The Christmas Star, also known by its true name Poinsettia, embodies the spirit of the Christmas holidays and stands as the quintessential gift, meant to be both received and given.
In Mexico, it is called “Flora de la Noche Buena,” which means the flower of the Holy Night. Despite its name and its green and red foliage, particularly suitable for the Christmas season, this beautiful plant, if properly cared for, can thrive throughout the year.
By the way, the scarlet ones are the best-selling in the world every year, but they are available in many other colors, each with its own uniqueness.
We asked the experts at Interflora how to choose and care for them.
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Their Meaning in the Flower World
In the language of flowers, the “Christmas Star” symbolizes humility, wisdom, love for others, complete trust, renewal, and health.
It is given to friends and family to wish for a year of abundance and rebirth, or to thank for received gifts. But the tradition of giving the Christmas Star actually has very ancient roots.
The Aztecs highly appreciated it in the 16th century, and it originates from an ancient Mexican legend about love and God. They considered it a symbol of purity and incorporated it into their daily lives.
It was also said that warriors who died in battle would return to earth to drink the nectar of this flower and thus achieve eternity. But be careful, don’t try it: the sap of the Christmas Star is poisonous.
Christian tradition later adopted the concept of purity, attributing to the shape of its leaves the representation of the Star of Bethlehem. People give it as a gift during the Christmas season, expressing wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
How to Tell if it’s of Good Quality
The commonly perceived flowers are actually the leaves of the Christmas Star, known as bracts, which adopt the characteristic bright red color. The actual flowers, on the other hand, are minuscule yellowish buds located at the center of the bracts.
To keep Christmas Stars alive longer, it is important to choose a high-quality plant. The bracts should be a deep red, and the leaves should be turgid and a beautiful green.
Flowers are also an important indicator to understand if the plant is of good quality. If, for example, you see pollen on the flowers, it means it has already bloomed and will soon lose its beautiful red bracts. Improper care can cause this delicate plant to suffer, leading to its often being set aside as soon as January arrives, and the holiday season comes to a close.
A Variety of Colors
We are used to seeing it in red, but in nature, it comes in various colors.
White Christmas Star: In Mexico, where it grows naturally, it can reach great heights (up to 4 meters), but in our homes, it will not exceed 60 cm. Over the years, the white Poinsettia will maintain its appearance as a houseplant to complete the Christmas decoration.
Pink Christmas Star: From pastel pink to bright pink, the pink Christmas Star is increasingly winning the hearts of those who want to make their homes warmer during winter. It is available in various shades, all equally comforting, such as the variety with green foliage and salmon-pink bracts, speckled pink and white, or with tiny ruby red spots.
Yellow Christmas Star: Although very rare, the yellow Christmas Star is still lively. Sun yellow or pastel yellow, it will undoubtedly add a touch of joy to the house during winter. Flowering, i.e., the change in color of the bracts, occurs from November to March.
Orange Christmas Star: Along with the blue variant, the orange Christmas Star is one of the new varieties. One of the most well-known is the Orange Glow. This variety is also easy to manage and care for.
Blue Christmas Star: It is gaining popularity and becoming a trendy decoration for table runners at receptions. It is, in fact, a dyed version of a white variety. This dye is not harmful to the plant’s health and lasts throughout the flowering period.
Black Christmas Star: Like the blue one, it does not grow naturally but exists as an artificial flower made of fabric or synthetic materials.
How to Take Care of the Christmas Star
In November and December, when Christmas Stars appear in nurseries and plant stores, don’t hesitate to bring some home. You will only need to place the protagonist of the Christmas festivities in a location in the home with plenty of indirect light. Make sure they stay away from windows and heat sources or drafts, ensuring it gets a maximum of 8 hours of light per day. During this period, you should water the soil twice a week. Keep in mind to carefully avoiding the formation of water stagnation in the saucer.
While indoors, avoid placing the Christmas Star in high-traffic areas. Plants with an upright posture can easily entangle in passing. Their inflexibility makes it easy for the branches to break at the base, resulting in the loss of a significant part of the entire crown.
It is also normal for the green leaves to yellow and fall over time, starting from the bottom. Do not worry, and continue to water it until only the colored parts remain.
At the end of winter, this indoor plant begins to lose its leaves, prune the stems by cutting them 15 cm from the ground. To do this correctly, you can rely on the Interflora guide. Remember to perform this operation wearing gloves because the latex that oozes from the stems could irritate your skin.
In spring, the plant will start to grow again. When the new leaves appear, repot it in a slightly larger pot than the one used before and start watering it consistently. Because the temperatures, even at night, will have stabilized around 15°C, you can place your Christmas Star in a bright place like the veranda, balcony, or garden. Even in summer, follow the same precautions, ensuring proper fertilization and the right fertilizer.
This is how new tender green leaves will sprout from the buds on the bare branches; soon, the Poinsettia will have a beautiful crown. Remember that just 8 hours of light per day are enough for it to quickly turn red, pink, or white.
Extra tip: add a green plant fertilizer twice a month; the results will be amazing.
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