'Kissing Plant' Fun
And Dangerous
Poinsettias arc beautiful
Christmas trees are the essence ol
Christmas cheer.
But mistletoe is definitely the
most fun anil most dangerous
This Christmas Eve I will cele
brate my 1 7th wedding anniversary,
a testimony to the long-lasting ef
fects of this magical plant.
The "kissing plant" or mistletoe
( Phorandendron flavescens) is a
dioecious (has male and female
plants types) flowering parasitic
plant.
The white sticky berries produced
by the female plant are consumed by
numerous species of birds. These
seed are deposited on the tree, often
in bird droppings, from which they
germinate and send root-like struc
tures into the tree's vascular system.
Mistletoe uses the water of the host
tree but produces sufficient food in
its leaves for nourishment. All parts
of the mistletoe plant are poisonous
to humans and should not be con
sumed.
Put a little mistletoe in your
Christmas but be sure not to harm
the tree supporting this parasite.
Mexican Flameleaf, Lobster
Plant, Painted lx*af, Christmas
Flower, and Christmas Star are all
recognized common names for the
most popular flowering Christmas
plant of all times ? the poinsettia
(Euphorbia pulcherrima).
The story of the poinsettia is a
rags to riches" tale. The poinsettia
is a rather common winter flowering
shrub in tropical Mexico and Central
America. Successful breeding, culti
vation and marketing efforts by sev
eral prominent plantsmcn in south
ern California have made the poin
settia a floral symbol of Christmas
the world over. The brightly colored
bracts and dark green foliage add
beauty and vitality to the festive set
ting of any home.
The poinsettia bract or leaf is the
colorful and decorative portion of
the plant. The true flowers are the
tiny yellow structures in the center
of the bract.
The poinsettia requires long nights
and short days for flower initiation.
This makes flower induction difficult
for the amateur gardener, since as lit
tle as 10 foot-candles of light at night
will stop or retard flower induction
in some cultivars. Poinsettia flowers
will usually drop off in two to four
weeks but the bracts will remain for
several months if plants are properly
cared for.
Poinsettias are not poisonous,
contrary to much of the publicity
they receive.
However, do not consume the
leaves since the plant produces a
milky latex sap that could cause gas
trointestinal upset.
The length of time that poinsettias
stay beautiful is directly related to
the care plants receive and the envi
ronment in which plants are kept.
Properly cared for poinsettias may
stay in full bloom for more than
three months.
Christmas Gifts and Cards
for Friends and Family at
Greeting
Cards
ft Gifts
(910)579-8984
Dept. 56 Lighted Houses
and Snowbables including
some recently
retired pieces.
Many stocking
stuffers and
gifts under
$5.00
Free gift
Snowbabics. wrapping
Open this week Mon-Sat. 10-6
Christmas Week 10-7
Christmas Eve 10-5
Sunday, Dec. 19, 12-5
flwy 901 between Ocean L-Je & Sunset
(next to new faxl Lion) ? 579-8S84
RING SIZING
AND
JEWELRY REPAIR
on premises and ready
for pickup in 24 hours.
JENNY'S PAWN
Hwy 130. HoMfnBparhRd.'lmiJf fnaHvv. IT- SKaJlocte. 754-2T1T,
Open Mon.-Sat. 8:30-6:30 pS-j
OPEN SUN. 12:30-8?"
CHRJSTMAS
THE
PUNT
DOCTOR
C. BRUCE
WILLIAMS
Extension Area
Turf Specialist
Place your newly acquired plants
in a well-lighted area. Poinsettias do
best under a moderate to high indoor
light intensity. The optimum day
temperature for these beauties
ranges from 70 to 75 degrees Fah
renheit but plants prefer cooler night
temperatures of 55 to Ml degrees
Fahrenheit. Uniformly high indoor
temperatures will greatly shorten the
time poinsettias remain beautiful.
Proper watering is essential to the
long life of your plant. Water poin
settia when the soil mix is dry to the
touch. Be sure to apply sufficient
water to thoroughly wet all the soil
in the container. Plants are often
marketed in a watertight plastic or
aluminum foil covering. If this is the
case, check to be sure your plant has
bottom drainage for excess water. It
excess water is not drained Irom the
plant, riHil and stem rot will greatly
shorten the lite of your plant
In eastern North Carolina, poinset
tias can easily he moved outside af
ter all danger of frost is passed (usu
ally April 15). Properly fertilized and
watered, a poinsettia grown outside
will reach a height of 5 to f> feet and
equal width in a single season.
However, getting these outdoor
grown behemoths moved inside and
induced to flower before the next
Christmas is another story altogether.
Send your gardening questions
and comments to The Plum Doctor,
P.O. Box 109, Bolivia, N C. 2S422.
ri3,* . \?i> ? 'o ? ' * '*? 1
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