More About Poinsettias

The fire-engine red Euphorbia pulcherrima boldly announces that the holidays have arrived each year.  Most of us simply call it the Poinsettia, but the plant is also known as Zack Wood or noche buena in other regions.  Modern America refers to the plant as Poinsettia’s after Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American Minister to Mexico during the early 1800’s.  Annually, a week or two before Thanksgiving, local retailers everywhere display and peddle my favorite holiday plant.  Every year, I pick up a couple of these plants for my holiday display in my home and at the office.  Last year, after the holidays were over, I kept a plant in my kitchen window and eventually planted it outside when early Spring arrived.  My effort quickly failed, a few days of frost had murdered my colorful Euphorbia pulcherrima that had since turned entirely dark green before its outdoor demise.  The climate in Solano County was not the proper environment to support its sensitive needs.  Poinsettias cannot withstand night temperatures cooler than 50 degrees and are not fond of temperatures over 70 degrees either.  The poinsettia is not overly thirsty and can thrive if you keep her inside under a window that is exposed to the bright morning sun with less exposure later in the day after the sun heats up more.  Last year it was fun to watch the red leaves turn dark green after the holiday season was over. Happy Holidays ~

Red bracts of the poinsettia. (photo by Teresa Willis)

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