'Tis the Poinsettia Season!

Plants that are a seasonal are valued because they aren't constantly available. And fortunately there is a plant that brings bright, lush colors into your house at the time we need living color the most!

Native to Mexico, poinsettias are in the Euphorbia family and are a popular holiday plant because of their colorful bracts (leaves). There is also a species that is used as a cut flower. They are most commonly used for decorating during the winter holidays, but are also attractive as green plants throughout the year.

Poinsettias change color in response to shorter winter days. Poinsettia flowers are actually made up of the bracts, which look like petals, and the tiny yellow flowers in the center, called cyathia. The colorful bracts attract insects to the flowers and will drop after pollination.

How To Care For Poinsettias During The Holiday Season

1. First, take the foil off of the plant so that it can drain (if you're attached to the way the foil looks, just remove it from the bottom of the pot). Place the poinsettia on a saucer or plate. Then, you'll want to keep the soil moist. But don't overwater—you don't want standing water in your plant saucer.
2. Next, make sure you keep your new plant in a steadily cool but well-lit room, preferably in a window. Most modern poinsettias will keep their bright foliage until spring if they are given enough light. Selections with lighter leaves tend to last the longest. But don't place it anywhere that's drying, like near a fireplace, vent, or drafty door.
3. Do not fertilize during the holidays—wait until the plant is actively growing again.

Quick facts

• Poinsettias bloom when the days get shorter.
• The colorful “flowers” of poinsettias are actually modified leaves called “bracts.”
• Poinsettias grow well in moist soil and temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees F.
• They can be grown outdoors during summer.