The traditional Christmas flower requires some care if you want it to survive the holidays.
Who has not bought a Christmas flower and has been disappointed to see that, almost automatically, it dies once the holidays are over?
The experience, shared by many, is repeated every year and with no apparent solution. In fact, most people are inclined to think that the short life of the plant means that what you buy each year is just a branch and not a plant. But no, the real reason is that the Christmas flower is difficult to grow. Perhaps the first indication of its ephemeral condition is provided by the Nahuatl culture, which called it "Flower that withers." The second clue points to the climatic conditions that the plant needs to live properly. But let's go in parts: The bush in question is known as Poinsettia, Christmas Star, Poinsettia.
Its scientific name that also has it is Euphorbia Pulcherrima (means "the most beautiful"), it was assigned by Joel Poinsett, who around 1825, took it to the United States when she served as ambassador of Mexico. Practically since then, the plant originally from Mexico, announces and symbolizes the arrival of the December holidays in most Venezuelan and Latin American homes.
The plant, on some occasions, can reach four meters in height. Its leaves are triangular in shape and dark green, with a velvety texture. The flower itself is tiny and yellow in color, but species with white and pink flowers are also known. Although it is not a poisonous plant, inside it has a milky liquid that causes irritation to some people.
Now, what makes them attractive and special for Christmas days is the vivid color of some leaves that, in contrast to the green of the rest of the foliage, makes them a unique decorative element. Now, the challenge is that it lasts several months.
That lasts me all year
The tropics are not the ideal place for this plant. In fact, it does not survive more than three months because it requires very specific climatic conditions.
A minimum of 15 ° C and a maximum of 20 ° C are suggested for optimal development. As there are very few areas in the country that register these low temperatures for the tropics, it is unlikely that you will be able to successfully cultivate one of them. However, there are those who believe that by taking proper care of it, they can adapt and survive for several years.
Nursery owners who do manage to sow it with satisfaction have their advice for those who venture to try their luck with growing this shrub. If you fail, ease yourself by remembering that the Christmas flower does not perish for lack of skill on your part; in this case, comfort yourself by buying a Christmas plant every year as if you were buying a useful and beautiful disposable good.
These are the recommendations of those who know:
If you got it from a nursery, which is very likely, transplant it into a larger pot. It is a light plant, so be careful not to expose it to direct sunlight.
When it is in flower it must receive a lot of light, thus preventing the flowers from falling off.
Before transplanting it try to water it little. Just do it liberally on summer days and until the flowering period. Make sure the surface of the soil is dry before watering it again
When the plant loses its flowers and leaves, proceed to prune it. Make sure the stems are about three inches long. From the moment of pruning, you must interrupt continuous watering.
Protect it from drafts. They are one of its worst enemies.
If you want to try to make the plant survive longer, that is, to exceed the three-month barrier, fertilize it following the manufacturer's instructions. Likewise, the fertilizer must be applied monthly, taking as the starting point the month of March and October as the deadline.
The plant is grateful if it is planted in fertile soils with a good drainage system.
The first indication of its ephemeral condition is provided by the Nahuatl indigenous culture, which called it "Flower that withers".
Thanks for reading my blog, until next time.