Buying a poinsettia plant – a few quick tips

Posted by Greg Johnson · 1 Comment

poinsettia

On a visit to a local warehouse club over the weekend, I noticed a few people carrying out poinsettia plants they purchased. A sure sign of the approaching holiday season.

Before buying a poinsettia, here’s a couple of things to look for:

When choosing a poinsettia, look for ones that have dark green foliage and fully- colored bracts.
The best poinsettia plants are ones that are full and balanced. Look for one that’s about 2 1/2 times taller than the the pot it’s in, and looks good from all sides. Poinsettias that have not been pinched back will tend to have more flowers, but they will be noticeably smaller.
Look for plants that are just starting to flower. Check the base of the bract. New flowers are green and red-tipped. Poinsettia bracts maintain their color much longer if you select one that is in the beginning stages of flowering.
Avoid plants that have droopy or yellow leaves, or plants that are wilted with moist soil. This is a sure sign that the plant is under stress.
Always have your poinsettia wrapped if the temperature is below 50 degrees outside. Temperatures here last weekend were in the low 40′s with gusty winds, yet none of the plants I saw were wrapped.
After purchasing, don’t leave the plant wrapped for a long period of time. Poinsettias that are left wrapped or sleeved can deteriorate quickly.

One other quick tip – many non-floral outlets use poinsettias as a “loss leader” or impulse sale item. You can find good deals, but make sure you only buy as soon as they get their poinsettias in. With everybody from convenience stores to drug stores selling poinsettias, these tips will help you identify the best plants they carry.

But if you really care about getting a quality plant from a trusted source, pay a visit to your local florist. When it comes to poinsettias, they’re the real experts.

If you’re looking for tips on caring for your poinsettia, you can find more information here:

==>> Poinsettia Care

Any tips you want to add? Give me your comments below.