In recent years the Poinsettia has joined robins, holly, mistletoe, angels and reindeer as an essential ingredient to the Christmas idyll. It is a member of the Euphorbia family which flowers naturally under short daylength conditions and is at its best on Christmas Day!

Poinsettias require warm living room temperatures (15 to 21 degrees C) and good light levels. A healthy plant will require moderate amounts of water (2 to 3 ttimes per week) but never allow the plant to sit in water for prolonged periods (always drain excess water from the saucer after watering). Plants should be fed regularly throughout the year, specialist drip feeders are easy to use and provide the perfect nutrient mix. Choose a bright position away from cold draughts.

ALWAYS BUY YOUR PLANT FROM A REPUTABLE SUPPLIER!

Poinsettias have a reputation for being difficult, with plants wilting and dying for no good reason.The sad truth is that many of the poinsettias sold are dead or dying at the point of sale. Poinsettias do not travel well and resent being held for long periods in cellophane sleeves without air circulation, and being offered for sale in poorly lit stores, next to refrigerated fruit and vegetables which give off ethylene gas, which is a well known plant toxin.

These plants may appear cheap, but cannot be described as good value. Never buy a Poinsettia which is offered for sale outdoors on the pavement or under an open canopy with the cut flowers!

Snowdonia Nurseries are the only growers of Poinsettias in North Wales and plant quality this year is outstanding, thanks to high light levels in September and October.The only complaint we ever get about our Poinsettias is that they live too long!

Production begins in mid July with the arrival of 1200 rooted cuttings which are immediately potted into their final 13cm pot. Pests are controlled entirely using biological control agents which keep them free of whitefly,thrips and sciard fly larvae. Four weeks after potting the cuttings are pinched to create the perfect bushy plant. At the onset of shorter days towards the end of October the plants gradually start to show colour, reaching full colour and maturity towards the beginning of December.