Growing Poinsettias

Delicacies of Growing Poinsettias

Growing quality poinsettias in Michigan is not an easy thing to do. It takes about 6 months and a lot of tender loving care. We produce about 35,000 of them for the holidays every year. Here's how we do it.

In early July, we received the cuttings that we ordered back in January from a local grower. The cuttings, or small pieces of the mother plant, were dipped in rooting hormone and then directly stuck into the 6.5" pot filled with the Wenke Blend media. The pots were placed on a heat bench where they were kept warm. It's easy to keep them warm in July. We also kept the environment humid with overhead misting. The cuttings developed roots and were well established by mid August.

The week of August 11th, we pinched the poinsettias. Pinching is a simple process of removing the tip of the plant. Pinching is what makes a single plant have multiple bracts. Our goal is to have 5-6 large bracts on each poinsettia that we sell.

The week of September 1st, we put rings on the pot and spaced them out. The rings are there to help protect the plant during shipping. The plants are given about 16" of space on all sides to allow them to grow to their fullest. Plants that are not given enough space are usually floppy and tall and won't hold up as well.

We closely monitored the height of the poinsettia right from the start. Now, toward the end of the production cycle, we control the height with temperature. If the plants are growing too tall, we cool them to 55 degrees for two hours before and two hours after sunrise. If the plants are growing too short, we warm them to 75 degrees for two hours before and two hours after sunrise. Since heat is the major expense with poinsettias, we certainly hope that we're cooling instead of warming.

We started to see color in the bracts mid October and as of today, November 3, 2008, the color is really starting to show. Poinsettias need total darkness for 12-14 hours a night to develop color in their bracts which is why we can not grow them on Market Street where the lights from the traffic would interfere.

The actual flower on the poinsettia is called the cyathia which should develop by the end of November. Once the cyathia is fully bloomed, the poinsettia will start to decline. Always look for a tight cyathia when purchasing a poinsettia.

To keep the poinsettia looking good in your home, there are a few important things to remember: 1) Poinsettias can get cold damage very quickly. Keep them covered when transporting them to your home. 2) Poinsettias don't like it above 70 degrees. If you keep your home warm or put the plant near a heat vent, it will not hold up well. 3) Poinsettias do not want to be wet. Most will only need water once / week. Pot covers hold water and drown the plant if not emptied. 4) Poinsettias are not poisonous.

We hope you enjoy poinsettias as part of your holiday tradition.