The red bracts of a poinsettia around its tiny cyathia. The key to getting your poinsettia to turn red (or to re-shade), is the elimination of light. Because you want to keep your poinsettia for a long time and encourage the leaves to turn red again the following season, choose carefully when buying the plant. In nature, these colorful bracts act like flower petals, serving to help attract pollinators to the plant’s very unassuming small flowers. If you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12, you can begin planting poinsettia outdoors. Ive nevver seen one as big as it. The color transformation of the plant’s lovely bracts occurs when the plants are given precise periods of complete darkness. Poinsettias have for a long time been a Christmas tradition, but the poinsettia has evolved way beyond the simple red-leafed plant we have come to know. The Poinsettia plant is a commercially important plant.The plant is native to Mexico and there are over 100 cultivated varieties. Throughout the daytime, your … So you’ve received a poinsettia plant over the holiday season, but what on earth are you to do next, now that the holidays are over? It derives from the diverse spurge family and is indigenous to Mexico. How long does a poinsettia plant live? When you see the first signs of green, you have to remove the cover. Thankfully, if you follow the poinsettia care tips below, you will not need to worry about anything going wrong. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. Within a six-week period leading up to Christmas, there are over 70 million poinsettias sold and nearly $250 million in poinsettia sales accounted for. mid-November) the poinsettia plant is the perfect first step to sprinkling a little festive joy in our homes. Importance of Poinsettia. If you take proper care of your poinsettia plant, it will last well beyond Christmas and into the next year. Traditionally grown as a potted plant, over time the plant grows 3 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 7 feet wide. Known as Christmas Stars, the Poinsettia is a staple Christmas plant for the home. It seems to be a little sturdier than some other poinsettias and is less likely to succumb to an early death than more traditional varieties. Poinsettia plants remain one of the most popular holiday plants, synonymous with Christmas decor and festive cheer.The familiar red plant, native to Mexico, has been joined by even flashier hues, thanks to hybridizers that have expanded the range of colors from the familiar scarlet to … Use a hormone rooting compound. These plats were sold as a potted plant throughout North America. Comments: The most unusual thing about this plant are the striking red bracts that subtend its clusters of flowers. As the the colourful flower bracts begin to fade after Christmas you can cut the plant back to those boring old green leaves below. It’s amazing how authentically festive any green plant can look with a couple of stems of red silk poinsettias stuck in the pot — at least for as long as that plant stays green. Today, the poinsettia is the most popular plant sold during the holidays and the best-selling potted plant in the United States. The importance of Poinsettia is high as its benefits are more and so are Poinsettia Facts.Every gardener must look for the required information on this plant before planting it. Some can hold their color for months instead of just a few weeks. If it has grown since the last check, trim the stems back down to 6 inches (15 cm) or to your desired size, leaving 3 or 4 new leaves on the stems. At that point, the poinsettia just becomes another green plant in the house without any festive colors. In summer it is time to fertilise the plant … It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas, floral displays. Screened-in patios and flower beds protected by tree cover can … In fact, poinsettia plants grow well all year round, and even thrive in warm summer conditions. Pinch small shoots off in order to encourage bushiness. The Poinsettia (Yellow) is considered a commercially important plant species of the varied spurge family. Poinsettia Plant. Here are some tips on how to keep your poinsettia beautiful year-round. Check on your poinsettia once a month. While it does have green leaves, the poinsettia also has modified leaves called “bracts,” which give us that bright holiday color we associate with it. If your plant starts to lose its leaves practically as soon as you bring it into your home, the level of carbon monoxide in your home may be too high. The red bracts of a poinsettia around its tiny cyathia. This helps keep the seeds moist before they germinate. To speed up germination, cover the pots with wet paper or a plastic dome. Ive kept the plant as it looked healthy. So take great care in keeping the plant in as much darkness as possible. The poinsettia is not a poisonous plant. Large, dark-green leaves and the brilliant shade of red make this the perfect Christmas decoration, especially if you line the pot in colors such as gold or silver. Your poinsettia needs about 8 hours of sunlight. This poinsettia has vivid lime green ‘petals,’ which grow in an upward direction to make an interesting-looking plant. The cost of this plant is around $33.88. The colorful bracts will last 4-6 weeks, but the plant itself can live for many years with proper care. When you're picking out poinsettias to decorate for the holidays, look for plants that have healthy green leaves; they shouldn't be curled, brown, or falling off the lower stem at all. Many people throw out their plant after the holidays anyway, so what is the point in keeping it if it wilts or loses its color? Also, check the real flowers in the center of the bracts. Often seen as a disposable plant, they are hardy and can be encouraged to flower again and even grown on through winter. A poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) will grow into a large shrub if transplanted outdoors in warm areas of the U.S. It is a lovely plant, and thrives in the Galapagos Islands and other areas of South America as well as south-eastern North American states. For those of us who just can't get enough of Christmas (hey, we also think it's totally acceptable to start blasting out Wham! Plant breeders have taken this species, Euphorbia pulcherrima, and created a gorgeous selection of cultivated poinsettias in various shades of red, pink, white, yellow – and even green. Place the plant in a partially-shaded area so it doesn’t overheat. The poinsettia (botanical name: Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important plant species. Larger seeds will need to be buried. How many hours of sunlight does a poinsettia need? The poinsettia is the canary in the coalmine of houseplants when it comes to carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, tasteless toxic gas, reacting well before humans show the slightest symptom. And some of these are variegated, with marbled, mottled, or speckled patterns. Well the plant is absolutly huge!! Let your poinsettia sit outdoors for a few hours on warm afternoons. 4. Poinsettia Care Tip 1. Research has proven that the poinsettia is not lethal to humans or pets unless eaten in extremely large amounts. In subtropical and warm temperate regions however, the green leaves will remain on the bush, giving the poinsettia its distinctive red and green Christmas colour scheme. With good care, a poinsettia plant can maintain its beauty for much longer than the Christmas season. However, your poinsettia and all other houseplants should be kept out of the reach of small children and pets, since varying degrees of discomfort may be experienced if plant parts are ingested. 89 $4.60 shipping Moreover, it is widely used in Christmas floral displays. With its striking red and green leaves and starry shape, it easily adds a Christmassy touch wherever it's featured. The lifespan of a poinsettia depends on what you are referring to and how you take care of it. The reduction in light prevents the plant from producing chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plant parts green. Learn How to grow Poinsettia plant, poinsettia care, Growing Poinsettia and more about plants in this article. Winter Rose White. In cooler climates… Although they originate from the tropics and subtropics, poinsettias will … It is often mistaken that the red/green bracts are its flower petals, but the flowers are actually the small green cups that only have either stamens or pistils, no other reproductive whorls. The importance of plants lies in their great contribution to human life and the environment. The poinsettia plants you purchase during the holiday season have been forced into bloom by growers in time for the festivities. It is indigenous to Mexico and particularly well known for its red and green vegetation. If that’s your experience, it’s time you learned about growing poinsettia plants outside. Many Americans only see poinsettia plants when they are wrapped in tinsel on the holiday table. The poinsettia (/ p ɔɪ n ˈ s ɛ t i ə / or / p ɔɪ n ˈ s ɛ t ə /) (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important plant species of the diverse spurge family (Euphorbiaceae).Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. In this regard, it resembles the well-known Christmas Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), although the latter tends to be even more showy.The Christmas Poinsettia is a much taller plant when it is full-grown (10' tall or more); it is from Mexico and not winter-hardy. With a creamy-white color and bright-green leaves, this poinsettia is beautiful and can match any other plant you put next to it. Poinsettia plants This Christmas, make a point of stopping in our greenhouse to see our different varieties of Poinsettias. zorpia Artificial Poinsettia Flowers - Set of 24 – 3 ¾” Lime Green Glittered Poinsettia Clip On Ornaments - Christmas Decorations - Decorative Floral Accessories(24, Lime Green) $15.89 $ 15 . The red “petals” we prize are actually leaflike bracts surrounding small, cup-shaped yellow blooms, although the bracts last longer than the tiny flowers. Propagate by stem cuttings in early summer. Poinsettia: Expert tips on caring for your poinsettia plant and extending its lifespan. Name: Rhys E-mail: Private Date posted: November 17, 2011 - 09:39 am Message: Hi, I moved in to a different house this time last year and the previous owner had left a poinsettia plant!! After planting seeds, you have to moisten the newly planted seeds. E. cyathophora — (summer poinsettia, wild poinsettia, painted leaf poinsettia) E. dentata — (green poinsettia) E. heterophylla — (desert poinsettia, wild poinsettia) E. pinetorum — (Everglades poinsettia) Cost of Poinsettia. The showy red, pink, white, or bicolored portion of the plant, popularly referred to as the flower, consists of modified leaves or bracts. Andy is a big fan of misting the Poinsettia leaves to keep up the humidity. Best Growing Conditions for Poinsettia Plant . Move the plant outside to a spot with indirect sunlight. Poinsettia Care Tip 2. Any artificial light can slow down the flowering process if the Poinsettia is exposed to it during its 14 hours of darkness. To make your Poinsettia turn red, put the plant from late fall onwards in a dark room after twelve hours of daylight and protect it from artificial light sources. Reblooming your Poinsettia. Poinsettias, Euphorbia pulcherrima, are attractive house plants with dark green leaves and leafy red ‘bracts’ that surround the green-yellow flowers in December and January. Watering, feeding, repeating Your poinsettia plant should have a rounded shape, with dense and compact growth. Native to Mexico, poinsettias can be tricky to keep alive after Christmas and most are thrown away after the red bracts have faded and the festivities have ended. It’s celebrated for its bold red and green foliage and is the UK’s number one houseplant … They’re commonly used to decorate the home at Christmas.