SEEING RED 'TIS THE SEASON FOR POINSETTIAS, AND FOLLOWING A FEW TIPS WILL ENSURE THEIR HEALTH FOR THE HOLIDAYS.Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer If poinsettias had a distinctive fragrance, the scent in Dudley Davis' greenhouses would overwhelm visitors. Under canopies filtering sunlight and sheltering them from severe temperatures, tens of thousands of the popular Christmas plants - the best-selling potted plant in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. - sit in rows on platforms, soaking up water from overhead misters and awaiting shipment to independent garden centers throughout Southern and Central California Central California can refer to one of several divisions or regions of the U.S state of California:
Davis' Santa Paula Santa Paula (săn`tə pôl`ə), city (1990 pop. 25,062), Ventura co., S Calif., on the Santa Clara River in a fertile valley that yields citrus fruits, avocados, vegetables, flowers, nursery products, and walnuts; laid out 1875, inc. farm, Do Right's, deals mainly in bedding plants. But around September's autumnal equinox equinox (ē`kwĭnŏks), either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. The vernal equinox, also known as "the first point of Aries," is the point at which the sun appears to cross the , the tiny sprouts and bundled cuttings of species that will be in demand come spring are rearranged to make room for poinsettia poinsettia: see spurge. poinsettia Popular flowering plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima), best-known member of the diverse spurge family. Native to Mexico and Central America, it grows in moist, wet, wooded ravines and on rocky hillsides. cuttings from Costa Rica Costa Rica (kŏs`tə rē`kə), officially Republic of Costa Rica, republic (2005 est. pop. 4,016,000), 19,575 sq mi (50,700 sq km), Central America. and Guatemala. If left to progress naturally, those cuttings would begin budding around the third week of November. But that is too late for most merchants who want to stock the plants before Thanksgiving, so growers help the process along with four additional hours of artificial light at night, generating buds by early October. This week Do Right's poinsettias - the popular brilliant red variety called Prestige - were ready for packaging and delivery. Four women walked among the 6-inch pots, inspecting each plant for limp leaves and other signs of weakness and slipping only the good ones into perforated clear plastic sleeves. ``The development of the berry gives you a good idea how far along the plant is,'' Davis said, pointing to the cluster of green buds at the center of one. If they already are completely yellow and dusty with pollen, the plant will not keep its desired colorful display as long. It is those little center buds that are the true flowers of the poinsettia, while the eye-catching red growth is a leaf cluster known as the bract bract Modified, usually small, leaflike structure often positioned beneath a flower or inflorescence. What are often taken to be the petals of flowers are sometimes bracts—for example, the large, colourful bracts of poinsettias or the showy white or pink bracts of . ``You want the inner bract (the cluster of small red leaves closest to the buds) to be open,'' Davis noted. Sperling Nursery in Calabasas had a good number of varieties for sale this week, including Burgundy, the pink-and-white Jingle Bell and curly Winter Rose. Smaller plants were available in 2-inch pots with water wells and wicks, suitable for African violets after the season passes, and there even were lush hanging baskets in red, white and mixes. After choosing a healthy plant, maintaining it is easy - in the proper setting. ``A Prestige should last all the way through Christmas,'' Davis said. Poinsettias enjoy direct sunlight but don't tolerate cold or warm drafts. They need to be watered every two to three days, depending on the home's humidity. Be sure to allow for drainage by removing the decorative pot wrapper or at least puncturing holes in the bottom of it. ``It's just a matter of common sense,'' Davis said. ``When the soil is dry, water it. And don't let the heat vents blow on it.'' A tip for all the ``old wives'' out there: Contrary to the popular belief, poinsettias are not poisonous to children or pets. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a study conducted at Ohio State University Ohio State University, main campus at Columbus; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered 1870, opened 1873 as Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, renamed 1878. There are also campuses at Lima, Mansfield, Marion, and Newark. in the 1970s, a 50-pound child who eats 600 bracts would get a stomachache stom·ach·ache n. Pain in the stomach or abdomen. stomachache Vox populi Gastralgia . (Researchers reached this conclusion by extrapolating results from rats who were fed all parts of the plant, not by actually putting a child on a strange diet.) This is not to say that poinsettias will be the next wave in exotic salad ingredients. Experts say they still are not considered edible and they don't even taste good. Davis said his own cats have nibbled poinsettias and remain their normal, ``cranky'' selves afterward. ``The worst that could happen is they'll get a sore throat Sore Throat Definition Sore throat, also called pharyngitis, is a painful inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the pharynx. It is a symptom of many conditions, but most often is associated with colds or influenza. ,'' he said. Another urban legend Myths about anything and everything that barely have a shred of truth in them, yet seem to take on a persistent life of their own. Before the Internet, such urban folklore as "alligators in New York City sewers" was carried in magazines and newspapers. : Placing poinsettias in a dark closet after the red bracts have faded or fallen will spur it to bloom again. This is more trouble than it is worth for most of us, given that even brief exposures to light will make it ineffective. Some older Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, homes have poinsettia plants in their yards, but Davis says most are a cane variety that are not closely related to farmed hybrids such as Marble and Silver Star. Davis says not to expect much more than a gangly gan·gly adj. gan·gli·er, gan·gli·est Gangling. [Alteration of gangling.] Adj. 1. green plant if you put a potted poinsettia in the ground. ``They will not bloom unless you can restrict light to 12 hours or less (per day). And it doesn't take very much light to confuse them - about 10 foot candles,'' he said, noting street lights, headlights or porch lights would compromise the process. ``It doesn't make a good yard plant,'' he said. ``When it's gone, it's best to get rid of it.'' After the holidays, Sperling gives away or discards any remaining poinsettias to make room for plants in greater demand, salesman Richard Blaisdell said. But under the right conditions, the potted plants can remain colorful for months. ``I have these on my patio go all the way until April,'' said Blaisdell, who lives in West Hills. Soon Do Right's greenhouse will finish shipping its 2004 poinsettia crop and yield more than 100,000 square feet of greenhouse space to chrysanthemums, vincas, poppies, ground covers, herbs and exotic grasses. And next fall, the greenhouses again will be a sea of red blooms waiting to brighten homes at Christmastime. Valerie Kuklenski, (818) 713-3750 valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com A Christmas story The poinsettia, also known as the Mexican flame leaf or Christmas star, is native to southern Mexico and was named for Joel Roberts Poinsett Joel Roberts Poinsett (March 2, 1779 – December 12, 1851) was a physician, botanist and American statesman. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, the first United States Minister to Mexico (the United States did not appoint ambassadors until 1896), a , the United States' first ambassador to that country who brought some plants home with him in 1825. The plant's association with the Christmas season seems to be twofold. First, it reaches its peak beauty at this time of year with naturally rich Christmas colors of red and green. The second reason is the legend of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift for the baby Jesus to present at the Christmas Eve Mass. On the way to church, her cousin Pedro tried to console her by assuring her that any gift given in love would be accepted gratefully by the Christ child. So Pepita gathered a bouquet of weeds by the road, took them into the church and placed them on the altar at the baby's feet. The story says the common weeds suddenly changed into vivid red blooms. It's known as Flores Flores, town, Guatemala Flores (flōrəs), town (1990 est. pop. 2,200), capital of Petén department, N Guatemala. Flores was built on an island in the southern part of Lake Petén Itzá and on the site of the de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night. (Sources: www.floristdex.com, Nebula nebula (nĕb`y  lə) [Lat.,=mist], in astronomy, observed manifestation of a collection of highly rarefied gas and dust in interstellar space. ) CAPTION(S): 6 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Jon Tsuchiyama, manager of West Valley Nursery in Tarzana, looks over his colorful selection of holiday poinsettias. (2 -- color) At Do Right's, a Santa Paula grower, Erica Suarez places a brilliant red poinsettia plant into a container. (3 -- color) MONET POINSETTIA (4 -- color) PINK POINSETTIA (5 -- color) WHITE WINTER ROSE POINSETTIA (6 -- cover -- color) a passion for RED Keep your poinsettias beautiful throughout the holidays Photos by Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer Box: A Christmas story (see text) |
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