leaves on them all the way down to the bottom. Avoid plants with damaged, bruised, torn, wilted, yellowing or discolored leaves.

Better Store Care and Display Conditions

Look for poinsettias that have been well cared for by the retailer. The soil should not be dripping water, nor should it be dried out so much that the plants are wilting. Plastic shipping wrappers or sleeves should have been removed.

Avoid plants displayed in a cold or drafty spot. Poinsettias are damaged by temperatures below about 55 degrees and object to both warm and cold drafts. They drop their leaves in response to inappropriate temperatures.

Check for Insects

Check the poinsettia plant carefully for insects. There should be nothing flying around or crawling on them, no signs of webbing on the foliage. Fungus gnats, whitefly, and spider mites are not all that uncommon on poinsettias.

Transport with Care

Poinsettias are sensitive to cold and to temperature changes. If you live where the weather is cold, wrap the plant thoroughly and take it straight home. Do not put it in the unheated trunk for travel or leave it in a cold car while you run more errands.

Follow the above tips and take home a good quality, healthy poinsettia to enjoy throughout the holiday season.

More ideas for winter blooming flowers to grow indoors.

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