NoIt’s no coincidence that its botanical name is Euphorbia pulcherrima, or “the most beautiful of the euphorbias”. The Christmas starthe omnipresent protagonist in our homes during the holidays, is a true beauty, which has earned a dedicated day. Or Poinsettia Day, today, December 12th. An opportunity to retrace its history and review the basics of taking care of it.
Today is Poinsettia Day: the story of the Christmas Star
The legendary poinsettia originally grew in tropical mountainous regions. An ancient Aztec legend says that its creation is the result of ua tragic love story: a goddess shed her tears of blood in the form of drops on the earth, giving life to this plant with wonderful red bracts.
Medicine and dye for the Aztecs
The Aztecs particularly appreciated it and gave it the name Cuetlaxochitl. She was so loved not only for her decorative beauty, but also for its medicinal properties: its milky sap was in fact used to produce an antipyretic preparation.
By extracting its red pigment, the ancients colored fabrics and created cosmetics.
In the United States with Joel Roberts Poinsett (hence his name)
It was the American ambassador Joel Roberts Poinsett, doctor and botanist, who, in 1828, fell in love with the Christmas Star and brought it to the United States: dit was then called Poinsettia in her honor. On December 12, the day Poinsett died, Poinsettia Day is celebrated, a beautiful tradition that is also spreading in Europe.
THE’Euphorbia pulcherrima arrives in Europe
The wonderful Christmas star was introduced to Europe in the 19th century thanks to the intuition of naturalist Alexander von Humboldtwho, after a trip to America, brought with him a specimen with bright red bracts. The botanist Carl Ludwig Willdenow cataloged the plant in Berlin, assigning it the botanical name of Euphorbia pulcherrima, which means “the most beautiful of the euphorbias”.
Christmas star, thanks to a German
Paul Ecke emigrated from Germany to the United States of America, where he found fortune thanks to the far-sighted idea of marketing the Christmas Star. Fascinated by the beauty of the Poinsettia, which grew spontaneously on his Californian farm, Paul he decided to grow it and sell its branches as a plant symbolizing Christmas. His son, Paul Jr., showed it to the most exclusive shops in Los Angeles, on Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard, taking advantage of the Christmas markets.
On the Hollywood Walk of Fame
And so, right next to the “Walk of Fame”, the fame of the Christmas Star began to spread throughout the world. Thanks to the great success of this idea, Paul Ecke continued to cultivate Poinsettia in the large fields of his farm, and then decided to sell Poinsettia in the form of cut flowers using a network of florists.
In our house: how to take care of the poinsettia in heated environments
But it is only since the 1950s that the production of potted plants has replaced that of cut flowers, and with it the Christmas star has gained ability to survive even in heated environments.
Growing it is easy… up to a certain point. There are many details to consider, from location in the house (protected from air currents and temperature changes) to watering. On the website of Stars for Europe, the association of European Poinsettia growers, there is lots of advice and answers to all doubts.
How much and how to water the Poinsettia
For example? The poinsettia needs to be watered when the soil is dry to the touchto a depth of 2-3 cm. If possible, using soft water at room temperature. For a normal-sized plant in a 13cm pot, around 100ml is enough, the equivalent of a champagne glass. For a mini poinsettia in a 6 cm vase, half a glass of water is enough. Any excess water in the saucer or vase must be eliminated to avoid stagnation.
It is then advisable to water the plant from belowpouring water at room temperature into the saucer or container every day or every two-three days. In this way, the Christmas star absorbs only the amount of water necessary and evenly.