Buds and Blooms: Poinsettias and fresh greens

By Joyce Swaren on December 14, 2019.

The Poinsettia – the most sold flowering plant for Christmas. It is native to Mexico and in the 14th to 16th century the sap was used for controlling fevers. The plant was found along the side of the road. Cuttings were brought back to the states and are now grown in greenhouses all over North America. In warmer climates they can grow to 10 feet tall. Most people think that the red leaves are the flowers but they are the coloured bracts. The actual flower is the cyathia, the very centre part of the plant.

Most people think that poinsettias are poisonous but there was a study done at Ohio University to prove this wrong. If a child ate 500 bracts he might get a slight tummy ache. Plants such as tropicals and perennials could do the same.

Poinsettia facts

* There are over 100 varieties

* Red poinsettias are preferred 75% more than the other colors

* 80% of the poinsettias are purchased by women

* $220 million worth of poinsettias are sold during the holiday season

* 90% of poinsettias are exported from the USA

Here at Blondie’s we carry many poinsettias in red, white, pink, burgundy, jingle bells, etc.

Mostly in 6″ and 8″ pots but also a few in large 12″ pots with three colours in the same pot.

We use them for decorating homes and offices. Some we plant in pots and bowls along with a mix of tropicals. The trick to keeping them for a long time is the watering.

They are desert plants so they do not need that much water.

There is no better gift than a healthier planet, so let’s try a few things to bring an eco-friendly spirit to your season.

Let’s start with a real fresh tree that we can recycle when Christmas is over. There are places to drop them off to be made into mulch for future use. The aroma of the real trees is what Christmas is all about.

For decorating the tree use LED lights which will use 80% less electricity and can last up to 200,000 hours. You can also set a timer to save at least an hour a day and watch the savings add up.

This is a great gift to the planet too.

And also if you really get into the eco-friendly way you could make decorations with cranberries and natural cones, etc. Most of us have our decorations for years anyway so not too much stress this way.

You can also decorate with fresh wreaths in different sizes, fresh boughs in pine, cedar and fir which smell so good and use the beautiful poinsettia in many colours to brighten up any room in your house.

Gathering with the people you care about is the best part of the holiday season. Maybe this year instead of exchanging gifts invite your friends over for a big party and get out the real china and stoneware instead of plastic plates and Styrofoam cups that will stay in the landfill for a very long time.

Plan your menu around foods that are local. Lots of gas is burned shipping fruits and vegetable from warmer climates.

Think pumpkin pie, not strawberry tarts. Burn candles that are made of beeswax or the organic ones made from soy. Use citrus fruit in a bowl for a colourful edible centerpiece.

Try to use recyclable materials to wrap your gifts or give certificates for a massage, favourite restaurant or concert.

Last but not least send you holiday greeting electronically. Create your own e-card. Save the trees.

Enjoy! And Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Joyce Swaren is the owner and head horticulturalist at Blondie’s Gift and Garden.

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