Stop and Smell the Poinsettias

It’s the stuff legends are made of. A poor, young Mexican girl cries while walking to church on Christmas Eve. An angel appears, reminding her that any gift given with love is appreciated, so the girl gathers a bouquet of weeds. Entering the church, she places the weeds around the manger. Suddenly, the weeds burst into brilliant red flowers. Those magnificent blooms have blossomed into a multi-million dollar business – a miracle in itself for a plant with approximately a two-month selling window.

Poinsettia History Rich in Tradition

The poinsettia’s roots are firmly planted along the southern tip of Mexico, originating close to present-day Taxco, and northern sections of Central America. Aztecs viewed the plant as a symbol of purity and valued it for its multiple uses. The sap controlled fevers; leaves produced a red dye applied to cloth and makeup. During the 17th century, Catholic priests utilized the plant in religious services and considered the poinsettia to be a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem.

Poinsettias were not introduced to the United States until the 1820s. Joel Robert Poinsett, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, was interested in botany. While in Mexico, Poinsett stumbled upon beautiful shrubs with large red flowers – some ten feet tall – growing next to a road. He brought cuttings back to his home state, South Carolina. The plants thrived in Poinsett’s greenhouse and he began distributing cuttings to botanical gardens.

How did the plant acquire its name? According to the book, Conquest of Mexico, historian William Prescott outlined the discovery process and named the plant ‚”poinsettia” in honor of Ambassador Poinsett.

The plant wasn’t an instant holiday classic. More than a century passed before poinsettias became the premier Christmas symbol in America. Until the 1950s, roses were the holiday favorite. During the 1950s, several universities and commercial horticulture businesses set up poinsettia breeding programs. Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California, served as the primary breeder of the flower. Today, Ecke’s report 95 percent of poinsettias intended for the U.S. wholesale market and 90 percent of all flowering poinsettias in the world begin in their company’s hothouses.

Perfectly Pretty Poinsettia Types Available

“Poinsettias are a fickle plant,” noted Delroy Kumm, owner of O’Neill, Nebraska’s Shamrock Nursery.. ‚”They’re hard to grow and are labor intensive. The growing season depends on the weather.” Mild falls or early winters wreak havoc on the crop. Both owners agree that the high cost of energy affects production. ‚”The energy crunch two years ago really hurt,” Kumm reported.

A few pointers make selection an easy task. Kumm suggests first looking at the plant’s general appearance, making sure lower leaves are intact. Choose plants with dark green foliage down to the soil line. Blooms fade due to a lack of sunlight. so look for an intense red color.

Richard Cowhig, assistant professor of ornamental horticulture at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, believes consumers drive the industry by dictating the market and determining what colors sell. Women create the demand for more colors, shades, and styles. ‚”Women appreciate the ability to coordinate holiday decorating with their year-round home décor.”

Interestingly, a Penn State study draws correlations between people who purchase live or cut Christmas trees and people who purchase poinsettias. ‚”Women usually decorate for Christmas while men help select and put up the tree. People who put up artificial trees are not likely to buy fresh poinsettias,” stated Cowhig.

Thanks to breeding, multiple color choices abound. Over 100 varieties exist. What shade tops the sales chart? ‚”Unique reds such as plum pudding, Chianti, or burgundy sell. There are so many shades of red now compared to 20 years ago,” noted Cowhig. Breed names include holiday favorites: Jingle Bells, Candy Cane, and Nutcracker.

Poinsettias are patented plants. A royalty of four and one-half cents per plant is paid to the breeder. ‚”Growers don’t mind paying the royalty because the plant continues to improve,” asserted Kumm.

Painted poinsettias appear to be growing in popularity. Greenhouses use non-toxic paint and air brush bright colors onto the plant. Hot pink, deep purple, neon green, and bright blue are a handful of color options sold.

Poinsettia Care Tips

After selecting a plant, check the outdoor temperature before transporting it. If the temperature is below 40 degrees, wrap it in a plastic sleeve.

At home, caring for the plant is a painless process, even for those who lack a green thumb. Poinsettias require a lot of light or a bright room but keep the plant away from cold windows. Watering rates vary from every other day to every five days. The closer the plant is to a light or heat source, the more water is needed.

Fertilize the poinsettia if you plan on keeping it past the holidays, but do not apply fertilizer if it is blooming.

Once the holidays have passed, the plant can continue to bloom. ‚”It’s a short-day plant; it is day-length sensitive,” added Kumm. All-natural daylight followed by all-natural darkness works best.. When it’s dark outside, the plant needs to be in natural darkness. Avoid rooms with televisions or computers.

Poinsettia Myths and Truths

Contrary to urban legend, poinsettias are not poisonous. That idea developed in the early 1900s when a two-year-old child of a U.S. Army officer allegedly died after eating a poinsettia leaf. Eating too much of anything can be poisonous. An Ohio State University study concluded that a 50-pound child who ate 500 bracts might have a slight stomach ache.

Poinsettias won’t harm Fido or Whiskers either. According to the ASPCA, poinsettia ingestions cause only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, and may include drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Poinsettias do, however, contain a form of latex in the milky sap. Should people with latex allergies beware? According to the American Latex Allergy Association, a small drop from a broken leaf is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction; however, the group does suggest avoiding direct contact with poinsettia latex.

Whether you prefer your poinsettia painted or potted, the plant has sprouted its roots as a holiday tradition.