POINSETTIA MYTHS AND FACTS
MYTH – Poinsettias are poisonous. FALSE! According to the Paul Ecke website – the foremost breeder of poinsettias in the world – studies conducted by The Ohio State University concluded that NO TOXICITY was evident at levels far exceeding those likely to occur in a home environment.Individuals with a sensitivity to latex might experience an allergic reaction to the milky sap in poinsettias, but in no way are they deadly poisonous.
Just think about the millions of poinsettias sold in the United States every year. If they were dangerous to children or pets, don’t you think television and newspapers would be full of stories about dead babies and cats?
Yet every year, we have to contend with this old wives’ tale. Even my own vet sent out a newsletter warning pet owners that poinsettias are poisonous. (I’m sending him a copy of the research).
So there is no need to worry about keeping a poinsettia in your home or sending one to a family with small children and pets.
FACT – Poinsettias are tropical plants, originating in Central America. So even though they are sold at Christmas time, they cannot withstand cold temperatures outdoors. Keep them at a comfortable room temperature, away from cold drafts and hot appliances.
FACT – The bright colors we refer to as blooms are actually not blooms – they are specialized leaves called brachts. The plants are “photo-periodic”, meaning it is the ratio of sunlight hours to darkness that triggers the coloration in the leaves. So in October and November, when we have roughly 11 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness, the leaves change color.