Poinsettias are a favorite holiday gift and decoration. Their vibrant red, pink, white, and even marbled flowers brighten up homes and gardens during the winter months, making them a symbol of the holiday season. Personally, I love it when they're dusted with sparkly glitter. While often appreciated for their festive appearance, there's more to these plants than meets the eye!

The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is native to Mexico, where it has been associated with Christmas for centuries. In Mexico, the plant is known as “Nochebuena,” meaning “Holy Night,” and it's part of Christmas Eve celebrations. The connection between poinsettias and Christmas began in the early 1800s, when the plant was introduced to the United States by the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. Poinsett was a plant lover and brought the plant back to his greenhouse in South Carolina, where it became popular across the nation. In honor of his role in bringing the plant to the U.S., the flower was named after him, and December 12th is now celebrated as National Poinsettia Day.

One of the most fascinating facts about poinsettias is that the colorful parts we associate with flowers are actually modified leaves, called bracts. These bracts surround the true flowers, which are small, yellow, and located in the center of the colorful leaves. The bright, red bracts are the plant's way of attracting pollinators to its tiny, inconspicuous flowers. The color of the bracts is affected by the amount of sunlight the plant receives, with most varieties requiring about 12 hours of darkness for several weeks to initiate the process of blooming.

Poinsettias are often treated as short-term holiday decor, but with the right care, they can thrive and even rebloom year after year. To keep poinsettias alive beyond the winter, place them in bright, indirect light. Near a sunny window is good, but avoid direct sunlight, as this can scorch the bracts. They prefer temperatures between 65 and 70°F during the day and slightly cooler temperatures at night. Protect your poinsettia from drafts, and be mindful of placing it near heat sources like radiators or vents, as sudden temperature changes can cause the plant to wilt prematurely.

Poinsettias like their soil to stay slightly moist, but they don't tolerate soggy conditions. Water your poinsettia when the surface of the soil feels dry to the touch. Be sure to water thoroughly, allowing the excess water to drain from the bottom of the pot. Make sure the plant's pot has drainage holes to prevent water from pooling in the base, as this can lead to root rot. Avoid letting the plant sit in standing water.

While poinsettias don't need a lot of fertilization during the holiday season, if you plan to keep them long-term, you can feed them a balanced liquid fertilizer once every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). Over-fertilizing can lead to excessive leggy growth, so it's best to use fertilizer sparingly.

After the holiday season, you can continue to care for your poinsettia and even encourage it to bloom again the following year. Begin by trimming back the plant to about 4 to 6 inches above the soil line in late winter or early spring. This helps the plant maintain its shape and encourages new growth.

To encourage reblooming, poinsettias require a period of darkness. Starting in October, place your poinsettia in a completely dark location for 12 to 14 hours each night. During the day, return it to a sunny spot. This dark period mimics the natural conditions that trigger the poinsettia's flowering process. After about 6 weeks of darkness, the plant should start to produce colorful bracts once again, ready to bloom for the holiday season!