the flower of the season

Get into the spirit of the holidays by choosing one of the many varieties of poinsettias that Ohio greenhouse operators produce.

by Pat Petzel

The colors of the season – deep greens and warm reds, gold and silver – represent a festive time during the gray days of winter in Ohio . During holidays some plants provide these colors of the season – a bright green Christmas tree, jolly red holly berries and the classic rich red of the poinsettia plant.

The classic red poinsettia is only the start, though. Poinsettias can come in a myriad of colors, with names such as Monet, jingle bells, Cortez burgundy, peppermint, winter rose, plum pudding and marble.In all there are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available, and keeping up with the trends in consumer demand can be a full-time job.

Each year researchers at Ohio State University send samples of new varieties to four different Ohio growers for evaluation. Growers such as Paul Barco of Barco Sons in Medina evaluate the plants’ viability and then compile consumer surveys that measure the plants' popularity. “It’s a chance to see how the new cultivars look compared to the standard,” explained Cladio Pasian, associate professor with Ohio State University ’s Department of Horticulture and Crop Science.

It’s been a tough few years recently for Ohio growers who face stiff competition from large chain stores, imported plants and higher fuel costs. David Barco estimated that during winter’s coldest months the greenhouses’ natural gas bill can be as much as $100,000 per month. “Everything is going up except the price of the plants,” Pasian said. Keeping up requires growers to compete through quality of their plants and service.

Selecting new varieties is one way to keep consumers interested and coming back, but bringing new varieties to market can be a difficult and time consuming task. It has been estimated that only one in 100 new varieties are deemed good enough for further research. Some of the colors that finally made it out of the greenhouse and into the marketplace are white in 1945; pink in 1964; pink and white in 1969; jingle bells (red with pink flecks) in 1973; salmon in 1988 and Monet in 1993. Colors such as these have remained popular for many years, but other colors, such as burgundy, ran their course after only a few seasons. Most varieties are popular for only five to seven years before they fade away.

Ohio growers help supply the holiday plants sold within Ohio as well as other states. In fact, Ohio ranks seventh in the nation for poinsettia production, producing $12.2 million in sales. Ohio does have a lot of “area under glass” with greenhouses covering 28.7 million square feet.

A Plant of a Different Color
Many people mistake the showy colored part of poinsettias to be flowers when that part is actually colored leaves. Getting the leaves to change color is a process that begins in the fall when growers begin gradually reducing the light plants receive. The plants need darkness from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. starting Oct. 1 and continuing until color shows around early to mid-December. Early in the fall is also when growers pinch the young plants back to encourage fuller growth.

David Barco has been trying to keep up with finicky consumers for the better part of 50 years. His parents founded the family business in 1938 in Rocky River. Today, David and eight other family members help run the business. They know that the slightest imperfection will result in unsold plants in December. That’s why they put so much time and care in getting the plants in tiptop shape in the fall. Here are some tips to help you select quality poinsettia plants.

Choosing and Caring for Your Poinsettia
Choose a plant with dark green foliage all the way to the soil. A fresh poinsettia is one on which little or no yellow pollen is showing on the flower clusters in the center of the leaves. Choose plants that have leaves that are completely colored, avoiding plants with excessive green around the edges of the leaves. Also avoid plants with fallen or yellowed leaves. The poinsettia should look full, balanced and attractive from all sides and should be 2 1/2 times taller than the diameter of the container. Do not purchase plants that have been displayed crowded close together because crowding can cause premature bract loss. Wet soil and wilted leaves could be an indication of root rot.

Once you get the poinsettia home, place it in a sunny window. Do not let any part of plant touch cold windowpanes. Ideally, indoor temperatures should be kept from 60 to 70 degrees. Water the plant only when the soil is dry, and do not fertilize the plant when it is in bloom.

And now, a bit of history
Joel Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico, introduced the red wildflowers into the United States from Mexico in 1825. But it took the marketing know how and skill of a California farm family to make the poinsettia what it is today.

The poinsettia might have remained an obscure wildflower if not for the Paul Ecke Ranch in southern California . In the 1920s the tall, leggy red plant that grew wild fascinated Paul Ecke. According to the company’s history, “It was the poinsettia’s yearly cycle of blooming during the winter, near the holiday season, that gave Ecke the notion that this would make an ideal official holiday flower. But the question remained of how to promote and market the plant.”

Production of field grown blooming plants was begun in earnest, and the plants were sold at roadside stands in the Hollywood and Beverly Hills area. From 1923 to the mid 1960s, Ecke’s main business was producing field-grown poinsettia mother plants. These plants were harvested in the spring, and shipped in railroad boxcars to greenhouse growers across the country. Ecke traveled the country promoting the plant to greenhouse growers, teaching them what he had learned and encouraging them to market the plant as a holiday flower. Through media placements and other promotions, Ecke made certain that poinsettias became a part of the holiday experience. On a larger scale, Ecke worked with television programs, such as The Tonight Show and the Bob Hope Christmas specials, to make certain that poinsettias were always a part of the holiday sets. This constant effort paid off: poinsettias today are as much a part of the holiday season.

By an Act of Congress, Dec. 12, the date of Joel Poisett’s death, was set aside as National Poinsettia Day.

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