The Poinsettia is the Colorful Star of Christmas
You may be dreaming of a white Christmas, but you always want a bright array of beautiful colors, a green Christmas tree, colored lights and a lovely red poinsettia to go along with it.
You may not be able to control the weather and depending on where you live a white Christmas may be out of the question, but you can have all your colorful Christmas favorites including the beautiful "star of Christmas"-the poinsettia.
Poinsettias have long been the traditional Christmas flower gift of choice and are steeped in tradition as well as misconceptions.
For instance, many people mistakenly think that the beautiful large red parts of the poinsettia, known as bracts, are the flower of the plant.
In fact, these are really more like big red leaves and the actual "flowers" of the plant are the tiny little yellow nubs in the center of the poinsettia.
Of course, this lack of scientific knowledge has no bearing on a person's ability to enjoy the poinsettia, but another misconception may unnecessarily keep people from enjoying them-please note that poinsettias are not poisonous.
The history of the poinsettia is that it originated from Mexico and was "discovered" in 1828 by the US Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett who had a marked interest in botany.
He brought them back when he returned to the US and began to grow them in his greenhouse and share them as gifts for friends.
They first became available commercially in 1836 and fast became a Christmas tradition throughout the United States and then the world.
People associate the Poinsettia with Christmas because of its vibrant red color and its ability to bloom indoors all winter long.
Caring for your Poinsettia does require a little bit of work and attention to the plant.
First, it is important not to let your colorful Christmas star get too cold.
Your household temperature should not drop below 68° F and you should never place your Poinsettia near a window with a draft.
Next, you want to water your colorful star of Christmas carefully.
The poinsettia should never be allowed to sit in water and should be watered when the inch of the soil is dry to the touch.
You may plant your poinsettia outside after the danger of frost has past and cut off the all but the lower six inches.
If you bring the plant back inside before the first frost you may be able to bloom it again for next Christmas.
You may not be able to control the weather and depending on where you live a white Christmas may be out of the question, but you can have all your colorful Christmas favorites including the beautiful "star of Christmas"-the poinsettia.
Poinsettias have long been the traditional Christmas flower gift of choice and are steeped in tradition as well as misconceptions.
For instance, many people mistakenly think that the beautiful large red parts of the poinsettia, known as bracts, are the flower of the plant.
In fact, these are really more like big red leaves and the actual "flowers" of the plant are the tiny little yellow nubs in the center of the poinsettia.
Of course, this lack of scientific knowledge has no bearing on a person's ability to enjoy the poinsettia, but another misconception may unnecessarily keep people from enjoying them-please note that poinsettias are not poisonous.
The history of the poinsettia is that it originated from Mexico and was "discovered" in 1828 by the US Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett who had a marked interest in botany.
He brought them back when he returned to the US and began to grow them in his greenhouse and share them as gifts for friends.
They first became available commercially in 1836 and fast became a Christmas tradition throughout the United States and then the world.
People associate the Poinsettia with Christmas because of its vibrant red color and its ability to bloom indoors all winter long.
Caring for your Poinsettia does require a little bit of work and attention to the plant.
First, it is important not to let your colorful Christmas star get too cold.
Your household temperature should not drop below 68° F and you should never place your Poinsettia near a window with a draft.
Next, you want to water your colorful star of Christmas carefully.
The poinsettia should never be allowed to sit in water and should be watered when the inch of the soil is dry to the touch.
You may plant your poinsettia outside after the danger of frost has past and cut off the all but the lower six inches.
If you bring the plant back inside before the first frost you may be able to bloom it again for next Christmas.
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