Deck the Halls
Advent Wreaths
Christmas Tree
Outdoor Lighting

Poinsettia in a Hat

It does not get any simpler! For a festive but casual look place the Poinsettia pot in a Santa hat. Should the pot not have a saucer, place one in the bottom of the hat. Water carefully.

Caring for Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

Light
Maximum light during winter or at least three to four hours of direct sunlight daily.

Water
Soil should be allowed to dry slightly between thorough waterings. Water should be room temperature. Do not allow plants to sit in water.

Temperature
Keep plant in warm, draught-free position. Night temperatures of 14° - 18°C (60° - 65°F) and day temperatures of 20°C (70°F) or higher are ideal.

Humidity
Mist leaves regularly or set pots on a saucer of gravel filled with water.

Fertilizer
There is no need to fertilize during the flowering period.

Problems
Loss of leaves can be due to very low or very high temperatures. Poor lighting can also cause premature leaf drop.

The Legend of the Poinsettia

This lovely story is from Paul Ecke's website. If you would like to know more about the Poinsettia, please see here.

A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.

"I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly.

Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.

As she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.

From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia!

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