Some Poinsettias Last, Others...Not So Much

Locally grown poinsettias look better and last longer in your home or office, and, when you can make your purchase directly from the grower, that is even better.

Local Poinsettia

There is no comparison to a plant purchased from a local greenhouse or garden center where the plant is grown locally and kept in a bright, warm greenhouse. These local plants are not shipped hundreds of miles or put in dark boxes for days. The plants in local greenhouses are cared for with TLC. When your plant leaves the greenhouse the poinsettia is "sleeved" with a plastic or paper cover to protect it from damage. When plants are cared for in this way and the customer follows the directions for plant care in the home, poinsettia plants will do very well throughout the winter and many times until Easter and beyond.

Poinsettias and many other plants purchased at the chain stores are many times weakened before they are sold and the primary reason is due to shipping long distances and the lack of proper care the plants receive day after day which stresses the plants. Remember most box store employees are not plant people and are busy with other tasks. This weakened condition of the plants is caused not only by the days that they are in transit but many times the length of time they remain in cartons. The plant's roots may dry out while they are in transit. Even after the plants arrive at the stores, it can be a day or so before they receive attention and the plants are further weakened. Poinsettias are a sturdy plant when they have enough daylight but in many of the stores they remain on carts in the aisles and downhill they go.

Poor Poinsettia

Further damage occurs when the plants leave the store on the way to the customer's car and no protection is provided. The weather in Ohio can be very windy and cold in December and tropical plants need protection. By the time this weakened poinsettia or house plant gets home with the consumer the plant is really struggling. The next thing you know, the customer begins to feel like they do not know how to take care of plants because their new poinsettia that they just purchased starts to look very poor in a few days.

If you have not had a poinsettia or other house plant from your local greenhouse or garden center because you have had some bad experiences with plants in the past, this may be the time to give these local plants a try. I'm sure you will see a huge difference in the quality and how easy it can be to take care of a good, healthy plant.

Many times the public feels like they cannot care for their plant purchases very well so they eventually give up, and that is a real shame. Plants improve the indoor environment where we live. Find a good local greenhouse and enjoy some healthy plants for the holiday and l beyond.

Send an email to info@meadowview.com if you have a question or comment.


30 years of Growing
Meadow View Growers
New Carlisle, OH
www.meadowview.com

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