The Walleye Magazine

LET'S GET GROWING

By Hedy Koski

This iconic Christmas plant has been given and received by many in December. It is no wonder why—the beautiful bright colours tell us the most wonderful time of the year is near. Christmas!

Fun fact: what we call poinsettia flowers (those coloured parts of the poinsettia) are actually called bracts (modified leaves). The flowers of the poinsettia are the tiny clusters of yellow, green, and red in the centre of those colourful leaves.

In the past, poinsettias have had a bad rap for being deadly if eaten. There have been studies that have since proven it is not fatal if eaten, but this plant may still cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea if consumed in large quantities. As well, the milky sap contains chemicals that may cause a rash in people with a latex allergy.

When it comes to caring for your poinsettia I want you to keep in mind it’s like any tropical plant you have in your home, but with a few diva-like qualities. One thing for sure is you need to protect your poinsettia from extreme cold when transporting it from where you purchased it to its destination. It may be a Christmas plant, but it cannot handle cold temperatures at all!

If you’re like me, you enjoy giving and receiving your poinsettia with pretty wrapping on the pot. I have decorated many poinsettias in my career. But with this beautiful decoration, you will have to keep checking that your plant has no water accumulating in the wrapping, which will quickly kill your poinsettia well before Christmas even arrives.

There is no need to fertilize your poinsettia while it is blooming. If you intend to keep your poinsettia beyond just being a Christmas decoration, start fertilizing your poinsettia in the spring with a well-balanced organic or synthetic fertilizer of your choice.

Nothing says Christmas quite like a poinsettia, They’re beautiful and festive.

“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!”

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2022-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

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