The Poinsettia, a vibrant red flower that graces our Christmas décor, has a rich history of cultivation and symbolism, beginning with the ancient Aztec people of Mexico, where it thrives as a tall perennial shrub, often growing over 10 feet in height in its native environment. Poinsettias have since become one of the most popular blooming houseplants to celebrate the Christmas season, with an estimated 35 million sold annually as gifts and décor.
The ancient Aztec people of Mexico cultivated this plant and saw it as a symbol of purity long before the arrival of Christianity in the Western Hemisphere. They called it cuetlaxochitl, which translates to “mortal flower that perishes and withers like all that is pure.” The red bracts were used to make dyes for fabrics and milky sap served as medicine to treat a variety of ailments. In the 17th century, the Poinsettia was adopted in the Fiesta of Santa Pesebre, a nativity procession, since it naturally blooms during the Christmas season.
Poinsettias were introduced to the United States in the early 1800s when Joel Robert Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to Mexico and an avid botanist, encountered the striking red blooms of the Poinsettia during a visit to Taxco. Captivated by the plant's beauty, he propagated it and began growing it in his South Carolina greenhouse, where he continued to cultivate and share this beautiful holiday plant, which was later named in his honor. Since then, nurseries have continued to cultivate the Poinsettia plant, with other 100 varieties now available. You can find them in a range of bloom colors, shapes, and sizes. New trends in the market include marbled, speckled, and dyed Poinsettias—even blue!
Did you know the colored part of the Poinsettia is not a flower? They are bracts, or modified leaves, that change color with shorter days and longer nights. Poinsettias require at least twelve hours of darkness for eight to twelve weeks before the bracts change color. The little yellow buds at the base of the bracts are the true flowers on the plant.
If you wish to enjoy your Poinsettia for weeks beyond the holiday season, provide your plant with an ideal growing environment using these simple tips:
Provide bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid areas with a draft (cold or warm) like windows, doors, or vents. Plants need at least six hours of sunlight per day.
Display in a cool room for the longest life. The ideal indoor temperature is 60–70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Warmer indoor temperatures will cause the plant to decline sooner.
Water the soil surface when it feels dry. Check soil moisture by inserting a finger 1 inch deep into the soil. With too much, or not enough water, plant leaves will turn yellow and drop from the plant. If plants are in a decorative foil wrap, temporarily remove the wrap to let excess water drain from the plant base. Poinsettia roots easily rot if they are oversaturated with water, but the plant will wilt from a lack of water.
Protect the plant while outside, if transporting for holiday gatherings, and limit the time it sits in a car. Poinsettias do not tolerate cold temperatures. Cold temperatures for just a few minutes can damage the foliage and cause leaf drop.
Make the most of this holiday season by cherishing time with family and friends, and, of course, tending to your beloved Poinsettia plant.