Poinsettia
The Latin name of the poinsettia is euphorbia pulcherrima, which means very beautiful. Here, it is not the flower itself that attracts attention but the large, red bracts. The flower is the small yellow buds in the center. Together, the leaves form a shape reminiscent of a star. Poinsettia originates from Guatemala and Mexico, but today it is found all over the world.
Care of the poinsettia
You can grow poinsettia from seed but it is not very common to do so. Poinsettias in the trade are cuttings sold as young seedlings in the store. Place your poinsettia in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight. Poinsettias are sensitive to cold and drafts. Don't put it too close to windows or doors. It is also important that it is protected from the cold during transport from the shop. Water your poinsettia regularly with room temperature water. Once a week is usually enough. If you have the pot on a tray, water from below. Don't give too much water each time, the soil should not be wet. If you water a poinsettia too much, the bulb can rot, especially if the soil is not well-drained enough. Here are a few more tips for those who want their poinsettias to thrive as much as possible:
- Give the poinsettia liquid nutrition for flowering plants during flowering.
- Cut back wilted parts when they have finished flowering.
- Prune the flower in spring.
A poinsettia needs long nights
Poinsettia is a so-called short-day plant. This means that it needs at least 12 hours of darkness per day. If it doesn't get that, no new bracts will form. To mimic the natural conditions of the poinsettia, we in Sweden may need to put the flower in a dark place or cover it with something to extend the night. That said, the poinsettia can be left outside over the summer, in a sheltered spot. It's mainly from October onwards that it needs long nights to grow properly.
How to decorate with poinsettias
A beautiful pot with a flowering poinsettia is in itself a very beautiful Christmas decoration. The poinsettia also has a long shelf life as a cut flower in a vase. Dip a cut stem in 60 degree water and the milky sap will stay in the stem. If you want to go the extra mile, you can create a table decoration combining a poinsettia with large pine cones, ivy and moss, for example. Hanging a poinsettia in a wreath is an easy way to create an unusual decoration. Although many people want red poinsettias as part of their Christmas decoration, the flower is available in several colour variations. For example, the leaves can be pink, white or purple. There are also striped and marbled leaves.
Is poinsettia poisonous?
The stems and leaves of the poinsettia can give off a white, sticky milky sap. It can irritate the eyes and skin. A safety precaution is to wear gloves when handling the plant. Also, make sure that children and pets do not touch it. If ingested, poinsettia can cause nausea but there are no known cases of serious poisoning symptoms.
Author: Johanna DammFact checked by Erik HoekstraLast updated 2023-12-04
