Pointsettia Care

Poinsettia, the Christmas plant, is popular in many American homes. With the introduction of long-lasting cultivars, the popularity of the poinsettia has increased significantly. It was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, first U. S. ambassador to Mexico who obtained plants from the wilds of southern Mexico. The common name for the exotic plant, poinsettia, came from his last name. Botanically, the plant is known as Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Water
Examine the soil daily, and when the surface is dry to the touch, water the soil until it runs freely out the drainage hole in the container. The amount of water recommended in the table for use in various sized containers ensures that enough water will be applied so that some will run out the drainage hole. If a saucer is used, discard the water that collects in it. Do not leave the plant standing in water. Overly wet soil lacks sufficient air, which results in root injury.
A wilted plant may drop its leaves prematurely, so check the soil frequently. Plants exposed to high light and low humidity require more frequent watering. If wilting does occur, immediately water with the recommended amount, and 5 minutes later water again.

Light
If you obtain a poinsettia for your home, place it near a sunny window where it will have the most available sunlight. A window that faces south, east or west is better than one facing north. Do not let any part of the plant touch the cold windowpane because this may injure it.
Temperature
To keep the plant in bloom, maintain it at a temperature of 65 to 70 degrees F during the daylight hours and, if possible, move it to a cooler place at night. Because root rot disease is more prevalent at temperatures below 60 degrees F, do not put the poinsettia in a room colder than this. Avoid exposing the plant to hot or cold drafts, which may cause premature leaf drop.

Reflowering
Poinsettias can be reflowered the following Christmas, but unless a yearlong schedule of care is observed, the results usually are not good. For such a schedule, continue normal watering of the soil until the first of April, then allow it to dry gradually. Do not let it get so dry at any time that the stems shrivel. Following the drying period, store the plant in a cool (60 degrees F), airy location on its side or upright.
In the middle of May, cut the stems back to about 4 inches above the soil, and either replant in a pot 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter or shake old soil off the roots and repot in the same container, using a new soilless mix. Many good commercial potting mixes are available. Choose one that is not very finely textured. Using soil from the garden can introduce disease to the plant. Water the soil thoroughly after potting; wait five minutes and water again. Then put the plant near the window that is exposed to the most sunlight. Keep the plant at a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees F, and water when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. After new growth appears, fertilize every two weeks with a complete-analysis, water soluble fertilizer at the rate recommended on the label for flowering plants.
In early June, leave the plant in the pot, move it outdoors, and place it in a lightly shaded location. Continue watering and fertilizing the plant while it is outdoors. Pinch each stem (remove 1 inch of terminal growth) in early July. Then, between August 15 and September 1, cut or pinch the new stems back, allowing three or four leaves to remain on each shoot. After this second pinch, bring the plant indoors and again place it near a window with a sunny exposure. If the plant is not pinched, it will grow too tall and be unsightly. Keep the plant at a temperature of 65 to 70 degrees F at night and continue watering and fertilizing.
Poinsettias are short-day plants, which means they flower about 10 weeks after the daylight shortens to about 12 hours or less. Therefore, to have the plant in full flower by Christmas, keep it in complete darkness between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. from the first part of October until Thanksgiving. During this period, any kind of light exposure between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. will delay flowering. A closet, opaque box or opaque cloth will keep the plant in darkness during those hours. Remember to put the plant near a sunny window in the daytime. Continue fertilizing the plant until mid-December.
Various reports over the years have led the general public to believe poinsettias are toxic to humans; however, this has not been authenticated. Research conducted at The Ohio State University and other institutions has proved the old wives' tale that poinsettias are poisonous to be false.

The Meaning of Wedding Flowers


Flowers were brought into weddings to represent purity, fertility, new life and never-ending love. Tradition often calls for the bride to carry a bouquet of flowers and the groom to wear a boutonniere (a flower that appears in the bridal bouquet and represents his declaration of love).

The history behind the bridal bouquet:
Wedding flowers have origins deep in history. The ancient Roman bride and groom wore garlands around their necks to symbolize long life and fertility. As history reveals, the bridal bouquet symbolized a maid in bloom. The flowers were chosen based on scent, color and decoration. Later on, when the couple would come across the same fragrance, it would bring back memories of their happy day.


The tossing of the bouquet:
Tossing of the bouquet comes from an English tradition where women would attempt to tear pieces of the bride´s dress and flowers to possibly obtain some of her good fortune. To escape from the women, the bride would toss her bouquet into the crowd and run away. It is believed today that the woman that catches the bouquet will be the next to marry!

This year’s trends:
When it comes to selecting a bouquet, brides often look for a bouquet that expresses their personality. Here are some trendy ideas for making your wedding special.Do as the Romans did in times of celebration. Add stalks of herbs to your bouquet, such as sweet-scented, pale purple lavender. Or take a bundle of typical white wedding blooms, like stephanotis or calla lilies, and tie the bouquet with a celadon-green wrap secured with a purple snap or button.Colorful adornments -- from ribbons and fabric to beads and baubles -- will make any mundane bouquet meaningful.

Learn the meanings of these popular wedding flowers and incorporate a little bit of history into your wedding day:
Calla lily -- beauty
Freesia -- innocence
Rose -- love
Lily of the valley -- happiness
Sweet pea -- pleasure
Violet -- faithfulness

Perhaps the most meaningful way to make the most of your wedding bouquet is to incorporate a part of yourself into it, whether you choose yellow roses because you were born in Texas or bunch together peonies, grown in your mother's garden, for a homemade, homespun bouquet. Consider beading a relative's pearls around the soft rose petals of your bouquet to include an added oomph of sophistication (as well as a personal touch) to your city-chic wedding. Another idea? Accent your traditional wedding bouquet with a few stems of the flowers that represent your and your fiance's birth months or wedding date.

Flowers for Health & Wellness
‘Where flowers bloom so does hope.’ - Lady Bird Johnson

Hundreds of independent studies have confirmed it! The flower is officially good for your health and well being. A study conducted by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, states;

1. Flowers immediately & universally have a positive effect on happiness. All recipients expressed “true” or “excited” smiles and demonstrated extraordinary delight and gratitude.
2. Flowers have a long lasting positive effect. The positive effects felt by participants lasted anywhere from 5 – 21 days. Participants felt less depressed, anxious or agitated and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.
3. Flowers lead to increased social contact. Participants increased their contact with family and friends, and when friends or family were in the presence of the flowers those positive effects were passed on to them.

Another study by Dr. Roger Ulrich concluded that patients recovering in the hospital who were sent flowers had shorter hospital stays, took fewer prescription medicine for pain and whose medical tests revealed healthier and better results.Diane Relf of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute determined;
1. People communicate better in the presence of flowers or plants
2. They tend to eat slower when flowers are on the table.
3. Flowers restore mental fatigue and enhance self-esteem.
4. Some potted plants remove pollutants from a room’s atmosphere.
5. Placing plants and flowers in a room significantly increases humidity, which reduces some of the effects of illnesses such as the common cold.

Another study conducted by Rutgers, geared more towards senior citizens & flower effects, shows some great results.
1. Flowers decreased depression in over 81% of seniors studied.
2. Flowers helped to refresh recent memory & provided enriched personal memories in over 72% of participants.
3. Flowers encouraged companionship in over 40%, by re-engaging with members of their communities and enlarged their social contacts to include more neighbors, religious support and even medical personnel.

Sending flowers not only brightens the day of one person, but has an immediate effect on many people. Flowers in a nursing home can bring increased health and happiness to all within the building & can brighten the day of someone who feels alone and forgotten, and this could be a person who is not even receiving the flowers!
Send flowers to your mom, dad, sisters, brothers, neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, or congregation members just to say, "I'm Thinking of YOU!" and it will be a day no one will ever forget!!