Instructions on How to Grow Poinsettias for Christmas

As with most things, Poinsettias became associated with Christmas by way of a legend. In Mexico, where the legend originated, Poinsettias are known as Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night because they bloom during the Christmas season and the legend tells us why. As the story goes, a pheasant girl had to gift to bring to for the Christ Child at the Christmas Eve Service. She pick some weeds that were growing by the road so she would have something to bring and a miracle happened when the weeds turned to beautiful red flowers, the Poinsettia. Now that you know why the Poinsettia is for Christmas, there are some things you need to learn before you decide to pant your own Poinsettias for Christmas.

Poinsettias are native to Mexico and are considered a tropical plant, so they only do well outside in the warm southern states. They are grown commercially in all 50 states, however, in the plant zones where the weather gets cold they are grown in hot houses.

Poinsettias that are grown outdoors in a hot climate can grow as high as 10 feet. It takes a few years to get to this point, but they are quite a site. Poinsettias are not that easy to grow. They take a lot of patience. First of all, they do not tolerate frost at all, so if you want to have a garden full of poinsettias, you have to live in an area where the coldest temperature gets to about 45 degrees F and no colder.

Make sure they are in a place where they get full sunshine during the day but - and here is the tricky part- they must not get any light at all at night in early October, when the flowers are beginning to bud. Just the tiniest bit if light, any kind of light, can delay and even stop the plant from flowering and all your work will be for nothing.

Poinsettias do best when planted in the early spring. Make sure the hole is deep enough and much right away. You will need to fertilize them once a month from spring right through fall. Check with your local garden center to see the exact timing for your area. They also like a lot of moisture. The soil must be kept moist at all times, no exception or you will loose leaves, and very fast too.

Poinsettias are a lot of work, but they are so worth it. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where poinsettias thrive, just imagine what your yard would look like with a 10 foot high poinsettia hedge. Not like any other in the neighborhood for sure.