Feliz Navidad!

The poinsettia is almost as much a part of Christmas decorating as the tree.

Like the tree, it can be bought in both real and artificial forms. Save year after year or get the "WOW" factor of a live plant.

I've bought from big box stores and from local dealers and found the biggest differences are size and color.

Seldom does a big box store have the huge plants nor the new colors. If you want an all red and maybe a few variations for smaller and cheaper decorating, big box is your best buy.

If you want a statement, visit a local nursery or garden center. The cost can be reasonable or "are you kidding me" expensive. I most often buy from our local "Prairie Country Gardens" and her plants are large, healthy and reasonably priced. I've coveted the spectacular ones at Green View Nursery (outside Chillicothe) but so far have regulated myself to looking, not buying.

Each year the leaf colors (yes, it's not a flower but colored leaves you see at the top of the plant) are expanded to new selections. Pinks, corals, orange, pale green and marbles compliment the white/cream and red we have enjoyed for years.

Ohio State University did a study that showed the poinsettia plant is not poisonous. Their report said a 50 lb child would have to eat over 500 leaf brackets to have even a mild stomach ache. I've never seen a child voluntarily eat spinach let alone 500 leaves of anything else. The milky sap may cause skin irritation to those allergic to latex.

Euphorbia pulcherrima was introduced to the US in 1828 from Mexico. It grows wild on the entire Pacific coast of Mexico. The Aztecs used it for a purple red die. It's a ten foot plant whose wild form doesn't resemble our hybrid ones.

Some facts: 90% of all poinsettias are bought in the US for an average of $220 million dollars spent on these beauties yearly. 80% are bought by women, 80% by people over 40 yrs. of age, 74% buy red, 8% white and 6% pink.

http://www.ecke.com/ is the site of the first and until recently the only breeder in the United States. They had the patient on what we know as the table poinsettia. They have history and home care instructions plus some really beautiful pictures.

They also have instructions on how to plant outside and get it to re bloom. I've never accomplished a re bloom (probably my lack of desire to follow the exact instructions). I have had success planting outside in late spring and having a beautiful (all green) bush type plant until frost killed the plant.

Enjoy your own poinsettia or simply enjoy the ones you can see in shops and displays. They are a visual Christmas joy.

Feliz Navidad!

(Happy Christmas)