Table of Contents
Poinsettias come in many colors They range from creamy white to pink to the traditional bright red. Some varieties have bracts with patterns in red and white, pink and white, or green and white and even bright orange. Flower forms vary as well with some looking similar to a rose.
What are the natural colors of poinsettias?
Photo by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash. A number of natural colors are available including pink, white, yellow, and salmon. Any blue and purple Poinsettias are actually cream-colored varieties that have been spray painted. Poinsettia’s color comes from bracts which are actually modified leaves.
Are the red colors on the poinsettia flowers?
It’s because of this Christmas legend that the flowers are still used so frequently around the holiday season. Although the most common kind of poinsettia is probably the red colored one, there are several varieties of the flower. In fact, you can find poinsettias in pink, white and peach colors, too.
What is the most popular color of the poinsettia?
While poinsettias with red bracts remain the most popular, they also come in creamy white, shades of pink and orange, marbled in pink and white, and with pink flecks on red. Many new poinsettia colors are not the result of plant breeding. “Bract color in poinsettia mutates very easily,” Trinklein said.
What determines poinsettia color?
Many people wonder what makes poinsettias turn red. It is actually the plant’s leaves that provide its color through a process called photoperiodism. This process, in response to certain amounts of light or lack thereof, turns the leaves from green to red (or pink, white, and other shade variations).
Are blue poinsettias real?
ANSWER: Poinsettias with blue flowers are indeed real poinsettia plants. The flowers are dyed to make them blue. It’s a special dye that won’t hurt the plant, so it continues to grow as usual if you take good care of it.
How long does a poinsettia last?
If cared for properly, a potted poinsettia can last for 2 to 3 months in your home. However, some home gardeners with a particularly green thumb may enjoy the challenge of caring for a poinsettia long after Christmas in hopes of a second bloom next holiday.
Do poinsettias go red again?
The challenge is to make the poinsettia bracts turn red again for the second Christmas in a row! These colored leaves only appear during days with the shortest daylight hours. To make them turn red, you need to restrain exposure to light. Once the eight weeks are over, treat your poinsettia normally again.
How long do poinsettias have to be in the dark to turn red?
Restoring a healthy green Poinsettia plant from last year back to its original red color is no problem if you follow a few simple rules. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) need total darkness, for 14 hours each day, starting about eight weeks before you want to display them.
Can poinsettias be orange?
The ‘Orange Spice’ poinsettia was first introduced into successful trials by California’s Ecke Ranch about 10 years ago. The strikingly bright, true orange bracts stand in bold contrast to more traditional varieties.
What does a poinsettia symbolize?
We consider them a Christmas flower, and many people give them around Christmas time to symbolise good will and community spirit. In religious communities, the shape of the poinsettia flower is thought to symbolise the Star of Bethlehem, with the red leaves of the poinsettia symbolising the blood of Christ.
Are there real white poinsettias?
There are over 100 varieties of Poinsettias available. Though once only available in red, there are now Poinsettias in pink, white, yellow, purple, salmon, and multi-colors.
What does a white poinsettia mean?
What Do White Poinsettias Mean? White poinsettias were once considered to be symbols of purity by the Aztecs, but now it’s now the flower for December birthdays. The poinsettia is also said to be a symbol of good cheer, success, and bring with them wishes of happiness and celebrations.
Do poinsettias like sun or shade?
Place your poinsettia in indirect light after bringing it home. Poinsettias need six hours of light daily (fluorescent light will work). Keep your plant away from cold windows, warm or cold drafts from furnaces or air conditioners, and open doors and windows.
How do you get a poinsettia to turn blue?
Poinsettias are not grown from seeds, so there’s no chance that a blue seed would produce a blue leaf. “What we do is take a cutting, 12-14 leaves. We take it dip it into a rooting hormone that we direct stick in these pots,” he said.
Can you keep poinsettias outside?
You can keep growing them like a houseplant if you like, but in the spring once the temperatures at night are regularly above 50°F, you can place your poinsettias outside if you want. Choose a spot that gets bright, indirect light (somewhere that gets shade in the afternoon would be perfect).
Are purple poinsettias dyed?
Are they real? A. Those odd-colored poinsettias seen popping up in stores for the last few years are real. They just also happen to be covered with a layer of dye that gives them a poinsettia color not found in nature.
Are poinsettias green?
Poinsettias are native Mexican plants. They thrive during the holiday season because they are short-day plants that require long nights to launch their color change. Healthy poinsettias have dark green leaves below the bracts and foliage all the way to the base.
Why do poinsettias have milk?
As a member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) poinsettias have a milky sap. This latex helps conserve moisture within the plant and deters animals and insects from eating the plant, since the latex is bitter and toxic if eaten in large doses. If your potted poinsettia bleeds white sap, it has sustained an injury.
What do you do with poinsettias after Christmas?
Place your poinsettias where they will receive at least 6 hours of indirect, but bright, sunlight each day. In mid-April pinch back the stems to 6-8 inches and place the plants in a sunny location. When new growth begins, you may use a liquid fertilizer to ensure the plants get enough minerals, especially calcium.
How often do poinsettias need to be watered?
In your home, put the poinsettia in a well lighted area away from drafts and heat vents. Water the poinsettia when the pot becomes lightweight or when the soil becomes dry to the touch, about once a week. Water the plant thoroughly in a sink, letting it drain, before putting it back where it was.
Where is the best place to keep a poinsettia?
Where should you place a poinsettia? Poinsettias enjoy room temperatures of between 16°C and 22°C. Keep your poinsettia away from radiators, as well as cold windows and draughts. Expose the plant to indirect sunlight during the daytime, where it can enjoy the light but not get sunburnt.
