Horticultural Advice — Is it Always Helpful?
I just noticed this little tidbit, from the National Gardening Association, in the live feed on my Facebook page:
You have to rotate a poinsettia frequently so it grows straight?
Really, NGA?
Maybe I’m wrong, but when I buy poinsettias — and I didn’t buy any this year — they’re not exactly in an active, dynamic phase of growth. The greenhouse guys have already done their magic, and I feel like I pretty much end up with a finished product. As with a bouquet of cut flowers, I realize it’s all down hill from here — from the day it comes home with me, the plant will begin a slow decline toward the compost heap.
And that’s part of the reason I’m disenchanted with poinsettias. (The fact that so many of them today come with glitter glued to their bracts might also have something to do with it.) I admit these plants can be festive, but often I find them about as satisfying as a plastic peace lily or silk ficus tree.
If my poinsettia wanted to lean toward the light, I think I would let it. This defiant little act of phototropism could only give it a little more character. ♣
Photo by jimw, via Flickr. Used in accordance with a Creative Commons license (click for more info).
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