Ever wonder about the background of the poinsettia? I find this amazing. We have a brochure that we include with our poinsettia deliveries. I thought I'd share it with the my blog readers.
History and Legend of the PoinsettiaJoel Robert Poinsett, who was an amateur botanist and the first ambassador to Mexico, first introduced poinsettias to the United States in 1825. He introduced the plant to the United States when he brought some cuttings to his plantation in Greenwood, South Carolina.
December 12 in National Poinsettia Day, an official day set aside to enjoy this symbol of holiday cheer. It was established upon the death of Mr. Poinsett to honor him and the plant he made famous. He died in 1851.
Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where they grow wild. The enchanting legend of the poinsettia dates back several centuries, to a Christmas Eve in Mexico when a little girl named Pepita had no gift to present the Christ child. Her cousin Pedro urged her to give a humble gift. So, on her way to church she gathered some weeds she found along the road. As she approached the altar, a miracle happened: The weeds blossomsed into brilliant flowers. Then they were called Flores de Noche Buena-Flowers of the Holy Night. Now they are called
poinsettias.
Poinsettia Care TipsPoinsettias are one of the longest-lasting blooming plants available to consumers. To choose the perfect poinsettia and keep it blooming all year long, follow the care tips listed below:
Choosing the perfect poinsettia:Pick a plant with small, tightly clustered buds in the center.
Look for crisp, bright, undamaged foliage.
Avoid plants displayed in drafty or crowded areas.
To keep the poinsettia blooming:When surface soil is dry to the touch, water thoroughly. Discard excess water in the saucer.
To prolong color, keep a temperature range of 60 degrees for night and 72 degrees for day. High humidity is preferable.
Place plant away from hot or cold drafts, and protect from cold winds.
To rebloom for the next season:During winter, continue to follow holiday upkeep tips.
March 1 (St. Patrick’s Day): When bracts fade, cut stems back to eight inches above the soil line.
Continue to water regularly.
Lightly fertilize with a balanced all-purpose plant food every three to four weeks.
When temparatures are warm, place plant outdoors; first in indirect, then direct sunlight. Avoid temperatures below 50 degrees throughout the summer.
July 4 (Independence Day): Cut back new growth stems. Repot if needed.
Early September (Labor Day): Move plant inside. Provide six or more hours of direct light.
October 1 through December: Confine plant to complete darkness for 14 hours, giving it 10 hours of natural light daily. This will set the buds and cause bracts to color.
Poinsettia Toxicity MythThe poinsettia is the most widely tested consumer plant on the market today,
proving the myth about the popular holiday plant to be false:
Scientific research from The Ohio State University has proved the poinsettia to be non-toxic to both humans and pets. All parts of the plant were tested, including the leaves and sap.
According to the POISINDEX, the national information center for poison control centers, a child would have to ingest 500-600 leaves in order to exceed the experimental doses that found no toxicity.
A study from the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University found that out of 22,793 reported poinsettia exposures there was essentially no toxicity significance of any kind. The study used national data collected by the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
As with any non-food product, however, the poinsettia is not meant to be eaten and can cause varying degrees of discomfort; therefore, the plant should be kept out of reach of young children and curious pets.
Information provided by:
Society of American Florists
1601 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-8700
Who: Kaja and Dan
The infamous "black" room. Main Event Caterers came up with the set-up to create ambiance.
Flowers also make a perfect hostess gift when you are a guest in the home of family or friends. You have plenty of options for sending flowers on Thanksgiving. Check out all of Bergeron's fabulous Thanksgiving options here.
orchids, check out orchids-info.com. Or call us to see what we have in stock to send out to that special someone today!
attended the show and they were ranging from November, 2008 to undecided. Most of the couples have dates in 2009. My question is has the state of the economy kept brides from making decisions until closer to their wedding date? Are the shows on television hurting brides by showing the platinum weddings? This sometimes put the brides at a disadvantage to get the world on a dime. I know that as a floral designer for over 20 years, I want to give the best I can for the money each bride has to spend in her budget. I do think that the television has made it harder to brides by showing these luxurious weddings that aren't exactly able to fit the average bride's budget.
what will be needed for their wedding. Check out our event website and you can download onto your computer and get a budget for yourself. Our event website is bergeronsevents.com.
Spectacular! The one word that all of us at Bergeron's thought about going to see Rene van Rems recently at a local floral purveyor. We had a fantastic time watching a renowned designer show us his winning ways especially with hand-tied bouquets. His new book called "Rene's Bouquets" has such timeless information. Check out some of the pics from the show.
Also, that day there was a design competition of local designers, of which I competed once again. The competition was strong and it was such fun. We saw some fabulous designs. The theme was to use spring flowers for a centerpiece. The sky was the limit with a $300 budget. You can imagine how beautiful and artistic the designs were in a room full of floral artists! I've chosen some of the design
s that you can see from the show as well. 
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