Poinsettias in January

Poinsettias in January?

Poinsettia plants add a bright spot of color into your Christmas home. But they don’t need to be thrown out in January! I have enjoyed poinsettia plants throughout the winter and even taken them outside in late spring to enjoy some more! Following are some fun facts and some plant care tips about poinsettias.

History: The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather flowers from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar.

Fun Fact: The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think of as the flowers are actually colored bracts, which are modified leaves.

To get the most enjoyment out of your poinsettia plant, you should give it a little attention. With these easy care steps, you will be able to enjoy it the whole winter!

Light: Place your plant in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day. If direct sunlight can't be avoided, diffuse the light with a shade or sheer curtain.

Water: Water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch. Don’t overwater your plant, or allow it to sit in standing water. It is important to always remove water standing in the saucer.

Temperature: Use a large, roomy shopping bag to protect your plant when transporting it. At near freezing or freezing temperatures, the plant is quite susceptible to cold injury. Don’t place plants near cold drafts or excessive heat. Avoid placing plants near appliances, fireplaces or ventilating ducts. Ideal temperature for poinsettia plants is 68 - 70 degrees. Don’t expose plants to temperatures below 50* F. Poinsettias are very sensitive to cold.

Feeding: Fertilize your plant AFTER THE BLOOMING SEASON with Schultz liquid houseplant fertilizer.

They get a bad rap: There is a common misconception that the poinsettia is highly toxic. POISINDEX, a major source for poison control centers, says a 50-pound child would have to eat 500 bracts to accumulate levels of toxins found to be harmful in experiments and an American Journal of Emergency Medicine study of 22,793 cases reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers showed no fatalities, and usually do not result in any type of medical treatment. The most common reaction is a mild rash from coming in contact with the sap from the plant.

Next year? In my opinion, keeping a poinsettia plant to enjoy year after year is not worth the time and trouble. It can be done, by keeping the plant on the dry side and storing it in a cook dark area part of the year, but I have never seen a second year plant be lush & full.

Another fun fact: In Mexico the poinsettia is a perennial shrub that will grow 10-15 feet tall.

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