The poinsettia, or /pnsti/ or /pnst/, is a flower. (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a species of commercial importance in the extensive spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The poinsettia, a native of Mexico and Central America, was first mentioned by Europeans in 1834. It is popularly used in Christmas floral displays and is especially well-known for its red and green foliage. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first American ambassador to Mexico, is credited with bringing the plant to the US in the 1820s, giving it its popular English name. Poinsettias are 0.64 m tall shrubs or tiny trees (2.013.1 ft). Despite sometimes being said to be highly harmful, pets and children are not at risk[3] from poinsettias. Although the plant can produce nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, exposure to it or even intake frequently has no noticeable effects[4]. [3]
Wild poinsettias can be found growing on mid-elevation, Pacific-facing slopes from southern Guatemala to Mexico. Though far further inland, one group in the Mexican state of Guerrero is regarded to be the parent of most cultivated populations. Due to the extensive and generally unchecked destruction occurring in their habitat, wild poinsettia populations are greatly dispersed. The Aztecs raised them in order to use them in their traditional medicine. They were connected to the Christmas season and are well-liked seasonal accents. In the US, more than 70 million poinsettias of various grown types are sold during a six-week period each year. Paul Ecke Ranch, which supplies 70% of the US market and 50% of the global market, grows a lot of these poinsettias.
What is Euphorbia pulcherrima’s scientific name?
While Euphorbia pulcherrima is most often known to us as a poinsettia, it also goes by the names Mexican flaming leaf and painted leaf. In 1825, Joel Roberts Poinsett served as the first American ambassador to Mexico. While he was there, he shipped some Euphorbia pulcherrima plants back to South Carolina, where the plants were raised despite having a brief flowering season. The plants were given the name poinsettia as a tribute to the person who first popularized their cultivation.
There are numerous succulent plants in the huge plant genus Euphorbia, however Euphorbia pulcherrima is an evergreen shrub that blooms in the winter and is not succulent. It blooms in December in its native Mexico and reaches a height of around three meters. It contains small, yellow flowers, as is typical for the genus, but what really draws the eye are the bright-red, leaf-like bracts that surround the petals.
Compared to the plants we see now in culture, wild Euphorbia pulcherrima is a lanky shrub that is reluctant to branch and has comparatively little bracts. Thus, it mostly remained unchanged until the 1960s, when efforts were made to create cultivars with short branches. Chemicals are also employed to maintain the plants’ more manageable 30–60 cm height for pot growing. There are cultivars with red, pink, cream, white, double, and marbled bracts available, and some novelties may only be a few centimeters high.
Another crucial aspect of cultivating Euphorbia pulcherrima is understanding that it requires short days. This means that from October until late November, it requires about 14 hours of complete darkness without any artificial light. The dark treatment can now be stopped, and the flowers and bracts should begin to bloom. This can be done at home, but the plant is likely to grow larger because it hasn’t been chemically treated to shorten its height. It also needs to be cut back in the spring to encourage new growth. Poinsettias should not be kept near a window since they despise cold drafts in particular, nor should they be overwatered or left in the dark. Both of these conditions can result in wilting and leaf drop.
In its native country, churches have been decorated with Euphorbia pulcherrima, and the Aztecs used the milky sap and leaves to colour garments and treat illnesses. Of course, it is significant commercially now when used as a Christmas pot plant.
2003. Tropical blooming plants, Albrecht Llamas K. a manual for cultivation and identification. Wood Press.
Light
The majority of houseplants, including the poinsettia, are tolerant of and even appreciate the meager Winter sunshine. If that is not possible, a location with good lighting is required.
Darker patches are OK for a week at most. At all other times of the year, stay out of direct sunlight because it can easily scorch the leaves.
Winter sun is beneficial, but for the greatest effects, strive to supply bright indirect light.
Watering
Overwatering a poinsettia is one of the most common ways to harm it. It doesn’t require as much water as you may imagine, and most indoor plants only require a little amount over the winter. Of course it needs some to survive, but hold off on extensively watering again until the soil’s surface has dried out.
You won’t likely need to water your plant more frequently than once every seven days or so if the temperature and lighting requirements mentioned on this page are met.
Feeding
Feeding can be completely ignored if you only intend to keep your poinsettia through Christmas or until the beginning of the following year. You should feed it several times with a general fertilizer during the spring and summer if you want to maintain it alive for a longer period of time.
Temperature
Your plant can withstand low temperatures, but even a slight frost will destroy it. When in bloom, a constant temperature of no more than 22C (71F) is ideal. Also, be sure to keep it far from hot heaters and fires.
Repotting
If you wish to preserve your poinsettia after the flowers have faded, trim the stems back to approximately 10 cm (4 inches) in the spring and replant them in a new pot with new potting soil.
Propagation
This is very challenging. No, it’s actually fairly simple because you can take stem cuttings without any difficulty. The issue is that if the cuttings “take,” you will end up with a houseplant that lacks the initial compact attractiveness and is lanky in appearance.
Similar to the chrysanthemum, this houseplant is another one that loses some of its original beauty when cultivated indoors. Grafting and chemical treatments have been used to create its aesthetically pleasing appearance and diminutive stature. Purchasing extra plants is the best course of action if you desire new ones.
Speed of Growth
The poinsettia is typically not growing in your home because it is frequently a Winter houseplant. However, if you keep it around at other times of the year, it will grow, and if it is properly cared for, this growth can happen very quickly.
Height / Spread
Poinsettias up to 2.1 meters (7 feet) tall and equally wide can be found. It’s much more likely that you are familiar with plants that are either extremely small, possibly no taller than 20 centimeters or 8 inches, or extremely large, possibly no taller than 60 centimeters or 24 inches. However, practically all commercially produced poinsettias are dwarfed and compact.
Flowers
Poinsettias may feature flowers, but their leaves are what really make them stunning. The actual blooms are tiny and occur at the top of the leaf bracts; yet, they are generally relatively common and unimpressive. If you want to see a close-up shot of the genuine blossoms, check out the gallery photos.
Is pulcherrima an evergreen Euphorbia?
The potted plant known as a poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is offered for sale all over North America. It is a perennial flowering shrub that grows in its natural subtropical habitat. People often admire the plant’s brightly colored bracts, which are actually modified leaves. In cultivation are more than 100 different types.
German botanist Wilenow is credited with naming the poinsettia. When he noticed its dazzling color blooming through a crack in his greenhouse, he named it Euphorbia pulcherrima, which means “extremely lovely.”
The plant’s common name, Joel Roberts Poinsett, was given to it in his honor. He carried a lot of cuttings home to his greenhouse while serving as the American ambassador to Mexico. The most well-liked of them all was the poinsettia.
Is pulcherrima an evergreen euphorbia?
Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia), a common Christmas decoration, is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub distinguished by its brilliant red, pink, or cream leafy bracts (modified leaves), which open from winter to spring. In the middle of the vibrant bracts, little cup-shaped yellow flowers bloom, offering a beautiful touch. After pollination, the bright bracts will fall off. Pick plants with little to no yellow pollen showing for the Poinsettias that will last the longest. Large, oval, bluntly toothed leaves are present. Poinsettias, which are native to Mexico, require a consistent temperature of about 18 °C (55 °F) in order to color up effectively. They are not frost-tolerant. The most popular Christmas plant and best-selling potted plant in the United States and Canada, poinsettias are often grown as potted plants. Poinsettias are available in more than 100 different types.
- reaches heights of 3–10 feet (90–300 cm) and widths of 3–7 feet (90-210 cm). It rarely grows taller than 2-3 feet in a potted environment (60-90 cm).
- It prefers loamy, neutral to alkaline, well-drained soil and does well in either full sun or light shade. In Hawaii, poinsettia is allegedly invasive.
- Ideal as an indoor plant, an informal hedge in frost-free climates, or patio containers.
- The poinsettia can withstand dryness and is resistant to deer and rabbits.
- Watch out for scale, red spider mites, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Overwatering can also cause root or stem rots. When the soil is dry, only water your poinsettia.
- In the spring, harden the pruning to a depth of about 4 inches (10cm). Repot the plant and grow it in a bright area at 60 to 65 oF during the summer (15-18oC).
- Short winter day lengths, which occur naturally in winter, are the catalyst for flowering and bract colour. Chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plant parts their green color, cannot be produced by the plant as a result of the light shortage. Put your poinsettia in a dark place after 12 hours of daylight starting in late October and shield it from artificial light sources to help it turn red.
- Take stem cuttings in the early summer and multiply. Utilize a hormone-rooting agent.
- There is no toxicity in poinsettias. However, ingesting any component could be uncomfortable, and coming into contact with the milky sap could irritate your skin and eyes.
How is pulcherrima Euphorbia cared for?
Light: Bright, indirect light is ideal for poinsettia growth. While some early sun is acceptable, intense midday sun can diminish the color of the bracts.
Thoroughly water the soil, then wait between applications to let the top of the soil dry off. To enable for effective drainage, remove the ornamental foil. If the soil is excessively wet, this plant is susceptible to root rot.
Room humidity is generally high (around 40 percent relative humidity). Winter can cause indoor air to become incredibly dry; have a look at these simple methods to raise humidity for your tropical plants.
Average room temperatures range from 60 to 75 F (15 to 24 C). It dislikes cold drafts coming in through windows and doors. If exposed to temps below 50F/10C, its leaves may fall off.
Fertilizer: While not typically required, if the poinsettia is retained for another season, it will benefit from a high-phosphorus fertilizer that has been diluted by half every two weeks.
Take 3-inch (7.5-cm) stem tip cuttings when new growth begins in the spring or the first few weeks of the summer. By soaking the cut end of a cutting in water before planting it, you can block the milky sap from oozing from the cut.
What is the name of the Christmas plant?
- The vibrant “flowers” of poinsettias are actually “bracts,” which are modified leaves.
- In moist soil with temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, poinsettias thrive.
- They are capable of summertime outdoor cultivation.
- Despite the sap’s potential to induce dermatitis, poinsettias are not harmful.
Poinsettias are a popular Christmas plant that are native to Mexico and are members of the Euphorbia family (leaves). Another species is one that is grown for cut flowers. Although they are most frequently utilized for holiday decorating, green plants are very lovely all year round.
The shorter winter days cause poinsettias to change color. Bracts, which resemble petals, and the little yellow flowers in the center, known as cyathia, make up the genuine poinsettia flower. After pollination, the brightly colored bracts that drew insects to the flowers will fall off.
Animal or human health are not negatively impacted by poinsettias. But you shouldn’t consume them.
- When working with these plants, it is advised to use gloves because the white, sticky sap can give you a skin rash.
- Avoid making eye and tongue contact.
- Tools can become sticky from the sap, so wash them thoroughly after use.
Can I grow poinsettias all year long?
Mexican natural plants include poinsettias. Because they are short-day plants that need lengthy evenings to initiate their color shift, they flourish throughout the holiday season. These plants have colorful bracts, which are actually leaves, not flowers, with red being the most typical bract color. The bracts’ red or green buttons in the middle are the flower buds, which open to reveal a little yellow flower. Healthy poinsettias have foliage all the way down to the base and dark green leaves beneath the bracts. Your poinsettia can enliven your home for months if given the right attention and care. Observe these suggestions.
When moving the plants, in particular, keep them from freezing. Put them in a well-lit area that is free from drafts. At night, they prefer temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees, and during the day, 65 to 70 degrees. Poinsettias should not be kept in chilly areas or exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the soil is dry 2 to 3 inches down, water poinsettias. The plants are quite susceptible to overwatering, and if kept too wet, root rot will appear soon. Thoroughly wet the pot, letting extra water run off into the sink.
To keep plants healthy throughout the holidays, apply an all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer once a week. Reduce watering and fertilizer once the bright bracts have fallen off to give the plants time to recover. Only a few leaves should be left on the poinsettia after trimming it back.
Poinsettia bracts can be kept alive until about March or April with the right care. Cut the plant back after they start to fall, leaving around six buds. The plant will resemble a stick for the first several weeks after planting. It will start to leaf out again in May if you continue to water and fertilize it as previously.
When the risk of a freeze has passed in the spring, poinsettias can be moved outside for an intriguing, uncommon outdoor plant. The plant can be used all summer long if it is placed in a shaded area.
Cut the plant back in mid-July and early-September to encourage branching if you want to keep it small and compact.
Put the plant in complete darkness as soon as the sun goes down, starting on October 1st, giving at least 14 hours of darkness. The plant can either be covered with a bag or left in a closet all day. It will begin to turn color by the end of November, allowing you to enjoy it for another season.