The holiday season creeps earlier and earlier each year, at least here in the US. Decorations, trinkets, and more start filling store shelves before summer is even over. But some holiday traditions can’t be rushed, like live holiday plants. Many of these picky plants have to be bought and cared for closer to the holidays, else they likely won’t look so festive once the holiday finally arrives. Since the origins of many of the holiday traditions are pagan and druid in nature, it stands to reason that plants are a major theme for the holidays.… Continue reading this article “Poinsettias: from ditch weed to holiday super star (history, lore, and how to get those d@!% things to rebloom next year)”
Tag: Poinsettia
Won’t you help the poinsettias?
Those creative Utah Sate University Extension folks are at it again. Jerry Goodspeed’s hilarious Gnome Management video was a big hit among the gardening crowd a couple of years ago.
His current effort is a bit more…film noir.
"Mission accomplished" if you’ve been shamed into watering that poor poinsettia languishing in the dining room. A little fertilizer wouldn’t hurt, either.
Cirque du Poinsettia
Last week I brought up the seasonal topic of poinsettias. There are so many cultivars to start with, it’ll make your head spin. Twenty five new varieties were introduced in 2009 alone. One
of the major breeders lists 36 RED varieties.
But for painting and glitter, growers
and retailers stick to “white” (actually a very pale yellow to cream –
see last week’s ‘Polar Bear’ post) or possibly light pink. The trend had a good start in Europe and crossed the pond in 2004.… Continue reading this article “Cirque du Poinsettia”
It’s Poinsettia Time…
Love ’em or hate ’em, poinsettias are the number two potted flowering plant produced and sold in the U.S., only (very recently) surpassed by orchids. Especially amazing when you consider the five-week market window. Commercial growers go at poinsettia (“points”) production usually one of two ways: 1) smaller pot, high volume, low margin for mass markets; or 2) larger pot, florist-quality, unusual varieties, for independent garden centers, florists, and other specialty retailers. If you shopped any big box store this past weekend (bless your heart), you saw rolling racks of “doorbuster” deals such a 4.5″ points priced $1.25 or even less. … Continue reading this article “It’s Poinsettia Time…”
Friday fun, part 1
This posting is for Holly, who I am sure is desperately trying to finish her annual review. I feel your pain! And I’m going to add to it today.
The poinsettia in these photos is not from this Christmas, but from 2008. You can see it thriving happily in its office environment. I’m told by its caretaker Nick (a nongardener) that it has no bugs or other problems, and seems very happy. And it’s blooming, without the benefit of the extended night period. … Continue reading this article “Friday fun, part 1”
Post-holiday Poinsettia Fatigue
You’ve seen them. The saddest thing ever – a poinsettia, still in its little foil sleeve, tucked into the corner of the doctor’s office/bank/etc. In June. 
Photo courtesy of Beth Bonini http://beedrunken.blogspot.com
So iconic, there’s even a rock band in St. Paul called “Dead Poinsettia.”
Every year about this time, I get asked “how do I care for my poinsettia so it will bloom next year?” by friends, students, random callers, and random newspaper writers. … Continue reading this article “Post-holiday Poinsettia Fatigue”