ForumGarden

It is estimated that about 80% of the world's poinsettias originate at

the Ecke family ranch in Encinitas, California. In operation for over 100

years...



Did you know that the poinsettia "color" is NOT from the flower... what

you are seeing is leaf bracts...



I love poinsettias, when I had the means I used to line my front

walkway with them every year!!



:)

I manage to kill them every year.

What is a leaf bract?

My Grandma used to keep them in the basement after X-Mas and bring them into the light around Thanksgiving........I have no idea how she cared for them during the year.

The leaf bract is just what surrounds the actual bloom... the part

that changes color. The little tiny yellow part is the actual flower...



I tried for years to stick poinsettias in the closet for 6 weeks before

Christmas... never really worked, so I just bought new!!



Guy next door to me years ago had an ooutside bush that was probably

10 feet tall, it bloomed but more like August than December!!

My sister lives in Encinitas.....she never told me about the ponsettias. LC told me they grow outdoors ....it must be a wonderful sight.

Mine never used to last beyond a week because i always kept them on the window ledge,

i keep them on the kitchen table now and they can last 4+ weeks.

I found this on the web and its a pretty good site...

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/poinsettia/care.html

Bez wrote: My sister lives in Encinitas.....she never told me about the ponsettias. LC told me they grow outdoors ....it must be a wonderful sight.i love them, and i have seen them 6 feet tall in peoples' yards down here. stunning.