Poinsettia Day is December 12

December 12, 7:49 AMSoutheast MI Home & Living ExaminerJackie DiGiovanni

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Maybe you were waiting until the official Poinsettia Day on December 12 to purchase and display a holiday poinsettia plant. Make sure you provide a safe and warm trip from the store to your car and from your car to the house. 

This information is courtesy of the University of Illinois:

History of the poinsettia

• The Aztecs called poinsettias "Cuetlaxochitl." During the 14th - 16th century the sap was used to control fevers and the bracts (modified leaves) were used to make a reddish dye.

• Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings, would have poinsettias brought into what now is Mexico City by caravans because poinsettias could not be grown in the high altitude.

• In the 17th century, Juan Balme, a botanist, noted the poinsettia plant in his writings.

• The botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, was assigned to the poinsettia by the German botanist, Wilenow. The plant grew through a crack in his greenhouse. Dazzled by its color, he gave it the botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima meaning "very beautiful."

• Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first United States Ambassador to Mexico being appointed by President John Quincy Adams in the 1820's. At the time of his appointment, Mexico was involved in a civil war. Because of his interest in botany he introduced the American elm into Mexico. During his stay in Mexico he wandered the countryside looking for new plant species. In 1828 he found a beautiful shrub with large red flowers growing next to a road. He took cuttings from the plant and brought them back to his greenhouse in South Carolina. Even though Poinsett had an outstanding career as a United States Congressman and as an ambassador he will always be remembered for introducing the poinsettia into the United States.

• William Prescott, a historian and horticulturist, was asked to give Euphorbia pulcherrima a new name as it became more popular. At that time Mr. Prescott had just published a book called the ‘Conquest of Mexico’ in which he detailed Joel Poinsett’s discovery of the plant. Prescott named the plant the poinsettia in honor of Joel Poinsett’s discovery.

• A nurseryman from Pennsylvania, John Bartram is credited as being the first  person to sell poinsettias under its botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima

• In the early 1900's the Ecke family of southern California grew poinsettias outdoors for use as landscape plants and as a cut flower. Eventually the family grew poinsettias in greenhouses and today is recognized as the leading producer of poinsettias in the United States.

Caring for your poinsettia

 

The length of time your poinsettia will give you pleasure in your home is dependent on (1) the maturity of the plant, (2) when you buy it, and (3) how you treat the plant. With care, poinsettias should retain their beauty for weeks and some varieties will stay attractive for months.

• After you have made your poinsettia selection, make sure it is wrapped properly because exposure to low temperatures even for a few minutes can damage the bracts and leaves.

• Unwrap your poinsettia carefully and place in indirect light. Six hours of light daily is ideal. Keep the plant from touching cold windows.

• Keep poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts from radiators, air registers or open doors and windows.

• Ideally poinsettias require daytime temperatures of 60 to 70°F and night time temperatures around 55°F. High temperatures will shorten the plant’s life. Move the plant to a cooler room at night, if possible.

• Check the soil daily. Be sure to punch holes in foil so water can drain into a saucer. Water when soil is dry. Allow water to drain into the saucer and discard excess water. Wilted plants will tend to drop bracts sooner.

• Fertilize the poinsettia if you keep it past the holiday season. Apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month. Do not fertilize when it is in bloom.

   

According to Mayo Clinic pediatrician Jay Hoecker, M.D.:

Contrary to popular belief, poinsettia plants aren't poisonous. If a child eats the leaves or stems of a poinsettia plant, simply rinse the child's mouth with water. He or she may develop a mild stomachache, vomiting or diarrhea — but severe signs and symptoms are unlikely. If a child touches the sap of a poinsettia plant, wash the affected area with soap and water. Sometimes contact with the sap of poinsettia plants causes a mild, itchy rash (contact dermatitis).

Of course, some people are more sensitive to poinsettia plants than are others. If a child has a severe reaction of any type, seek prompt medical attention.