The poinsettia that will grace many homes this winter has a unique past. Poinsettias grow naturally in Mexico and Central America. Joel Roberts Poinsett who was the first ambassador to Mexico brought this plant to the United States. While he served his country, he observed a beautiful plant that he brought back to his South Carolina plantation. Here he grew the plant and gave away starts to his family and friends. Joel Roberts Poinsett was so important to the production of poinsettias that a day has been set aside. Poinsettia Day or December 12 celebrates not only a plant but also its founder who died on this date in 1851.

Poinsettias are very difficult to start from seed but seed can still be found if you want to give it a try. Today, the poinsettias you find in the store were started from cuttings. These cuttings are taken from existing poinsettia plants in May. The cuttings are dipped into a rooting hormone and placed into moist soil. The cuttings are then placed on a misting bench until rooted.

Once rooted, each cutting is transplanted into a six-inch container. This container is then placed in a greenhouse, fertilized periodically, and watered.

When October 1 comes around it is time to begin the process of forcing the poinsettia to change colors. Poinsettia leaves, by nature, are green. As the amount of sunlight decreases through the season, the plant’s leaves begin to change colors. Poinsettias can be red, pink, white, and even variegated. Colors, such as purple, gold, and glittered are do to artificial treatments. These include paint and glitter but keep in mind that this type of treatment decreases the life of the leaves that were treated.

To force the leaves of a poinsettia to change color, one must expose the plant to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. This is a very important step and even the smallest sliver of light can delay the change. If you are raising your poinsettia in a greenhouse, it is easier to control the light by simply turning off the lights or blocking outside light.

If raising poinsettias in your home, do not fret. You can still force them to change by setting a strict schedule. To do this, simply place the poinsettia in a black, plastic bag. Tie the bag off at the top at night. When 12 hours have passed, simply remove the tie from the bag and roll down until the floor is reached. Allow the poinsettia to be exposed to light for 12 hours and then repeat the process until early November.

When November arrives, just remove the plant completely from the plastic bag and place it in a sunny room that is 60 to 70 F degrees. Throughout this process, continue to water the plant as usual.

If you are purchasing a poinsettia that has already been forced, you will need to look for a few things. First, make sure the plant is healthy. Observe the little yellow beads in the top of the poinsettia. These are actually the flowers of the poinsettia and should be closed as much as possible for extended enjoyment.

After you purchase your plant, make sure to wrap it up before going outside. If possible, move your plant to a warm car and avoid direct heat blowing on the poinsettia while it is in the car.

When you get it home, move it to a sunny location that is kept between 60 to 70 F degrees. Water only when the soil is dry. Poinsettias are very forgiving for a plant. If the leaves of your plant are turning a light green, move it to a sunnier location. If the plant begins to wilt, leaves begin to dry up or the soil becomes extremely dry, just water. It will quickly spring back into shape.

Poinsettias can be brought outdoors in the summer and either left in the container or planted in the ground. Prune the plant back into a nice oval shape making sure the cuts are at an angle. This will prevent water from pooling on the stems and causing them to rot. Fertilize the poinsettia with an all-purpose fertilizer every two to three weeks during this time.

Before a frost appears in your local area, move the poinsettia indoors. Make sure to check for pests and whether the plant needs to be transplanted.

Thanks to Joel Roberts Poinsett, the poinsettia has become a universal symbol of the holiday season.