Blog by Paula Pashby
In my last blog (Part 1 on the Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima), I was happy to report that Poinsettias are not a poisonous risk to humans and pets. I have since brought a beautiful Poinsettia to our home for the Christmas holiday season.
The plant was lovely for the first few days, and I was surprised to find it looking somewhat distressed on the third day: the leaves were wilting and falling off the plant. I went in search of the possible reasons for this change and hoped to find solutions.
Luckily, I was able to quickly identify the problem. I realized that I had placed the plant directly under a heater vent, which was causing quite a few issues. The temperature changes and exposure to the heat caused the plant leaves to drop.
Learning about the geographic origins gave me a better understanding of the needed care for preserving the longevity of a plant. The Poinsettia is native to the tropical dry forests of Mexico and Central America. The distinctly wet and dry seasons create a unique forest ecosystem in this region. The Poinsettia thrives under this forest canopy, which provides the plant with needed shade and humidity. Plus, these plants thrive in well-draining soil, regular rainfall, and warm temperatures (60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit).
I also learned some interesting history about the plant. It is known as the “cuetlaxochitl” by many people of Mexico, but is also referred to as a Poinsettia throughout the world. It turns out that this plant was named after the first U.S. Minister to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was a physician, politician, diplomat, and an enthusiastic botanist. While attending to his diplomatic duties in Taxco, Mexico, in the early 1800s, he became fascinated with the beauty of the plant. His Excellency Poinsett brought some of these plants home at the end of his tour in 1828. He used cuttings to clone the plant at his home greenhouses in South Carolina, which ultimately became popular throughout the country. A successful floral import-export executive, Robert Buist, introduced the plant in Europe in the 1830s and christened it “Euphorbia Poinsettia” in honor of his friend.
The Poinsettia became a popular potted plant for this holiday season. Unfortunately, sometimes the plant does not seem to last long with the winter weather. Given the natural environment of their native land, here are some tips for keeping your Poinsettia thriving through the holidays:
- Watering: Water when the soil feels dry at 1 inch below the surface, and make sure that the water drains through the pot’s drainage holes. Do not allow water to pool under the plant.
- Temperature: If possible, increase the humidity at the plant location and keep the room temperature between 60°F and 70°F. Keep away from heater vents or cold drafts (I learned this the hard way).
- Light: Provide bright, but indirect light. Placement near a window with a light sheer curtain is ideal.
- No Fertilizing until spring!
The Poinsettia is often treated as an annual (completes its life cycle in a single growing season). However, the Poinsettia is actually a perennial plant and can live for several years. The Poinsettia can flourish for up to 5 years, but I read that some have been known to live up to 20 years with proper care!
I learned more than I expected about this plant and maybe enough for a Part 3 to this blog, hmmm...
I hope you had a Happy Holiday!