It’s here! CHRISTMAS has finally arrived to fill our lives with joy and colour.

Florists, garden centres, shopping centres… Everything invites us to buy the queen of plants, the Poinsettia, to share those special moments before the end of the year and to welcome the new one.

This beautiful plant called euphorbia pulcherrima, is commonly known as pascuero, poinsettia or Christmas flower, depending on where you live.

This shrub is native to Mexico and Guatemala and planted in the ground, it can reach two to three metres in height. In the market, when bought potted, it does not usually exceed 1.40m in height. Many growers also work it as a canopy and it is mainly used to decorate the entrances of establishments.

It is a deciduous shrub and flowers during the winter months, reaching its maximum splendour in December. The most characteristic feature of this plant is its leaves called bracts, which protect a tiny flower at the tip of the branches. These bracts are green in colour and change colour when subjected to a lot of light. That’s when the magic happens!

Its colours can be various, although the difference in production is overwhelming: 80% red and the rest is varied between white, various shades of pink, orange… The red is the colour of the original plant, which has a longer life and is much more resistant to any disease. The rest of the colours are the result of research work to obtain beautiful hybrids with a shorter life and much more fragile to any problem.

When choosing yours, check that the flowers at the tip of the branches are beginning to open (not fully open), indicating a less advanced ripening point. Also check that there are no rotten or broken branches, as it is normal that, unless you buy it from a specialised centre, it has been bagged for days, causing humidity problems. The leaves of the plant should be green. If you find any yellow leaves, it means that it has already started to become stressed due to lack of watering, lack of light or any other necessary condition.

This plant requires simple care, but very few people manage to keep it alive for more than a year. Why?  

The main problem lies in achieving a constant warm bubble and not overwatering. Let’s go for it!

Here is a summary of the main care:

• The poinsettia needs a lot of light: We usually place it indoors, so it is necessary to find a quiet place, without draughts, where the amount of direct or indirect light is abundant.
• Location: this plant can live indoors or outdoors as long as it is protected from frost.
• Temperature: it is advisable to keep it between 15-20ºC. As it is very sensitive to a dry environment, keep it away from direct heating.
• Watering: use a small amount and water it a maximum of twice a week. The best option is to water it when the peat is dry on the surface of the pot, as excess water easily triggers a rotting problem. Water and remove excess water from the pot quickly.
• Fertiliser: Use liquid fertiliser every 10 days or so to keep it well fed.

It is not so difficult, is it?

In Almeria, where the temperature is usually quite high all year round, you can find this plant planted in the gardens. When Christmas comes, there is no need to decorate them, as nature itself takes care of it.

Taking into account all that we have said, what can we do with our plant when Christmas is over? When Christmas is over and the leaves start to fall, it means that the flower has matured and, as happens to all plants, it will dry out. When its branches are bare, prune it 8 or 10 cm from the base and continue watering it as you did when you bought it, with care and patience. You won’t get a plant like the one you bought until November or December next year, but if you keep it alive all year round, it will give you incredible satisfaction.

You can try planting it in the ground if you have a good space for it, always protected from draughts and in semi-shade. Remember to make it easy to protect it from frost in winter and from intense sun in summer if you live in a very hot area.

Tell us about your experience!  

I’m sure there are many people who manage to keep their poinsettias alive all year round. Are you one of them?

In keeping with our passion for plants throughout the year, Rachel&Co team wishes you a Merry Christmas!

A. Mónica Martínez