One Hundred Dollars a Month

If you have never taken the time to look up how to care for poinsettias {please imagine me raising my hand here}, here’s a quick and dirty guide to making them last much longer–maybe those pretty pink, red, and yellow leaves can actually sustain you through the long dreary lifeless winter. Ha!

Poinsettia Care Basics:

1. Make sure to start with healthy plants.  Pick the best out of the bunch.  Look for full leaves and deep colors.
2. Keep your poinsettias in a warm spot {not too warm, though}.  If you set them next to the door, watch out for repeated cold drafts.  They are not huge fans of temperatures below 50 degrees {we have that in common}.  They are happy to be in a cooler spot {between 55-65 at night, so don’t worry if you drop your temperature at night}
3. Watering.  Allow your plants to drain {you may want to punch additional holes in the bottom of your container}.  Poinsettias are like tomatoes, they do not like wet feet.  Water thoroughly when pot looks dry.  {You’ll know if you are overwatering because the leaves will turn yellow and fall off}
4. Poinsettias do best in bright, indirect light.  {Seems like an oxymoron, I know, but keep them in a well-lit room, away from the window}
5. If you really want them to last {6-8 weeks or so}, you may want to consider fertilizing them after they bloom.  {Little tip:  the colored red, pink, etc. parts are actually the leaves.  The flower is typically compact and green.}

With a little care, you can get the most out of your poinsettias–maybe pacify you until the Valentine’s Day Chocolates roll around?  Ha.

*** Did you know the Aztecs used Poinsettia sap to cure fevers and the red leaves {called bracts} to create red dye?  Yep.  I would not lie about such a useful bit of information. They didn’t really become a popular Christmas decoration until the 19^th century when a U.S. Mexican Ambassador brought them back to the states.  They bloom in December, so they were an ideal choice for the holidays.

Need something a little different to read with the kiddos this Holiday Season?  Try The Legend of the Poinsettia