By Blake Carter and Drew Greene

When I think of the holidays the two colors that come to my mind are red and green. To me a poinsettia perfectly represents these colors and that's why they’re everywhere. It's hard to go without seeing a poinsettia in every direction you look. They are the center of many fundraisers and dominate many plant sales during this season.

To start off, here are a few things you may not know about a poinsettia. Contrary to popular belief, the large colorful red is not actually the flower, but it is called a bract. The bract is a leaf structure that surrounds the yellow flower in the center. Also, poinsettias are not poisonous to people or plants, but should still be handled with care, as their sap can cause a mild irritation. So how should you care for a new poinsettia. Keep your poinsettias out of reach of dogs (especially puppies) and cats as the bracts and flower can be poisonous if consumed in high quantities.

When you first get a new poinsettia, it needs a minimum of six hours of bright, but not direct, sunlight. This can be found in a fully lit room, but not placing it directly into the window.

As it grows, prune your poinsettia to keep it bushy and compact. Starting Oct. 1, you should keep your poinsettia out of direct sunlight for 14 hours a day by either putting it in a dark room covering it with a box at night. Heading into November your poinsettia will begin to bud, so maintain water and fertilizer to ensure it will stay beautiful all holiday season.

Blake Carter is an ANR Agent for UGA Extension. Drew Greene is a work-based learning student from Effingham County High School.