Poinsettia Production Euphorbia pulcherima cvs Sparkling Punch Freedom

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

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!

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)

Poinsettia flower and bract True Flower Bract

Poinsettias: Friend or Foe Poinsettias just give me gas! • 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 500 -600 leaves to feel ill. Want some ranch with that poinsettia? • Upset stomach and diarrhea are side effects. • Not palatable • Still a choking hazard

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

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

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

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 • • •

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).

Pest Control Today • Each of your plants will need to be given Marathon insecticide (later) • This insecticide is systemickills 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

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

Transplanting Today Potting • 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 What goes on label • 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

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

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

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)

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

How to pinch… two weeks later.

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

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 -75 F, day 60 -70 F – –