Poinsettia questions? We have answers!

Are poinsettias toxic? What should you look for when picking one? How do you make your poinsettia last? Click here for the answers.

Are poinsettias toxic?

A study at Ohio State University showed that a 50-pound child who ate 500 bracts (the colorful leaves of the poinsettia) might have a slight tummy ache.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, poinsettia ingestions by pets typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Keeping the plant out of the reach of your pet to avoid stomach upset is still a good idea, but you need not banish the poinsettia from your home for fear of a fatal exposure.

How do I pick a poinsettia?

The foliage should be dark green and healthy without a lot of dropped leaves and bare stems.
Look for poinsettia plants with leaves standing upright, not pointing toward the floor.
Avoid poinsettias where a lot of the true flowers have already fallen off.

How do I care for my poinsettia?

Place your poinsettia in a sunny window or the brightest area of the room, but don’t let it touch cold window panes.
Do not place on top of a TV set because it gets too warm while it is operating. Temperatures above 75 degrees shorten bloom life and below 60 degrees cause root rot.
Examine the potting soil daily. Never let the plant wilt or it will lose its leaves. When the soil becomes dry to the touch, water the plant with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water. Poinsettias do not like “wet feet.”

Where did the poinsettia come from?

Did you know that the poinsettia plant, the popular Christmas flower, came to the United States via a South Carolinian? The poinsettia has its origins in southern Mexico in Taxco del Alaracon, where it was discovered by Joel Poinsett, who hailed from the Palmetto State. He sent a poinsettia home in 1836 when he was serving as President Andrew Jackson’s envoy to Mexico. Poinsett was always interested in botany and searched for new plants while he served as a diplomat traveling the world. Poinsett was a diehard Unionist and served honorably in the S.C. legislature (1816-1820) and in the U.S. House of Representatives (1821-1826). During his years in Washington, Jackson relied on him as a trusted ally to supply information about the unrest being caused by John C. Calhoun and his nullification movement, the precursor to the secessionists. From 1837-1841, Poinsett served as President Martin Van Buren’s Secretary of War. In 1840, he co-founded the National Institute for the Promotion of Science in the Useful Arts, which was a predecessor of the Smithsonian Institution. He never lost his interest in botany. Poinsett died in 1851 in Statesburg. He is buried at the Church of the Holy Cross and each year on March 2, the date of his birth, and Dec. 12, the date of his death, poinsettias adorn the church and his grave.