A story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl
who had no gift to present the Christ Child on
Christmas Eve. As Pepita walked to the church
with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with
sadness. “I am sure, Pepita, that even the
most humble gift, if given in love, will be
acceptable in His eyes,” said Pedro. Not knowing what else to do, Pepita
knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning
them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt
sadder than ever. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village
church. As she approached the alter, she remembered Pedro’s kind words:
“Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes”
She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity
scene.
Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and
all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle
right before their eyes. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known
as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they
bloomed each year during the Christmas season.
Poinsettia Facts
There are several misconceptions about this wonderful plant.
First of all, POINSETTIAS ARE NOT POISONOUS! This folk tale has hounded
poinsettias for more than 75 years. While these plants are not salad food,
extensive studies have proven that they are not poisonous to humans or
animals. Like most members of the Euphorbia clan, they do have a milky
sap that can be irritating to the skin. Another misconception about
poinsettias is that the red leaves are their flowers. Actually, they are
simply colored leaves called “bracts” and the insignificant yellow buds
in the center are the actual flowers.
Poinsettia Care
Over the years, plant breeders have brought us lots of
wonderful new improvements on the original plant.
You can now choose from some of the most
incredible shades of red, pink, marbled, yellow and
white. They have also developed plants that will bloom
as early as November 1 and plants that are much more
compact. Modern poinsettias hold their green leaves and
colored bracts, and seldom drop if they are handled properly. To select a
healthy, beautiful poinsettia, look for lots of dark green foliage, even
down low. Choose plants that already have lots of color, since it won’t
develop much more color in your home unless you have lots of light. The
yellow flowers in the center of the colored bracts should be small and
bright. Bachman’s expert growers have constantly monitored the crop
so you are assured that they are insect free.
Tips for Growing Healthy Poinsettias
Poinsettias need good strong sunlight to develop their color while they are
being grown, but blooming plants will maintain good color in strong indirect
light. For example, most kitchens are brightly lit, but most dining and living
rooms have medium to low light. Keep the soil evenly moist and do not allow
water to stand in the saucer or the sleeve. Indoors, this might require
watering 2 or 3 times a week. Decrease water after blooming so the plants
are dry between watering. Poinsettias prefer 60-70º once the color has
developed. Be sure to protect them from even a hint of colder temperatures.
Avoid placing poinsettias in drafty or hot areas; keep them away from heat
vents and cold drafts. They will benefit from daily misting when kept in a warm room. Only spray the green leaves, dissolved water mineral can
spoil the colored bracts. While they are blooming, feed poinsettias with a
water soluble or liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks, diluted according to
directions. Decrease the fertilizer after blooming. Poinsettias should stay in the same pot until spring and can be transplanted to a slightly larger pot.
Use Bachman’s Mighty Earth® Potting soil when transplanting. If the plant
will be growing outdoors, they should be repotted again in July.
Re-blooming poinsettias can be done, but it isn’t easy without greenhouse
conditions. Triggering it into bloom again requires growing and pinching it
at various stages as well as a precise cycle of moving it in and out of
the dark in the fall to trigger blooming. See: Quick tips for
re-blooming poinsettia (below)
Quick Tips for Re-blooming Poinsettias
January thru May
Provide strong light all day and keep it barely moist. Fertilize every two
weeks. Transplant middle of March. Prune to 6-8 inches tall around April 1.
June thru early September
Transplant again the early July. Move the plant outdoors when night
temperatures are above 62ºF. Provide 6-8 hours direct sun. Keep moist.
Fertilize every week.
Late July
Prune 2” to 3” of tip growth.
Mid September
Take the plant inside in early September when night temperature fall below
60ºF. Provide strong light all day. Keep moist. Fertilize every week.
Early October thru Thanksgiving
Days: 10 hours strong light, keep moist, keep warm.
Nights: 14 hours of complete uninterrupted darkness.
Keep cool with temperatures of around 65ºF. Continue fertilizing weekly.
Around Thanksgiving
As soon as the bracts develop some color, discontinue day/night treatment.
Provide bright light. Keep moist.
For more information on re-blooming poinsettias, click here.
Tips
• Don’t forget to put winter cover on tender perennials.
• Don’t forget to wrap young trees to prevent sunscald.
• If you see rabbits in the yard they will be eating all winter, protect
valuable plants with a chicken wire barrier.
• Large arborvitae can split over winter from snow and ice accumulation;
wrap them now with bird netting to prevent winter damage.
• Sprinkle grass seed down now to do dormant seeding, the idea is to do
like nature and let seed sit all winter and grow naturally in the spring.
Note: Birds and animals will eat some grass seed so add a little
more to thin areas.
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh floral arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding floral design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh floral arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
