Poinsettias are the most popular decorative plants for the Christmas and New Year holiday seasons. The coloured leaves of a poinsettia are not the flowers but the bracts - which look like red leaves or petals. When planted out into the garden, these glasshouse grown plants revert back to flowering in winter. The actual poinsettia flower is the small yellow "ball" in the middle of the coloured bracts. Bracts come in red, pink and white colours.
Pointsettias need almost frost-free conditions and will grow inside for short periods. Deciduous species should be pruned after flowering to ensure a comnpact habit and good flowering for the next year. Propagate from cuttings, allowing the cut surface to dry for at least a few hours before planting. Most of the succulents grow in ordinary, well-drained soil. Wear gloves when pruning or taking cuttings as the white milky sap can cause skin irritations.
Use them to provide much needed winter colour, use them as a hedge or as a singular specimen within the garden.
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