Here at Jacobsen’s Flowers, we have been selling premium quality poinsettias for over 85 years. We’ve put together some information to help you choose and enjoy your poinsettia throughout the holiday season.

Choosing a plant:
Bracts are the colored portions of the plant, the actual flowers are the tiny yellow centers. Choose a plant with thoroughly colored bracts. Look for dense, plentiful foliage, this is a sign of good plant health. And select a plant with stiff stems and no signs of wilting or drooping.

Care:
Protect your plant when transporting, protect it from any chilly winds below 50 degrees F.
Unwrap your plant immediately upon arrival, the plant will dry out if kept in it’s paper sleeve too long.
Keep in indirect sunlight for at least 6 hrs a day. Poinsettias prefer a temperature of between 68 – 70 degrees F.
Water when the soil is dry to the touch, a waterlogged plant can cause irreversible root rot.
Avoid cold drafts and heat vents.

THE POINSETIA IS NOT POISONOUS!
This is a widely held misconception. The scientific evidence demonstrating the poinsettias safety is well documented. As with all ornamental plants, the poinsettia is not meant for consumption, yet they are not toxic if ingested.
And actually, the poinsettia is included on the list of houseplants most helpful in removing pollutants from indoor air. So not only is the poinsettia safe and beautiful... it can even help to keep your indoor air clean!

Keep your pets safe from potentially hazardous plant consumption during the holidays. While the poinsettia is not recognized as lethal to your pet, they are often treated and sprayed with insecticides, which with a gross amount of ingestion could cause severe reaction or possible poisoning to your pet. So please take precautions, be responsible and keep that furry family member safe and healthy!

Want to keep your Poinsettia all year long? Click here for more details.

Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is a native to the South American jungle, but is not a true cactus. While poinsettias are the favorite Christmas plant, Christmas cactus is a great gift for anyone on your list. They are easy to care for and grow well indoors.

The Christmas cactus can adapt to low light, but more blooms are produced in high light areas. It prefers a temperature of 60-80 degrees, but can tolerate as low as 40 degrees without damage. Keep your plant in a sunny area and in summer, move them outdoors in a shady location without direct sunlight. In early fall, keep plant in dark for 12 hours a night for 6-8 weeks to produce flowers for winter. Flowering can also be initiated at other times by providing a 12 hour period of darkness. Keep the soil mixture moist and apply fertilizer every 2 months. During the summer months however, monthly feedings are recommended.

The cactus is a succulent, that means it stores water in it’s leaves. Water the plant when the top half of the soil in the pot is dry to the touch, being sure to drain the water out so that none remains in it’s saucer or container. Christmas cactus prefer a warm temperature, with some cooling in the evening. Avoid cold drafts and heat vents.

If flower buds wilt before they open, raise humidity and water more often. This cascading cactus comes in a variety colors such as pink, white, red, purple and rose.