The Christmas Poinsettia
Perhaps there is no pot plant that evokes the feeling of Christmas more than the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) with its gorgeous, exotic looking, richly coloured bracts set against dark almost velvety green leaves. They originate from Mexico and central America, where they grow as small trees. The bright red bracts are often mistaken for the flowers. The flowers are, in fact, the insignificant yellow buds in the centre. Approximately ten acres of poinsettia are grown in the U.K. every year! Having purchased your poinsettia it is likely you will get some leaf yellowing and leaf fall due to our poor winter light levels. To keep the plant in good condition place it in a warm, brightly lit room with temperatures above 12˚C. Water well, but wait until the compost dries out before watering again. Over watering is the most common cause of failure with these plants. Poinsettia will discolour and drop leaves and bracts if they get too cold, make sure they are well wrapped when you buy them.
