G92-1069 The Poinsettia

Growing poinsettias so that they rebloom is easier if you understand and follow some basic horticultureicultural and pest management procedures. Poinsettias are the most popular decorative plants for the Christmas and New Year holiday seasons. The newer cultivars often remain colorful until spring and do not have to be discarded when they finish blooming. Following a few basic principles can bring the plants back into full bloom. The poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima is a native to the area around Taxco, Mexico, and was introduced to the United States by Joel R. Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico. Poinsettia or Euphorbia is a member of the spurge family and is characterized by small flowers (cyathia) and large, brightly colored, leaf-like bracts. The poinsettia flowers are actually small and inconspicuous. Poinsettia bracts may be either red, pink, white, yellow, or marbled; the most popular color is red. In their natural habitat, poinsettias bloom according to daylength. In their native locale, they are actually a large growing, woody shrub with a height above 10 ft