This is my Christmas poinsettia, still going strong after 8 months. This plant was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, first U. S. ambassador to Mexico who obtained plants from the wilds of southern Mexico. There are many websites with information about caring for a poinsettia to get it to reflower. I have done none of those things. In fact I lkept expecting the red bracts to fall off at which time i planned to discard the pot. Well, as you can see, it is getting a whole new set of green leaves and the red leaves are looking shop worn but they are still hanging on for dear life. Now I don't have the heart to throw the plant out. I'm committed to helping it survive til a ripe old age.
Here are 2 surprising facts I leaned from the web:
Eighty percent of poinsettias are purchased by women.
Eighty percent of people who purchase poinsettias are 40 or older.
For more useless trivia about poinsettia, click here: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/poinsettia/facts.cfm
This is great! We also had a poinsettia that lived FOREVER! My mom finally got sick of the thing, and actually "accidentally" left it outside over a frost! Granted, ours had no red by that point!
One summer I planted mine outside -- it was amazing how large it grew; way too big to bring back indoors. In VietNam where one of my sister lives they actually turn into trees. I actually don't buy poinsettia at Christmas anymore because I don't want to take care of all year and I can't bring myself to throw it away -- like you.
Really good photo for the theme.
How cool! I didn't even know you could get them to reflower because we've always thrown ours out. I used to buy one every year, but now that I have cats who like to investigate everything with their mouths, I don't bother with plant life of any kind.
I cant believe it's 8 months old!! I do not have a green thumb at all! :)
*** keeping the kitty but she will probably have to be outside most of the time--my husband and I are both allergic and we already have 1 cat that's inside part of the time--I love cats though so its hard to say no--esp when my daughter loves them too!*
My poinsetta have remained looking excellent for a number of years now! My secret? Silk (My primary concern is to keep the real ones away from my kitties...) For a number of years I bought the real thing, but I hated that I couldn't keep them alive throughout the year, and, if I could, I'd feel remiss in not planting them. Too much agonizing over them!
How nice for you to have a second-annual poinsetta to set out!
If I remember correctly, my Grtandmother had one, and every year she would put it away in the basement or attick and it would bloom again the following year. I must ask my Sister but I am almost certain she has it now.
Really good photo for the theme.
*** keeping the kitty but she will probably have to be outside most of the time--my husband and I are both allergic and we already have 1 cat that's inside part of the time--I love cats though so its hard to say no--esp when my daughter loves them too!*
How nice for you to have a second-annual poinsetta to set out!