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Painted Poinsettias
Euphorbia pulcherrima

Multi-colored Painted PoinsettiaThe latest craze I've seen this year is the Painted Poinsettia. Growers are now painting poinsettias with a solution that is not harmful to the plant. Now, people can get Painted Poinsettias in a variety of colors. So far the shades include blue, purple, orange, gold, apricot, vivid pink, lilac, and even green. For additional interest, the tinted ones are sometimes sprinkled with touches of glitter as well. I was quite interested in the new plants, but I would didn't buy one. I tend to stick to the traditional. I’d like to see the growers try some traditional colors like gold and silver next year.


The Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is most commonly known for its beauty over the Christmas Blue Painted Poinsettiaseason. Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family. Many plants in this family ooze a milky sap. Some people, including me, have skin irritation from the milky sap. Poinsettias are not poinsonous. However, they can be harmful to cats and small dogs if eaten. Poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that can grow to ten feet tall in southern environments. In the northern regions, they are treated as seasonal houseplants.

The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think are the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves). Poinsettias come in a vast variety of colors. Each year, growers come up with more varieties and colors. The selection for a poinsettia can become quite convusing because there are so many to choose from.

Purple Painted PoinsettiaTo care for your poinsettia over the Holiday season, examine the soil daily, and when the surface is dry to the touch, water the soil until it runs freely out the drainage hole in the container. Try to use enough water so that some will run out the drainage holes. If a saucer is used, discard the water that collects in it. Do not leave the plant standing in water. Overly wet soil lacks sufficient air, which results in root injury.

If you have been successful in keeping your poinsettia alive and thriving through the Holiday season and if you are one of the brave souls who try to keep their poinsettia from one year to the next, here are some instructions:

  • STEP 1: Continue to water your poinsettia, keeping the soil moist, but not wet, at all times. Keep the plant away from drafts caused by opening doors or heater vents.
  • STEP 2: Set the poinsettia outdoors once night temperatures average 55 degrees F or above.
  • STEP 3: Transplant the poinsettia into a larger pot. Use fast-draining potting soil rich in organic matter.
  • STEP 4: Cut the poinsettia back to about 8 inches in height in late March or early April. By the end of May you should see vigorous new growth.
  • STEP 5: Prune during the summer to keep the plant bushy and compact. Do not prune after September 1.
  • STEP 6: Keep the plant in indirect light or filtered sun.
  • STEP 7: Fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks with a complete fertilizer.
  • STEP 8: Move the plant into a closet each night, starting in October, for 14 hours, making sure it receives no light at all; move it into the light each morning for a maximum of 10 hours. Poinsettias bloom only when they experience long nights.
  • STEP 9: Continue this procedure every day for 10 weeks and you can have poinsettia blossoms for next Christmas.

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