Yorba Linda Flowers - Christmas Flowers

Tips for Buying Christmas Poinsettia

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 04:47:04

Poinsettias are beautiful flowers and a Christmas tradition. Poinsettia quality is at an all time high because poinsettias can be shipped directly from the greenhouse to your house quickly to retain high quality and freshness.

These tips will help you buy the best poinsettias for your Christmas holiday season.

This picture is a nearly perfect example of a poinsettia from Bloomdepot.com.

Click below to buy poinsettias from Bloomdepot.com.

Red Christmas Poinsettia	Pink Christmas Poinsettia	White Christmas Poinsettia

Buy these Poinsettias:

Choose a poinsettia plant with dark green foliage down to the soil line.
Choose poinsettia plants with bracts (modified leaves) that are completely colored.
The poinsettia should look full, balanced and attractive from all sides.
The poinsettia plant should be 2 1/2 times taller than the diameter of the container.
Check the poinsettia's maturity. Check the true flowers which are located at the base of the colored bracts. If the flowers are green or red-tipped and fresh looking the bloom will "hold" longer than if yellow pollen is covering the flowers.

Click here for more tips on buying poinsettias and caring for poinsettias.

National Poinsettia Cultivar Trials

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 04:47:04

The National Poinsettia Cultivar Trials were established in an effort to bring a thorough body of research and information to poinsettia growers across the country.

The site contains recomendations for growing poinsettia cultivars useful to large commercial growers as well as small specialty growers and home gardeners.

The research is the result of efforts by:

Universities:

Commercial Site:

Homewood Nursery, NC

Commercial Breeders:

Read more about the National Poinsettia Cultivar Trials.

Fischer Plant Breeders

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 04:47:04

Fisher USA is a leading breeder of poinsettias, impatiens and geraniums. They have over 400 varieties of flowers they sell to greenhouse growers all over North America.

Fisher is also a leading sponsor of university research on poinsettias as well as other types of flowers.

Their website has many useful resources for home gardeners as well as professional growers.

Oglevee Ltd a Leading Flower Variety Producer

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 04:47:04

Oglevee Ltd is a leading producer of flower cultivars (varieties). Oglevee has an in-house breeding department and evaluates varieties submitted by breeders worldwide. The policy of Oglevee is to sell the best varieties regardless of the source.

Oglevee also sponsors university research on flowers.

Oglevee sells the following types of flowers:

Begonias
Carnations
Geraniums
Impatiens
Kalanchoes
Poinsettias
Streptocarpus

Oglevee's web site has a great deal of information about growing these types of flowers for both professional growers and home gardeners.

Read more about Oglevee Ltd Flower Variety Producer.

Texas Poinsettia Producers Guide

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The Texas A & M University Agricultural Extension Service has produced a great resource for growing poinsettias. The information aims specifically at growing conditions in Texas but is very useful for growing poinsettias anywhere.

Topics at the Texas Poinsettia Producers Guide site include:

Poinsettia History
Poinsettia Forms and Styles
Poinsettia Economics and Marketing
Poinsettia Cultural Characteristics
Poinsettia Cultivars
Production Schedule
Poinsettia Height Control
Selecting a Poinsettia Growing Medium
Poinsettia Water Quality
Poinsettia Irrigation
Poinsettia Nutrition
Insect and Mite Management
Poinsettia Diseases and Control
Common Poinsettia Disorders
Conversion Tables for Growers and Gardeners
Additional Poinsettia References

Read more about Texas Poinsettia Producers Guide.

Poinsettia Cultivation Flowering and Reflowering

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Most gardeners and growers think of poinsettias as a tricky plant to grow. This is because poinsettias are very sensitive to temperature and light variations. If the proper conditions are not met, the blooms will not form properly or wilt prematurely.

If you have a large greenhouse full of poinsettias growing and reflowering can be tricky. However, if you only have a few plants in your home it is easy.

Fortunately, there is plenty of information available on how to control these conditions properly.

The main conditions for growing poinsettias:

Night temperatures above 50 F.
Daytime temperatures below 70 F.
A period of uninterrupted long, dark nights for about 2 months in the fall.

The ideal is to have a temperature of about 69 F all the time.

This is true of growing new plants or to get a plant to reflower in subsequent years.

How to make poinsettias flower or reflower:

Light your poinsettia plants with grow lights until 2 a.m. until Sept. 25. Then cover with a black cloth from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. until Oct. 15, followed with natural day lengths.
Keep the temperature at 69F all the time.

The University of New Hampshire Poinsettia Information

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension has conducted detailed research related to poinsettia cultivation and flowering. The research was funded by the Paul Ecke Ranch, the UNH Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Anna and Raymond Tuttle Environmental Horticulture Fund.

This research is useful to commercial growers as well as gardners and consumers caring for poinsettias.

Poinsettias in Legend

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Poinsettias have long been associated with Christmas. At least part of the reason is that the very deep red of the flowers (bracts) and the very dark green of the leaves go well with other traditional plants and colors.

Poinsettias are associated with Christmas miracles.

Image by ckirkman.

Legend has it that poinsettias have been involved in Christmas miracles. One especially charming one involves a poor child who gave weeds from the side of the road as a gift to his church suddenly springing to full scarlet red poinsettias.

Are Poinsettias Poisonous

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The short answer is no...but don't eat them.

Poinsettias will make people or pets ill if they are eaten.

Individuals allergic to latex might have an allergic reaction to poinsettias since the plant produces a similar substance.

Read more about the Toxicity of Poinsettias.

The Poinsettia Monopoly in America

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The virtual monopoly on commercial poinsettia production by the Paul Ecke family for almost 80 years is a great example of floral industry economics.

Paul Ecke developed a technique for making poinsettias grow multiple branches from a single stem. The creates a fuller more colorful poinsettia plant we are accustomed to seeing at Christmas.

The Ecke family kept this a secret of poinsettia cultivation until around 1996 when university researchers were able to independently make the same discovery.

The result has been good for consumers, since poinsettias are much more plentiful and therefore less expensive than before.

Read more about the Poinsettia Monopoly in America.

Poinsettia Description

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Most people are familiar with poinsettias as a relatively small potted plant most often used as a Christmas plant or decoration.

Poinsettia plants have brightly colored leaves (bracts) that are often mistaken for flowers. The poinsettia true flowers are small yellow or green structures at the base of the bracts.

This photo shows the red leaves and the yellow true flowers of the poinsettia.

Image by Old Shoe Woman.

This familiar form of poinsettias are due to careful breeding, cultivation and harvesting. In the wild, poinsettias are a shrub or small tree. Poinsettias are originally from Mexico and Central America.

A poinsettia tree in a San Diego back yard.

Image by Martin LaBar

Poinsettia Origins

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

Poinsettias are a Christmas tradition throughout the Americas. The plant is native to Southern Mexico and Central America.

A poinsettia growing wild in Belize.

Poinsettias are named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant in the U.S. in 1825.

Paul Ecke of Encinitas, California was responsible for the technological advance that made poinsettias a successful commercial plant. One key to poinsettia profits is getting the plants to grow so that multiple branches come off one stem, creating a fuller, more colorful plant.

Poinsettias carefully cultivated for Christmas.

The Eckes' technique, which involved grafting two varieties of poinsettia together, made it possible to get every seedling to branch. Ecke had perfected this poinsettia secret before 1910 and his family had a virtual poinsettia monopoly for about 80 years. Around 1996 a university researcher made the same discovery and made the technique public.

Since then the Eckes Poinsettia Ranch has adapted and now is a great source of technical assistance and research funding for both commercial growers and consumers.

Poinsettia in Backyard Garden

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The climate in Southern California is good for poinsettias with just a bit of help. If you are used to thinking of poinsettias as a small potted plant this picture might amaze you.

Poinsettias are a shrub that; as this photo proves, grow to the size of a small tree with thick trucks.

Image by Martin LaBar

Read more about Poinsettia in San Diego Area Garden.

Poinsettia True Flowers

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The top leaves of the poinsettia, known as bracts, are flaming red, pink, or white and are often mistaken as flowers. The actual flowers are the small yellow structures found in the center of each leaf bunch.

Image by Old Shoe Woman.

The photo below is a great closeup shot of the true flowers of a poinsettia plant. The poinsettia true flowers in this picture are just opening. Unopened true flowers is one important sign that the poinsettia blooms will last a long time. This is an important tip when buying poinsettias.

Image by Tzatziki.

Read more about Poinsettia True FLowers.

University of Florida Floriculture Poinsettia Page

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has great information on growing poinsettias. Commercial growers as well as gardners will find plenty of great information for growing poinsettia, poinsettia care and poinsettia reflowering.

Topics at the site include:

Basic Poinsettia Production Guidelines
Poinsettia Variety Trials
Poinsettia Height Control Examples
Poinsettia Growth Regulators
Poinsettia Postharvest Information
Poinsettia Disorders
Poinsettia Grower Resources

More information about the University of Florida Floriculture Poinsettia Page.

North Carolina State University Poinsettia Diagnostic Key

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 04:47:04

This site will help commercial growers and gardners diagnose and treat most poinsettia problems. There is also some great consumer information on caring for poinsettias and making the blooms last longer.

Site topics include:

Poinsettia Plant Structure Problems
Poinsettia Leaf Problems
Poinsettia Bracts Problems
Poinsettia Stems Problems
Poinsettia Roots Problems
Poinsettia Insects Problems
Poinsettia Shipping Related Problems
Poinsettia Problems at the Consumer Level

Paul Ecke Poinsettia Ranch

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 04:47:04

The Paul Ecke Poinsettia Ranch had a virtual monopoly of poinsettias that lasted almost 80 years. About 1996 university researchers finally discovered the process to grow poinsettias with many colorful blooms.

This grower is still a major player in the poinsettia market. The Paul Ecke Poinsettia Ranch website has a great deal of technical information for growing poinsettias on a commercial scale. The Paul Ecke Poinsettia Ranch also has developed a large number of varieties or cultivars of poinsettias.

Read more about the Paul Ecke Poinsettia Ranch.