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Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia)
![[Poinsettia]](poinsta.gif)
Genus = Euphorbia
Origin = Mexico
The favorite Christmas Poinsettia is a Mexican shrub that
can reach 6ft in its natural environment. Commercially grown for its
bright red bracts during the holiday season, it is sold between one
and two feet high in thick clumps. It is difficult to induce yearly
flowering indoors, but with extremely specific lighting conditions
yearly flowering can be coaxed.
Care and Requirements.
Origin = Mexico
The favorite Christmas Poinsettia is a Mexican shrub that can reach 6ft in its natural environment. Commercially grown for its bright red bracts during the holiday season, it is sold between one and two feet high in thick clumps. It is difficult to induce yearly flowering indoors, but with extremely specific lighting conditions yearly flowering can be coaxed.
Care and Requirements.
Light
Poinsettias require bright but indirect lighting, at least
six hours daily to maintain their bright coloring.
Optimum Temperatures
55F-72F. Allowing the temperature to drop 10 degrees every
night will help prolong the colorful bracts.
Water
Thoroughly soak the plant at each watering, and
allow the top 1/2 inch of soil to dry between waterings.
Propagation
As with many of the Euphorbias, the poinsettia has a
free flowing white latex sap. When taking cuttings, soak the
cuttings in water for a day to halt the flow of latex. Place the
cutting in a peat based potting mix, and cover with
plastic to maintain moisture. The thin, soft leaves will dry
out before the roots have formed if kept at normal room humidity.
Inducing Yearly Flowering
Once the seasonal bracts begin to fade and drop, cut the plant
down to 2-8in. Water regularly and fertilize every 2-3 weeks.
The plant will enjoy a summer outdoors as a patio plant. Once
night temperatures drop to below 50F, bring the plant indoors and
begin a strict lighting regimen of six hours of bright light during
the day, followed by fourteen hours of ABSOLUTE DARKNESS at night.
This is key, any unexpected exposure to light, even faint light,
during the dark periods will greatly reduce or halt flowering
altogether.
Additional Notes
Many people still consider the poinsettia poisonous, but the University
of Minnesota has apparently done studies that indicate the plant is
not harmful if ingested. I, the owner of plantkingdom.com, have
eaten two of the colorful bracts and felt no discomfort.
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