Poinsettia's bring Tropical Beauty to Christmas
By Robin Sweetser
Photography by John W. Hession
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No plant symbolizes Christmas quite like the poinsettia. And it is hard to imagine that cutting-edge research on a tropical plant like the poinsettia is being done in the frosty Granite State, but that is exactly what is happening at the University of New Hampshire. Along with his partners at Perdue University, Dr. Brian Krug, UNH greenhouse and floriculture specialist, is hard at work developing techniques for "cold finishing" or growing poinsettias at lower temperatures after they are rooted.
"This will allow growers to save on energy costs and make their operations more sustainable," Krug says.
Each December, the UNH Macfarlane Greenhouses in Durham hold an open house featuring poinsettias they have grown. This year's Poinsettia Trials open house is scheduled for Thursday, December 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, December 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and 10-4 on Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Macfarlane Greenhouses are located at 296 Mast Road in Durham. Many of the varieties on display will be available to purchase during the open house and at the greenhouses through December 24.
"This is a great opportunity for consumers to see what's out there," Krug says. "Along with all the nontraditional colors, we also have a wide range of reds. People can see the different hues of red next to each other and pick the one that is right for them. Plants are shown under different types of lighting so consumers can see what the flowers will look like in their home as well as what they look like in natural light of the greenhouse."
There are two, tall Christmas trees made entirely of poinsettias-one in the greenhouse and a fifteen-foot-tall one at the neighboring Whittemore Center.
Free and open to the public, the Poinsettia Trials are a collaborative event that brings the university's research to plant breeders, professional growers and the general public. More than one hundred different cultivars are on display, and visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorites. "The results of this survey have an impact on what the industry chooses to grow in the future," Krug says.
((sub-head)) Local growers
Two local New Hampshire growers provide poinsettias to greenhouses and independent garden centers in New England and along the Eastern Seaboard. Pleasant View Gardens in Loudon has several greenhouses dedicated to growing 175,000 poinsettias.
"In mid-May, bundles of unrooted cuttings taken from stock plants grown on farms in Mexico and Guatemala arrive at Pleasant View's main facility," says operations manager Mike Goyette. "These cuttings are treated with a hormone and stuck into thousands of fifty-cell trays of oasis to develop roots. Oasis is easier to use than soil because it offers excellent porosity, which is critical to forming a strong root system. By mid-July, about thirty different varieties of rooted cuttings are available for wholesale to other greenhouses. 'Freedom Red' is absolutely the most popular variety we sell, but 'Prestige Red' is climbing up the ladder."
D.S. Cole Growers in Loudon grows more than twenty-five thousand poinsettias from cuttings. Of the twenty different varieties the staff grows, head grower Chris Schlegel says, "We sell more red than anything, but the novelty colors are becoming more popular."
'Cinnamon Star', 'Tapestry', and the new burgundy-colored 'Prestige Maroon' are some of Schlegel's favorites. Not only are there many colors to choose from but different sizes as well. "There is a color and size for everyone," says Schlegel. Plants grown at D. S. Cole's facility are available locally at Cole Gardens on Loudon Road in Concord.
((sub-head)) Caring for poinsettias
As poinsettias are temperature-sensitive, it's important to shield your plant from New Hampshire's winter climate.
"To get off to a good start, be sure to protect your new plant from cold temperatures and chilling winds on the way home from the store," Schlegel says. Similarly, Goyette recommends picking up your poinsettia as your last stop before going home. "Never leave it in a cold car while you run other errands," he says.
Once you get the plant home, Schlegel recommends removing the protective plastic sleeve immediately. Poinsettias need bright daylight, at least six hours per day. Place your plant near a sunny window-but not in direct sunlight, which could fade the bright red leaves.
Again, be mindful of the temperature; avoid drafts, keeping the poinsettia in a room where temperatures range between 65ºF and 70ºF degrees.
Finally, both Schlegel and Goyette stress that overwatering is a common cause of death. Water when dry but don't let plants sit in water. Fertilizer is not needed at this point, Goyette says.
Keep it growing
Most people consider poinsettias to be throw-away plants, but Krug says, "It is possible to keep the plant in good condition into March, maintain it over the summer and re-flower it for next year's holiday."
Although poinsettias are easily grown from cuttings taken in the spring, timing is critical to produce a plant that will be in bloom for the holidays. To do so, follow Krug's schedule:
- April 1: Reduce watering, keep plant at 60ºF.
- May: Cut plants back to between three inches and six inches above the soil. Repot if needed. Place in a sunny window and water when dry to the touch.
- June: Move the plant outside, weather permitting. Water and fertilize more frequently as the plant grows.
- July; Pinch back the upper inch of growth on each stem to control height and promote a fuller plant.
- August 15: Do a second pinching if needed to keep plant bushy.
- September 1: Bring plant indoors and place in a sunny location where the temperature is between 65ºF and 75ºF.
- October 9: Poinsettias are sensitive to day length and need a period of darkness to trick them into blooming. To produce flowers, poinsettias require between eight weeks and ten weeks of days with less than twelve hours of daylight. Place the plant in a dark closet or lightproof box from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.
During the day, the plant still needs light for growth. Place in a sunny location from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and water as needed. Fertilize weekly.
With this care, your poinsettias should begin to rebloom around December 18. Start the schedule earlier for earlier blossoms.
"This process may seem overwhelming at first, but it can be easy and satisfying to keep and rebloom the same poinsettia year after year," Krug says.
Busting the myth
For many years, we have been warned not to have poinsettias around young children or pets who might accidentally eat the leaves, which were thought to be poisonous. Goyette says that is a fallacy.
"Those with latex allergies can be sensitive to the milky sap and should be careful when handling the plants to avoid a rash," he says. "In fact, all our growers wear gloves when working with the plants."
Ohio State University researchers, who co-authored a study with the Society of American Florists, analyzed the leaves, bracts, stems and the milky sap for toxic chemicals and found none. Jennifer Sparks of the Society of American Florists says that that "poinsettias are the most widely tested consumer plant on the market today" and the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that it has no evidence of anyone dying from eating poinsettias.
