Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes magazine Dec 2009: Gardening Solutions - Joel Kempfer Answers Gardening Questions for Woodlands Lifestyles and Homes magazine

About 15 percent of the Poinsettias we grow are sold in our retail stores. The rest are sold and delivered in larger quantities to churches, businesses and schools directly through our production office. I ’m really excited to see an increase in recent years of school groups selling Poinsettias and bedding plants as fundraisers. Maybe it ’s the horticulturalist in me, but I think it sure beats selling candy bars.

Do you grow any of the specialty varieties?

We grow cultivars well-suited for production in Southeast Texas and include many unique colors for customers looking for something less ordinary. We have maroon for the Aggie fans, orange for UT, and several varieties with marbled color combinations. We also grow different container sizes, ranging from very small to massive.

Do Brookwood citizens grow all the Poinsettias?

More so than any other crop, Poinsettia production at Brookwood is a beautiful example of
mission-oriented teamwork and collaboration. As the size of our annual production increases, the entire process requires more people to get the job done. It is usually early January when the citizens who work in Horticulture start asking how many we ’ll grow this year. In the heat of August when most Houston
gardeners are staying indoors, our citizens are anxious to get in the greenhouses to start planting Poinsettias. Planting takes weeks of collaboration between Brookwood citizens and teachers, production staff and a team of faithful volunteers. This same collaboration continues throughout the production process, with the citizens involved all the way through deliveries. It is truly rewarding to see the sense of accomplishment and pride on the faces of our citizens as they eagerly deliver the Poinsettias they grew.

Are Poinsettias poisonous?

No. This myth is so common that even a recent survey of florist shop owners showed that over half believed it to be true. Since the origin of this misnomer, more toxicity testing has been done on Poinsettias than any other plant. Pets that eat Poinsettias may experience some gastrointestinal distress, but the severity would be nothing more than expected from introducing any abnormal foreign material into the digestive system. In some cases, people may experience skin sensitivity from contact with the latex in the stems.

How do I keep my Poinsettias alive until next Christmas? Will they bloom again next year?

I hear stories every year about how Brookwood-purchased Poinsettias are still looking great after Valentine ’s Day and I always think of that house in my neighborhood that leaves their Christmas lights up way too long after New Year. I know this is hard for many who cannot bear the thought of throwing away any living plant, but I encourage you to treat Poinsettias as seasonal holiday decorations. When you purchase Poinsettias from Brookwood, you get a beautiful holiday decoration, and the money you spend goes directly toward providing care and scholarships for our citizens. If you insist on trying to nurse your Poinsettias, cut the stems back to about two-thirds their height after the holidays and begin fertilizing every couple of weeks. Repot in May and spend the summer getting the size and fullness where you want it to be by pruning as needed. Stop any pruning around Labor Day. Between mid-September and early October, start providing 12-14 hours of uninterrupted darkness at night. Porch and street lights will delay coloring so either place in a dark closet at night or use a box to cover the plant outside. Protect from cold temperatures in the fall.