Poinsettias synonymous with Christmas -
POINSETTIA grower Stephanie Raphael said her love of plants is what drew her to growing poinsettias. She said the demand for the plants has not decreased coming up to the Christmas season, and people have been shopping for the traditional Christmas plants since Divali.
Raphael said for poinsettias to achieve the lush colours people are accustomed to, growers need to begin planting in early July.
“We start them with stock pieces and grow them out. Towards the later part of the season, we cover them with black or dark fabric for at least 14 hours so they will change colour. They are photo-periodic plants, which means they need darkness to change colour. There’s a joy in seeing them come into colour, you have a sea of green and then as the season comes, you’ll see a little red here and a little pink peeping there, that’s my joy with the plant.”