One of the most popular plants used in holiday decorations is the Poinsettia flower.
Poinsettia, often known as an Easter flower, Christmas flower, or even Christmas star, is unquestionably one of the main flowers associated with Christmas, right next to the illustrious holly. This plant is widely used for aesthetic purposes, especially during this time of year, and owing to its red foliage, adds colour to the gloomy winter months.
But not everyone is aware of how to care for this beautiful Christmas flower. In this blog, we will give you some advice on how to take care of this plant so that it survives the Christmas season and returns to bloom and brighten your home the following year.
Where is the ideal location to place it?
One of the reasons this flower dislikes cold weather is that it originates in South America. However, it does not enjoy too high temperatures either; the suggested temperature range is between 18 and 24 °c.
The sun, or at least a lot of light, is the best environment for this plant. If the surrounding temperature is a little cooler, this flower will also tolerate a little partial shade. It does not like draughts, which can result in its leaves falling, therefore it is important to pay special attention, and to shield them from the wind.
How to water the Poinsettias?
This plant requires little water. Poinsettias are frequently and excessively overwatered. The leaves of these plants turn yellow when they get wet, and the plant may eventually die.
The immersion method is advised for watering this Christmas flower; simply place the plant in a bowl or plate filled with warm water, give it a few minutes, then remove it and let the excess water drain.
It is impossible to define a certain frequency for watering, although once a week is typically sufficient.
When should I prune and replant?
How should we prune this Christmas Flower? This plant usually loses its leaves around the end of January, making this the ideal time to prune. The rods must be trimmed so that they are around 10 cm long for this. After cutting, it is crucial to use melted candle wax to seal the plant's incision.
Springtime is the best time of the year to replant this flower. Make sure that you wears gloves because its sap, irritates the skin and mucous membranes.
Pets
Poinsettia is a toxic plant, making it lethal to both cats and dogs. This plants latex can cause instant intoxication and subsequent swelling and even diarrhoea in both people and animals if it comes into contact with the mouth, eyes, or ears. We need to exercise extreme caution so that neither our pets or children can access this plant.
The legend of Poinsettia
The legend comes from Mexico, and it claims that a little girl wished to present a lavish bunch of flowers to Jesus, but was unable to do so because she had no money. She was only able to get plain flowers, which were less opulent than the blooms she wanted to put in her offering, and she was inconsolable.
According to legend, the little girl presents the plain bunch of flowers to the church and offers her apologies for not having given brighter and more opulent flowers as she leaves. At this point, the floral arrangement grows larger, and the flowers bloom to a vivid red colour like the poinsettia flower. Catholics named this flower the "Christmas Flower" because they believed it to be a miracle.
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