One of the first things I like to do when the holiday season rolls around is pick up a poinsettia.
To me, there is something so seasonal about it. The iconic red and green foliage screams Christmas. However, I can usually hardly keep it alive until the end of the year.
The plant’s English name comes from Joel Roberts Poinsett, a botanist and a minister who travelled to Mexico and is credited with introducing the plant to the United States in the 1820s. Every year in the U.S., approximately 70 million poinsettias of many cultivated varieties are sold in a six-week period.
Wild poinsettias grow from Mexico to southern Guatemala, growing on mid-elevation, Pacific-facing slopes. They were cultivated by the Aztecs for use in traditional medicine. The poinsettia is a shrubby type of tree in its native Central America. In the wild, it typically blooms in December, likely why it became known as a Christmas plant.
The coloured bracts—which are normally red are often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colours, but are actually leaves.
Experts say to keep your plant looking good the entire holiday season, it is important to buy a healthy one. Look for one with a bright centre and avoid any that are already shedding pollen. It is OK to peak under the plastic wrapping and see if any leaves are yellowing or dropping.
It is also important to protect it on the way home, especially in the chilly temperatures. Don’t let it sit in your car for too long. Once you are home, take it out of the plastic and the foil pot cover, which can make it hard for the water to drain. The plant likes sun and prefers consistent, light moisture.
So far, I’ve been doing well with my poinsettia this year but there is still time for me to kill it.
Another holiday plant I actually have great luck with, is the Christmas Cactus. I’ve had my plant for almost ten years. Horticulturists say that these plants can live up to 100 years.
The light pink flowers bloom a couple of times a year on my plant but always on cue at Christmas. These plants like bright, indirect light and don’t need to be watered a lot.
This is probably how I’ve been able to keep mine alive for so long. You only need to water the pot when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. And don’t let the plant sit in water.
Next year, I’m going to try to find a candy cane amaryllis. The forced bulb blooms in mid-winter and looks like a candy cane. The bulbs take about four to eight weeks to bloom, so it is best to buy and start one in November.
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