Poinsettias have been a Christmas staple in the U.S. for nearly 200 years, but that doesn’t mean everyone knows how to take care of these tropical flowers.
It’s estimated that roughly 35 million potted poinsettias are sold in the U.S. each year. Some folks are content with keeping the iconic red flower for only a few weeks each holiday season while others have mastered keeping the poinsettias alive long enough for it to rebloom the next year.
If you’re aspiring to be a poinsettia “plant parent,” there are a few things you’re going to need to know before you visit your local flower shop or nursery.
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“Unlike cut flowers, houseplants don’t have an expiration date, which is one of the many reasons we love them,” said Erin Marino, editorial lead at The Sill – a direct-to-consumer plant company. “Popular holiday houseplants like vibrant poinsettias and miniature evergreens can survive long after the holiday season is over.”
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), also known as the Christmas Star flower, is a vibrant red flower that’s native to Mexico and Central America. The plant was popularized in the U.S. by Joel R. Poinsett, an American physician and diplomat who brought the plant stateside in the late 1820s while he was a minister to Mexico.
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Marino told Fox News that poinsettia owners mainly need to monitor these holiday flowers for sunlight, temperature, watering and trimming.
“Poinsettias prefer medium to bright indirect light. Keep them on a windowsill to give them the most amount of daylight possible, especially during the winter when the sun sets earlier,” Marino said. “If your home lacks natural light, you can try placing your plant directly under a fluorescent lamp or plant grow light during the day.”
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Since poinsettias are native to Mexico and Central America, the plant thrives in warm climates.
“Be mindful…
Source : foxnews
