The Urban Gardener 4

4th Issue Vol.2, No.1

ISSN

January 2009

CULTIVATION OF THE VIBRANT POINSETTIA PLANT By Norberto R Bautista

Rows of potted Poinsettia plants in Bukidnon cut-flower farm being readied for the market. Poinsettias are one of the most delightful plant decorations during Christmas season. Aside from Christmas, these plants are in “bloom” from December to February. The most common color choice is the deep, vibrant red. However, there is a wide array of other colors to choose from, including pink, white, marbled, speckled, and yellow. The colorful parts of the Poinsettia, the bracts, are actually modified leaves. The poinsettia flower is actually small, it is green or yellow, and situated in the middle of the bracts. Poinsettia, scientifically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima (which belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family), is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Mexico, and native to the Pacific coast of the United States. It is a shrub or small tree, about 2 to 16 feet, is found in the wild in deciduous tropical forest at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire

1

Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas, Guatemala and as far south as Nicaragua. It is also found in the interior in the hot, seasonally dry forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas and in temperate North Central Nicaragua.

A closer look at the Poinsettia flower. Note the appearance of the florets and modified leaves. The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that is about 3 to 6 inches in length. The top leaves, known as bracts, are flaming red, pink, or white and are often mistaken as flowers. The actual flowers are grouped within the small yellow structures found in the center of each leaf bunch, which are called cyathia. The name "poinsettia" is after Joel Roberts Poinsett of Charleston, S.C. , the first American to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the US in 1828. The alternative names for the poinsettia are: Cuetlaxochitl (in Nahuatl Mexican language), Mexican flame leaf, Christmas star, Winter rose, Star of Bethlehem, Noche Buena, Lalupatae, Atatürk çiçeği ("Flower of Atatürk", in Turkey), Pasqua and Stella di Natale (in Italy). With the species, cultivars have been produced with orange, pale green, cream and marbled leaves. There are about 109 varieties of poinsettia available. The red poinsettias are more preferred than the white and the pink. In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuitlaxochitl meaning "star flower." The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication. In both Chile and Peru, the plant became known as "Crown of the Andes". The plants' association with Christmas started in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young naked girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan monks in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The poinsettia is also cultivated in Egypt since 1860s, it was brought from Mexico during Egyptian campaign around 1860s. It is called "Bent El Consul", "the consul's daughter", referring to U.S. ambassador Mr. Poinsett. In the United States, December 12th is National Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death in 1851 of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who is credited with introducing the native Mexican plant to the United States. The purpose of the day is to enjoy the beauty of this popular holiday plant.

2

American poinsettia monopoly. Until 19 years ago, the Paul Ecke Family of Encinitas, California, had a virtual monopoly on poinsettias owing to a technological secret that made it difficult for others to compete. The key to producing more desirable poinsettias is to create a fuller, more compact plant. A poinsettia left to grow on its own will naturally take an open, somewhat weedy look. The Eckes' technique, which involved grafting two varieties of poinsettia together, made it possible to get every seedling to branch, resulting in a bushier plant. However, in the 1990s, a university researcher discovered the method and published it; now the technique is widespread. How to Grow this Plant: Light. Poinsettias are subtropical plant, and can grow outdoors in the Philippine setting. Naturally, they can grow into small trees, with long stems and long internodes. However, for the cultivation of the potted poinsettia for the Christmas season, they are usually grown in plastic pots and inside the greenhouse. The potted plants are usually exposed to uninterrupted short-day photoperiod for 2 months, which is exposing plants only to 8 hours of light and 16 hours of “dark” period, for them to develop flowers. Naturally, Poinsettia will flower during the months of December to February, when the nights are longer and the days are shorter. Commercially, the plant is sprayed with a growth retardant hormone, to limit its size and avoid it from growing too long. Temperature. As Poinsettias are subtropical plant, it will likely perish if the night-time temperature falls below 10° C, so it is not suitable for planting in the ground in cooler climates. Watering. Water the plants every other day in order to make its potting medium moist, but not too wet. It is important to allow the plant to drain out any excess water. Avoid having the plant sit in water as it can cause rotting of the root system. Potting Mixture & Potting Technique. Poinsettia prefers a well-drained potting mix. Cuttings are planted in plastic pots with potting mix composed of 1:1 ratio of coconut coir dust and garden soil. Pots need to have ample drainage holes to drain excess water. Fertilization. Fertilized plants with a monthly application of balanced fertilizer slow release fertilizer. Place about 6 pellets of fertilizer per pot, usually in the rim of the pot. There are times that you may need to apply a monthly foliar spray of a special fertilizer with trace elements, calcium and magnesium. Pruning. Plants intended for the Christmas season needs to be pruned in order to produce multiple branches. Planting of the cuttings in the pot is made about 6 months before the date of sale so that the plants have achieved the right size and shape. Controlling Pests and Diseases. Allow sufficient bright light and ventilation between plants to prevent rotting. Inspect plants regularly and check for sucking insects like aphids, mites, white flies or scales. For insect infestation, spray insecticides like Sevin or Lannate. Plants for commercial production are usually grown inside the greenhouse, and is protected from rain. Spray fungicides like Dithane or Captan to control fungal diseases. How to re-bloom your poinsettia. When Christmas season is over and the poinsettia's bracts age and lose their aesthetic appeal, there's no reason to throw the plant out. With proper care and dedication, you too can re-bloom your poinsettia! Usually by late March or early April, cut your poinsettia back to about 8" in height. Continue a regular watering program, and fertilize your plant with a good, balanced all-purpose fertilizer. By the end of May, you should see vigorous new growth. Place your plants outdoors, where they can bask in the warmth of indirect sun. Continue regular watering during the growth period, and fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks. Pruning may be

3

required during the summer to keep plants bushy and compact. Late June or early July is a good time for this step, but be sure not to prune your plant later than September 1. Keep the plants in indirect sun and water regularly. Around June 1, you may transplant your poinsettia into a larger pot. Select a pot no more than 4 inches larger than the original pot. Use a fertile soil mix with a considerable amount of organic matter, such as compost or leaf mold, is highly recommended. Plants can also be transplanted directly in the soil or in a planting bed. Be sure the planting bed is rich in organic material and has good drainage. The poinsettia is a photoperiodic plant. It sets bud and produces flowers as the nights lengthen. It will naturally bloom in November or December, depending on the flowering response time of the individual cultivar. Timing to produce blooms for the Christmas holiday can be difficult outside of the controlled environment of a greenhouse. Stray light of any kind, could delay or entirely halt the re-flowering process. Starting October 1, the plants must be kept in complete darkness for 14 continuous hours each night. Accomplish this by moving the plants to a totally dark room, or by covering them overnight with a large box. During October, November and early December, poinsettias require 6 - 8 hours of bright sunlight daily. Continue the normal watering and fertilizer program. Carefully following this regime for 8 to 10 weeks should result in a colorful display of blooms for the holiday season! Propagation. Poinsettias are commercially propagated by soft wood green stem cuttings in cool regions, while hardwood cuttings are used in warm regions. Rooting of cuttings are aided by misting systems or an intermittent misting system. Seeds are only seeds for hybridization work. Toxicity. Poinsettias are moderately toxic, but not deadly poisonous as some people say. There was a misconception about this, however toxicity depends from person to person. Some people maybe very sensitive to their latex and may suffer an allergic reaction and it is therefore not advisable to bring the plants into the home of sensitive individuals. If leaves are eaten, poinsettias may sometimes cause diarrhea and vomiting in animals and humans. As with all ornamental plants, poinsettias are not intended for human or animal consumption, and certain individuals may experience an allergic reaction to poinsettias. However, the poinsettia has been demonstrated to be a safe plant. In fact, in 1992, the poinsettia was included on the list of houseplants most helpful in removing pollutants from indoor air. So, not only is the poinsettia a safe and beautiful addition to your holiday decor, it can even help keep your indoor air clean! The Urban Gardener is an official electronic publication (in PDF Format) of the Plant Biotechnology Project, Research & Development Center, Rizal Technological University, Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. It is published monthly. For more information, [email protected] or please inquire thru email: [email protected] and landline

(+632) 534-8267 Local 135 or Fax (+632) 534-9710.

The Plant Biotechnology Project Committee is composed of: Alexander B. Quilang, Norberto R. Bautista, Jovita A. Anit & Carnette C. Pulma. ANNOUNCEMENT At Left is the poster of the upcoming PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL FLORA & FAUNA GARDEN EXPO (PIFGEX) this coming July 16-19 4