Picking the Perfect Poinsettia

News Column

John Wilson

Extension Educator

November 29, 2013

John Wilson

Picking the Perfect Poinsettia

Last week I talked about how to select a fresh Christmas tree, so it seemed only fitting to follow that up with how to pick the perfect poinsettia! Picking a poinsettia comes down to knowing how to judge the plant’s maturity and health. You want it to last as long as possible, but you also want it to peak at just the right time. The best way to judge a poinsettia’s maturity is to examine its flowers.

That can be tricky unless you know that the colorful parts on top of each stem are NOT flowers. They may look like petals but they’re actually bracts, or leaves that change color. This is triggered by the nights getting longer and the poinsettia prepares to bloom.

These bracts purpose is to attract insects to pollinate the flower, which starts out as a cluster of ball-like structures in the middle of each set of bracts. When those ball-like buds are still tight, the plant has some maturing to do. So, it might be an appropriate choice to buy now in early December. A few opening buds mean the plant should reach full flower in several weeks. So, it could be a good choice if purchasing a poinsettia in mid-December.

By the 25th, the colorful reproductive structures should be exposed, and they’ll even have a dusting of yellow pollen. The plant will be at its peak, when it is most colorful and interesting. After the bracts fade and drop, the plant will still be attractive. But you’ll be more likely to put it with your houseplants than to feature it on the dinner table.

Plant height has little or nothing to do with plant health. Traditionally, breeders try to ensure the blooming plant height will be about 2.5 times the width of the pot, so the plant and pot look in proportion. They also grow what they think will sell best, which tend to be poinsettias in the 15- to 18-inch range… both wide and tall.

But, healthy, shorter poinsettias also are available… and one of the newer types on sale now is much larger. It’s a dramatic tree form, encouraged by hand to develop a single 1- to 5-feet-tall “trunk” with a large, round poinsettia head. However, whatever their height, quality poinsettias are dense and lush-looking. For example, one in a 6-inch pot should have at least five sets of bracts.

Healthy poinsettias have sturdy stems. They show no signs of disease, damage or insect infestation (typically, tiny whiteflies or aphids). They should not be drooping or wilting. And, they should have dark green foliage down to the soil line – no yellow intruders and few to no lost leaves.

How they’re displayed can be a clue to the kind of care poinsettias are getting. And that, in turn, can be another sign of whether they’ll last very long. Nurseries typically ship the plants in a plastic or paper wrap to prevent damage. If temperatures are below 50 degrees, poinsettias will also need the protection of a wrap for the trip from store to a warmed car to a warmer home. Even a few minutes in frigid temperatures can damage the plants’ leaves.

However, while poinsettias are on the shelf, they should be wrap-free. Wrapping may be a basic for protecting poinsettias, but it also causes the plants to deteriorate more quickly. So, the less wrapped time, the better. Displayed poinsettias need to have enough room, as well. Cramming poinsettias together on a shelf often results in bent and broken plant parts.

Tip the plant out of the pot and check its root ball, too. White roots are healthy, brown roots are not. At the same time, check the moisture level of the soil. It should be moist, but not wet. A poinsettia sitting in dry soil will deteriorate quickly.

All of those checks are fairly easy to do – which is a good thing. Plant breeders are coming up with so many new “looks” that choosing which variety to buy can be difficult. Red bracts remain buyers’ favorite, but, pink, white and maroon also have fans.

Newer varieties are likely to have several bract colors, due to speckles, marbling or variegations. The color combos can range from looking quite formal to being cheerfully random. Some new varieties also have bracts that are scalloped, twisted or curved, including the increasingly popular Christmas rose and winter rose poinsettias.

Regardless of the color or size, using the guidelines above will help you select a poinsettia that will bring a decorative flair to your home during the holiday season. If you REALLY like it, there are things you can do after the holidays to carry it over until next year. Watch for more information on that after the first of the year or contact your local UNL Extension office for year-long poinsettia care.