Ok — the tree is up, the holiday shopping is well underway but the house still looks bare. What to do? Consider purchasing the perfect poinsettia as a gift for those on your list and be sure to include one for your own home as well. Dec. 12 is National Poinsettia Day, a great time to shop for this beautiful plant.

I’d like to share the following article on this popular, modern day symbol of the Christmas holidays, written by Dan Culbert, extension agent in Okeechobee County, Fla.

Today’s poinsettia looks nothing like the ones that Joel Poinsett brought back in 1828 from Mexico. It’s now one of the most important horticultural crops in the U.S. Today’s “Christmas Rose” comes in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, forms and price ranges. And, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Bargain basement priced plants often lack quality and strength to last through the holiday season. Expect to pay a higher price for quality poinsettias.

Here’s what to look for:

Look for a plant with plenty of green leaves down the bottom of the stems. This shows that the plant has been well cared for and has healthy roots.

Pick a plant that has flower bracts and leaves that look fresh, not wrinkled, withered, curled or yellow. Lack of color means the plant was sold too early or not grown correctly.

Observe the size and number of the colored bracts — each bloom should have six or more bracts. And, choose a full looking plant with multiple blooms — a poinsettia with a single flower looks bare.

The true flowers — the green parts in the center of the bracts — should be tightly clustered into a bud. Plants showing yellow pollen and sap will have the least amount of display life and will not last long indoors. Avoid a plant where these have dropped and all that is left are the colorful bracts.

Poinsettia Care

Be sure to have the plant wrapped before you take it outside to your car. Plants exposed to rapid temperature changes drop their leaves, especially in cold windy weather. Handle the plants carefully in transit — it is very easy to break stems and leaves if care is not used.

Poinsettias need bright light to keep them looking good but it doesn’t have to be direct sunlight. Avoid dark locations — poinsettias stay freshest in a cool room. If kept too hot, the leaves may suddenly drop. Night temperatures of 60-65 F and day temperatures of 70-75 F are ideal. Water the plant when the top of the soil feels dry and don’t let it sit in water constantly.

With these tips, you’re sure to enjoy a healthy and a festive “Christmas Rose.”