Christmas Beauty Marble

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Order

Euphorbiales

Genus

Euphorbia

Species

pulcherrima

Description

A perennial ornamental plant, often cultivated as an annual in relation to the environmental and climatic conditions present, with an erect habit, abundant branching and very striking and decorative bracts; the bright green to dark green foliage also gives the plant a scenic value. The poinsettia, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, is native to Mexico where it grows to the size of a tree. In Europe, it has been predominantly used since the 20th century as a flowering pot plant for indoors, to decorate homes or offices. The colouring of the bracts, which occurs in late autumn, makes it the typical ornamental plant for the Christmas season, hence the common name poinsettia. Easy to grow, it prefers well-lit spaces but away from heat sources and draughts, in a substrate free of water stagnation.

Varietal description

Plant regularly sold at Christmas time Poinsettia variety particularly conspicuous for its pink central bracts and creamy white on the edge.

curiosity and special features

The Poinsettia was cultivated by the ancient Indians and Aztecs as a symbol of purity, the bracts were used to dye fabrics and the latex for medicinal purposes.

In Italy it is used during the Christmas period to decorate homes in pots or for fresh compositions; if cut, it is advisable to soak the stems for a few seconds in hot water and immediately afterwards in cold water in order to encourage the lymphatic vessels to close and thus prevent the latex from escaping. The flower of the Poinsettia, called cyathium, is yellow while what are improperly called inflorescences are the bright red, pink or white bracts with uniform, mottled or shaded colouring.

Origin and Diffusion

Native to Guatemala and Mexico, where it grows wild, reaching up to 6 metres in height, the Poinsettia was already cultivated for ornamental and medicinal purposes by the Aztecs. At the beginning of the 19th century, it arrived as herbarium material in Europe where it was classified under different names until it was given the name Poinsettia in America in honour of the American politician J. R. Poinsett. Poinsett who, during his diplomatic service in Mexico, had the first specimens sent to the United States for his personal greenhouse. The botanist C. L. Willdenow gave it the scientific name Euphorbia pulcherrima, from the Latin "the most beautiful Euphorbia".

Cultivation in pots began in the 1930s and then reached true commercial development from the 1940s until today thanks to a large number of varieties with compact growth, a globular habit and numerous bracts in different shades and tones of colour.

Flower size

The flower individually is small, united in a larger inflorescence.

Leaf

Leaf has a palmately lobed lamina.

Flowering period

Referring to what is generally referred to as a flower, but which is actually a transformation of leaves into coloured bracts, the period lasts from mid-autumn to mid-winter for 60 to 90 days.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence scorpioid top called cyathium.

Leaf color

Solid colours in perfect colour balance with the colour range of the bracts.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.2 to 0.35 m with normal cultivation techniques and when used as an indoor decoration plant.

Lifespan

A perennial plant, the poinsettia is often used as an annual for indoor spaces due to its typical ornamental characteristic that makes it particularly attractive at Christmas time, while in its native places it is a polyannual plant that becomes a true shrub or tree.

Suggested planting locations

Depending on the climatic conditions, it is used as a pot plant , flowerbed

Stem/stem

The stem is herbaceous, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is simple in form, small in size, with a tubular corolla and shaded two-coloured petals. It is arranged in medium-sized, scorpioid-tipped inflorescences. It flowers from mid-autumn to mid-winter, with a flowering period of between 60 and 90 days. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

It is considered a medium to vigorous growing plant. It can reach the described development as a size and be of considerable decorative effect if the suggested required conditions are adopted.

Plant habit

Plant habit with colourful bracts rising among the green foliage.

branching

Variety characterised by medium branching that gives the plant a well-tended appearance, rich in leaves and flowers.

pH

The optimum pH for poinsettias lies in the range between 5.8 and 6.5. These values are quite acidic and it is important that they are maintained even when the plants are used indoors, in flats or offices, paying attention to the type of fertilisation and the water used for watering, which must not vary the ideal pH.

sun exposure

For best results in foliage development and bract colouration expose it to a light source indoors, full sun.

Ideal climate and temperature

The biological temperature is between 10 and 35 °C. The ideal temperature is between 15 and 20 °C. Air humidity 50 60, it is advisable to keep it away from heat sources and draughts, which can cause premature leaf fall.

Use

In Europe it is used, mainly during the Christmas period, in
Ornamental interior Ornamental environment

Hardiness

A variety of medium-high rusticity, placing it in a well-lit position and avoiding water stagnation will give us a vegetative development with a remarkable scenic effect.

Soil/medium

The ideal soil should be well draining and composed mainly of fibrous peat with the addition of perlite.

Maintenance

Cultivation is fairly easy, the level of management effort required is overall low, and by ensuring a suitable exposure and balanced watering without waterlogging we will achieve excellent ornamental results.

cultivation tips

For best growth performance, it is recommended to

Avoid over-watering

Composition

We can combine poinsettia varieties with bracts of different hues to create bright, glowing Christmas arrangements.

Reproduction/Propagation

By apical cutting.

Irrigation

Like many ornamental plants, it is advisable to use non-calcareous water for irrigation, as this would be incompatible with the optimal acidity values of the soil. Watering should allow sufficient drying time between watering, keeping the substrate moist but not saturated and avoiding root-damaging water stagnation; water the pot and do not water the leaves directly, for which a spray mist is recommended instead.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Fertilization

There are specific fertilisers for poinsettias on the market, which respond well to the need for balanced nutrition. Due to the characteristics of the root system, which is rather thin and sensitive to excess salinity, over-fertilisation is often more harmful than under-fertilisation. Fertilisers for ornamental plants based on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium with trace elements are however suitable.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Pet friendly

Toxic to dogs and cats if Leaf and bracts are ingested.

Edibility for humans

Non-edible.

Human toxicity

Leaves and bracts may be toxic if ingested; cut stems release white latex that may cause contact irritation.

advise 1

For good conservation of the plant at home, it is best to avoid placing the plant near heat sources, preferably in cool, bright areas of the house. Never water abundantly.