Gardening With Brenda

The Christmas Flower

By Brenda Powell

POINSETTIAS ARE ARGUABLY THE FLOWER MOST ASSOCI-

ATED WITH CHRISTMAS. Amaryllis, holiday cactus and cut red roses may be favored by some but when the sea of red, pink, and white poinsettias arrive at the nursery, I can’t resist purchasing at least one or two. Some say that the star-shaped bracts on this native of Mexico are symbolic of the star of Bethlehem. Then there’s the legend of the poinsettia: a little girl, lacking money for a gift, picked weeds to take to church on Christmas Eve. When she placed them at the nativity scene, they transformed into beautiful red poinsettias. To me poinsettias are simply beautiful, colorful, traditional decorations.

The colorful part is not the flower, it’s a “bract” or modified leaf. The true flower is the small yellow center of the red, pink, or white bract. The propagators continue breeding them and they are available in peach, burgundy, true pink, pure white, speckled, and with variegated leaves. Growers now use plant-safe spray paint to turn white bracts into “Fantasy” poinsettias in all sorts of unnatural colors. I must admit I’m fond of the turquoise ones! Care: They look best the longest if they are in a sunny window at 55-70 degrees. Avoid placing them near heaters, drafts, or cold air vents. Poinsettias prefer to be lightly and evenly moist. Do not let them dry to the point of wilting but don’t overwater either. One grower stated it best, “If your plant feels heavy when you pick it up and the soil looks dark and moist on top, it does not need water. If it is light when you lift it and the soil looks light and dry on top, it needs water. If it is in-between those two extremes wait and check it again the next day.” Also, if the plant is in festive wrapping, sitting in a saucer or cachepot with no drainage, make sure to go back after watering and empty the water that has drained out. You do not need to fertilize them while they bloom.

The gorgeous, large bracts we enjoy during the holidays are difficult to replicate but if you want to keep a poinsettia, cut it back in March or April to 4-6 inches. Water and fertilize as you would any other plant. They can rebloom if they receive 14 hours of continuous darkness a day between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15.

Best wishes for healthy, happy gardening in 2022.

Brenda

www.garlandnursery.com

Brenda Powell is a fourth generation owner of Garland Nursery in Corvallis.

Follow her writing at garlandnursery.wordpress.com