Poinsettias

Nothing says Christmas more than the poinsettias.  But do you know how a plant naive to Mexico became associated with Christmas?  Legend has it that when a poor Mexican child wanting to bring a gift to a church manger scene did not have any money for a gift.  After talking to an angel she picked some weeds which turned into beautiful red blooms of the poinsettia plant.

Poinsettia or Euphorbia pulcherrima need to have their moisture level checked often.  Plants in high light and low humidity may need water daily.  When the soil is dry to the touch water until water runs out the drain holes freely.  Poinsettias need plenty of light and warm humid temperatures.  In Hawaii I have seen these plants grow to six feet, the plant can get as tall as 16 feet.  I suggest purchasing new poinsettias every year.  Just getting the plants to survive till the next year is hard enough, but the process to create the red bracts is quite involved.  Many mistake the red bracts for flowers but they are actually modified leaves which turn red when they have 12 hours of darkness each day.