For the first time, the "Christmas tree" - the poinsettia flower - came to Europe thanks to the US Minister to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first to bring cuttings of the most beautiful milkweed (scientific name) to the United States. From there, it spread throughout the world.
Christmas custom
Very often the poinsettia is called "Christmas tree" or "Christmas star". This is due to the fact that the flower has a very bright red-green color, which resembles traditional Christmas decorations. It is on the eve of this day that it is customary to buy a plant for your home or present it as a gift.
It is believed that the "Christmas tree" is a houseplant that brings prosperity, love and understanding to the home and family. In European countries, temples, shopping centers, halls for holidays and banquets, as well as houses and apartments are decorated with poinsettia. The "Christmas tree" with red-green leaves is considered the main symbol of the holiday in the West.
Cultivation of milkweed at home, which has taken on a large scale, began at the end of the 20th century by the Ecke family from California. It is thanks to these people that the poinsettia has become widely known in various sectors of society.
During Aztec times, the "christmas tree" was used as a medicinal and ceremonial plant.
Outer beauty
The stem of the poinsettia contains a sticky white sap that is poisonous and irritating to the eyes when ingested.
This shrub plant comes in a variety of colors. More than 100 species have been recorded by observers. These are yellow, white, pink, red and many other colorful petals that come in not only different colors, but also different shapes.
How to choose a he althy plant
If you choose from all possible types, it is best to give preference at the time of purchase to the he althiest plant in appearance. "Christmas tree" is a flower with a short stem and green leaves located closer to the soil. Its petals are large, slightly elongated and pointed towards the end. It is undesirable to purchase a plant with wilted or drooping leaves, crooked stems, as well as dry soil in a pot.
"Christmas tree" care
At home, the flower grows up to half a meter, while in the natural environment the shrub reaches a meter in height. Poinsettia blooms up to six months, after which it begins to throw off the petals, gradually losing its bright, beautifulcolor.
In order for the "Christmas tree" (euphorbia flower) not to lose its beautiful petals ahead of time, it requires some care not only at home, but also during the transportation of the plant.
Poinsettia is very afraid of the cold. That is why after buying the plant, it is advisable to wrap it in paper and take it to heat as soon as possible. The air temperature should not be below 15 degrees, otherwise the flowers and stems will wither from the cold.
When buying flowers, it is important to pay attention to where exactly in the store there is a pot with a plant. In order for it to grow and bloom for a long time, it is better not to purchase those specimens that stand near the entrance-exit to the room or are often exposed to air flow of different temperatures.
You should pay attention to this at home too. You can not put a flower on a cold window or leave it in a draft. The petals must not come into contact with the glass. "Christmas tree" is a houseplant, the care of which must be serious. The optimum air temperature for it is 20-22 degrees.
Basic rules of care during flowering
To see a beautiful flowering, you must follow the rules for watering the plant. One of them, the most important, is to water the poinsettia only with warm water. This should be done when the soil is completely dry about 3-4 times a week with a little water.
If you water the flower abundantly, you can callstagnation of liquid at the bottom of the pot, which will lead to rotting of the roots, yellowing and falling of the leaves. To avoid rotting, excess water must be drained from the pan, and the bottom of the pot should be provided with drainage (a hole in the bottom and a layer of expanded clay) for additional filtration. In addition, it is necessary to spray the petals up to twice a day, trying to avoid flowering leaves.
"Christmas star" loves bright light, but it is important to consider the fact that direct sunlight on the leaves of the plant can cause them to burn, resulting in wilting.
Flower "Christmas tree": how to care for the plant after flowering
During flowering, it is not recommended to fertilize the soil in a pot of poinsettia. This can lead to premature end of flowering. After the plant has faded, the fertilizer is diluted in water and the soil is watered up to twice a month every 2-4 weeks. It is necessary to pour fertilizer only on the soil, trying to do it slowly and carefully so that water droplets do not fall on the stems of the plant. With the right care, the poinsettia will bloom throughout the winter holidays.
After about 5-6 months you can see the first signs of the end of flowering. At this point, do not be afraid and think that something is done wrong. This is an absolutely normal state of the flower during this period. In order for the plant to gain strength before a new flowering, the poinsettia is placed for several months in a dark, cool place, in which it should stand while resting. During this period, its stems are cut, creating the desired, usually round,form. Cut leaves under certain conditions can please the eye for at least 2-3 weeks. To do this, before lowering the stems into the water, they are cut off and dipped in boiling water for a few seconds (or the ends of the stems are held over the fire for 2-3 seconds). During rest, water the tree only when the ground is dry enough, and spray the leaves every other day.
Sometimes the poinsettia is transplanted into another pot, but it is important to consider the following: no matter what size the plant has become, the pot needs to be prepared only a few centimeters larger than the old one, otherwise the roots will rot.
How to ensure poinsettias bloom before Christmas
Providing the right light regime, Euphorbia can be made to bloom at the end of autumn. For this, several conditions must be met. Every day, the flower should be in bright light for no more than ten hours, and the rest of the time (14 hours) the poinsettia is kept in the dark. This regime is observed for at least two months. Usually it is November and December. After these actions, he is placed in a bright and warm room, where the air temperature is at least 18 degrees, and the humidity is up to 50%.
Insects that can kill the plant
There are many insects that harm the plant. Among them are the whitefly, spider mite, mealybug and mushroom mosquito. "Christmas Tree" is a houseplant that requires attention.
The whitefly is a small insect with white wings. These pests are very similar to a small moth. Most often they are on the inside of the sheet. If the plant is completely surrounded by whiteflies, the consequences can be detrimental to the plant, because it is difficult to get rid of it. This will require special medications. But if only a few individuals of this species appeared on the leaves, the flower can be saved quite easily. You just need to wash the plant under running water and treat the leaves with insecticidal soap, which will prevent the pest from returning. It is important to process the entire plant without missing a single petal.
As for spider mites, they are also easily removed from the plant with water and disinfectant soap. They appear if the poinsettia is left in a humid room for a long time. They are difficult to spot, but their presence is indicated by characteristic yellow spots on the tips of the leaves.
Mealybugs are considered one of the most dangerous insects. They are the largest. They form small white clumps that look like flakes. The dangerous thing is that they almost always come with ants. You can get rid of them with alcohol and insecticidal soap.
The most annoying and deadly insect for the poinsettia is the fungus gnat. Their larvae damage the roots, which as a result begin to rot. They look like tiny brown pinheads. They do not live on leaves, but on the soil, so they are easy to spot and recognize before irreparable harm has been done. Get rid of mosquitoes by transplanting, replacing soil and treating with insecticidal soap.
Gifts for the holidays
Dishes are considered a very relevant gift for the New Year holidays. The Christmas tree is depicted on it as the main symbol of the New Year and the Nativity of Christ.
The picture is usually an image of a spruce decorated with cones and Christmas decorations. At Spode, the Christmas tree can be found in the design of mugs, candle holders, beautiful trays with the words "Merry Christmas", plates and dishes, jugs, tea and coffee sets, pots, decorative figurines and much more.
A pot of beautiful poinsettia and fancy tableware make the perfect Christmas gift for families all over the world.
