The Poinsettia

• Posted on 4 December 2024
• By Annelies
• 0

I'm really looking forward to Christmas, have you got the decorations ready yet? That Poinsettia will remain a thing for a while, because you see it everywhere during the holidays. Will you also have it at home this Christmas?

The Poinsettia is the flower of the month of December!

I'm really looking forward to Christmas, have you got the decorations ready yet? That Poinsettia will remain a thing for a while, because you see it everywhere during the holidays. Will you also have it at home this Christmas?

The flower for the month of December can of course be nothing other than the poinsettia. Not only is it a very popular potted plant, but its striking, beautiful red, white and green colors make it automatically associated with Christmas. The Poinsettia provides color and cheerfulness in the run-up to the dark days before Christmas.

A bit of history

The plant is native to Mexico and Central America. The Poinsettia owes its popularity to Joel Poinsettia, this man was the first ambassador for the United States in Mexico. About 200 years ago he found the plant and sent some specimens to his native country for research. Hence the Latin name Poinsettia. About 100 years later we see the first plants appear in Europe. Here they were given the botanical name Euphorbia Pulcherrima or simply Euphorbia.

Symbolism of the Poinsettia

The symbolism of the Poinsettia is of course primarily about celebration. Because the shape of the plant closely resembles a star, the Euphorbia is often associated with the original Christmas story. Furthermore, it represents celebration, hope for the future and purity. Aren't those really nice things to bring into your home during the holidays? Or if you give the poinsettia as a gift, it represents love and happiness.

How do you recognize the Poinsettia?

The brightly colored leaves at the top of the plant may look like a flower, but are actually just bracts. The real flower is yellow or green and is very small. It is hidden in the heart of the leaves and is not really noticeable. The Poinsettia is originally a subtropical plant, so if the temperature drops below 10 degrees, you will see that the plant wilts quickly. So be careful. Do not water them too much, the soil must be slightly moist, otherwise the plant will wilt quickly.

Care

The poinsettia is a little diva, especially during the Christmas period. She does not like drafts, low temperatures, dark corners and dry heating air. That is why caring for your poinsettia during the dark months is a little more difficult, especially when the plant is exposed to cold drafts while ventilating the room.

Therefore, choose a bright spot for your plant with a temperature of 17 to 22°C. If the poinsettia is near a window that is regularly open to ventilate the room, it is better to place the plant in a different (sheltered) spot. Cold drafts are undesirable for the poinsettia.

As soon as temperatures rise and summer is around the corner, you can place the poinsettia outside in a sunny or semi-shady spot, sheltered from rain. There the plant can enjoy the sun in good weather until late summer. As soon as the temperature drops below 10°C, the frost-sensitive plant should be placed indoors again. The plant may be able to tolerate short periods of cold, but you must still be careful if you want to enjoy the plant for a long time. By September at the latest, the plant needs at least 12 hours in the dark so that it can bloom again in winter.

Let the poinsettia bloom again

If you bought a poinsettia last year and want it to bloom again this year, you should place the plant in a dark place for at least 12 hours at the end of September at the latest. For example, a room that is only illuminated by daylight and where no artificial light is switched on is ideal. Just think of an unused storage room or guest room. The plant needs this to bloom on time in December and to form the colorful bracts. If artificial light from the hallway or a street lamp unintentionally shines on the plant, all effort will be in vain.

Do you share your home with curious children's hands or hungry pets? Then be careful when placing your poinsettia. The trunk and stems of this plant contain a “white sap” that can be very irritating to the skin and stomach of humans and animals. It is therefore better to place it just out of the reach of children and animals.

Of course you can also order this beautiful poinsettia safely and quickly online at firenzebloemen.be. The flowering time of this plant coincides with the Christmas period. Send the plant and give them a little luck.