How to Select a Christmas Poinsettia Plant

One of the most fun parts of the Christmas holiday season is decorating homes, offices and retail stores to put people in the Christmas spirit. Although there are numerous ways to decorate for the holiday season, one of the simplest ways is to use natural items to spice up your home. That is where the beautiful holiday Poinsettia plant comes in. Traditionally thought of as a Christmas plant, the poinsettia can actually last for much longer than that. But before you start piling holiday poinsettia plants into your shopping cart, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you select a healthy Christmas Poinsettia plant.

• Look for Poinsettia plants that have fully expanded leaves with a consistent color throughout. Although most Poinsettia plants are red, there are also pink Poinsettia plants and white Poinsettia plants.
• Look at the very center of each Poinsettia flower and locate the yellow part. These are actually the flower blooms. (The leaves are actually the part of the Poinsettia that turn red). Look for flower blooms that have not yet opened to make sure you select a Poinsettia plant that is still early in its growing cycle. If you notice a large amount of yellow powdery pollen near this center area, then the plant is almost done flowering and is past its prime.
• Select a Poinsettia plant that has six to eight red, pink, or white leaves on it.
• Look for an abundance of dark green leaves near the bottom edge of the Poinsettia plant.
• Feel the stem of the Poinsettia plant. It should feel very sturdy, almost like plastic and should not bend easily. Most reputable garden centers will place a plant brace around the Poinsettia plant to protect it during shipment. Try to select a Poinsettia plant that has a brace to ensure the stem has not been damaged.
• Run your hands across the leaves of the Poinsettia plant to see if any white flies fly into the air. White flies are very tiny flying insects that are the major pest for Poinsettias. If you see white flies, purchase your poinsettia plant from a different gardening center as it is likely all of the plants are infected.
• If possible, remove the poinsettia plant from the pot and examine the root system. The roots should be white or tan and should be long enough to reach the sides of the plant pot. If you notice a slimy appearance to the roots, do not purchase the plant. This is an indication of root rot caused by over watering.