1. Poinsettia Production
Euphorbia pulcherima
cv’s: Sparkling Punch, Freedom Marble, Jingle Bells, etc.

2. Poinsettias
Poinsettias are a tropical plant of Mexico and Central America
Brought here by a diplomat named Poinsett
Took the plant to South Carolina and they were a huge hit!

3. Poinsettia Facts
Poinsettias are beautiful because of the leaves, not flowers
Colorful leaves are called bracts
Usually grown at Christmas and then thrown away (composted preferably)

4. Poinsettia flower and bract
True Flower

5. Poinsettias: Friend or Foe
Poinsettias are not poisonous.
Rumor started in 1919 when an army officer’s child allegedly died after eating a poinsettia leaf.
50 pound child would need to eat leaves to feel ill. Want some ranch with that poinsettia?
Upset stomach and diarrhea are side effects.
Not palatable
Still a choking hazard
Poinsettias just give me gas!

6. Poinsettia Photoperiod
They are a short-day blooming plant: PHOTOPERIODIC PLANT
Most plants are long day or day neutral plants
Bloom only at Christmas time (short days and long nights) naturally

7. How we do it Poinsettias are started from cuttings in July
Cuttings are placed in high humidity in the greenhouse
We got our poinsettias as plugs (already rooted) from Canada
Poinsettias arrived on 08/27/2014

8. What we need to do
We will need to transplant the plugs to 4” pots and 6” pots
We will need to pinch the plants (next week) so that there are lots of flowers
We need to apply an insecticide to control white flies (late when well rooted)
We need to fertilize and give them Epsom salts every week

9. What do you need? 13 or 26 poinsettia plugs
Equal # labels of that plug
4” azalea plastic pots
6” azalea plastic pots
Potting soil (or media) that has peat moss, bark, perlite, and vermiculite
Go to Edmodo for information about what plug you are transplanting

10. Aftercare
Poinsettias will be grown in the greenhouse and sold for $5-7 per pot. They will also be donated.
Poinsettias should last for 6-8 weeks during holiday season.
Keep them inside away from drafts and vents.
Water them as needed (once they dry out).

11. Pest Control Today
Each of your plants will need to be given Marathon insecticide (later)
This insecticide is systemic- kills from the inside, as pest sucks sap.
You will wear a glove (later date) to apply the pesticide all over the soil evenly
Use ½ teaspoon per pot
Spread over the potting soil

12. Poinsettia Pests Pest Picture Whiteflies Mealy Bugs Fungus Gnats
Spider Mites
Thrips
Fungi

13. Transplanting Today Potting What goes on label
Each plug will need to be put into a new 4” or 6” container
This container will be filled with potting soil
The plant should be tapped from the bottom
The soil levels should align
You will then make a label for each plant
Front
Initials
Period
Where does it go?
Place label with picture showing on edge of pot
Make sure it gets a label as soon as you transplant the plug
We will keep all of your group’s plants together on bench #3 and #4

14. Pot Size and Group
Enduring Pink
Freedom Early Red
Freedom Marble
Freedom Pink
Freedom Pepper-mint
Freedom White
Ice Punch 4” 39 13
2nd period
Grp 1
Grp 2
Grp 3
Grp 4
Grp 5
Pot Size and Group
Jubilee Jingle Bells
Jubilee Red
Prestige Early Red
Prestige Maroon
Red Glitter
Sparkling Pink 4” 39 X 26 6” 13
4th period
Grp 1
Grp 2
Grp 3
Grp 4
Grp 5

15. Irrigation/Fertigation Today
Plants will all be placed on the bench and all of the class will water the plants together, immediately after potting
When we water and fertilize together, this is known as fertigation

16. In the Future We will check for pests
We have to make sure that they are not exposed to light after it gets dark
This means we can’t turn on the lights at night, ever: this will inhibit changing colors (won’t reflower)

17. In the Future: Pinching
Two weeks after transplanting, (9/18 for 4” and 9/13 for 6”) we will pinch
We will pinch the plant so that there are only five to seven nodes
This means that there will be four to six beautiful flowers and bracts at Christmas

18. How to pinch… two weeks later.

19. Remember We must keep the greenhouse clean
Keep water hoses off of the ground *especially the nozzle
Don’t throw any dead plant matter on the ground, put it outside in the garbage

20. Aftercare Most common question: How do we get them to reflower?
It’s difficult
Needs fertilizer
Needs to be repotted
Can’t get light at night after September
Night temps 70-75F, day 60-70F