LADY BUG: IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE POINSETTIA DAY

We have Boss' Day, Secretaries' Day, Grandparents' Day, May Day, Law Day, Family History Day, International Day of Peace, Literary Day -- and now Poinsettia Day.

Each time you admire the holiday poinsettia, you can thank Joel Poinsett for introducing this plant to the United States.

A native plant of Mexico, the poinsettia originated in a region near present-day Taxco. Poinsett, a Southern plantation owner and botanist, was appointed the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1825 for four years. While in Taxco, he was impressed with the brilliant red plants he found blooming in December. He had some plants sent to his plantation in Greenville, S.C. They did well in his greenhouse and he distributed plants to his horticulturist friends.

Poinsett's plants eventually found their way into botanical gardens and nurseries all over the country. Because they were easily killed by the cold, they were grown in greenhouses or conservatives. Joel Poinsett had Cape Girardeau connections with a family living here.

The poinsettia went on to become a living symbol of Christmas and the next No. 1 flowering plant grown in the United States. In the six weeks preceding Christmas, poinsettia sales of more than 52 million plants nationwide exceed the annual sales for any other flowering potted plants.

In the early 1890s, a German immigrant, Albert Ecke, began raising poinsettias for his truck farm in Hollywood, Calif. His plants were tall and leggy and were sold as cut flowers.

Then, in 1920, Albert's son, Paul, developed a selection of poinsettias that could be grown as an indoor potted plant. It was lanky, much different from today's poinsettias, but it was the first step toward the long lasting potted type we enjoy, and the beginning of the poinsettia's commercial production.

In the late 1960s Ecke developed the first series of hybrids that gave this plant the popularity it enjoys today. These plants were more vigorous and less expensive to produce. Most red, white and pink, and novel selections like Jingle Bells, Marble, Lemon Drop and Pink Peppermint are some of the new ones.

The traditional Christmas flower has come a long way in the past 25 years. It wasn't long ago when the poinsettia had its place right next to the discharged Christmas tree along the curbside on Jan. 1. Those early varieties were extremely fragile and short-lived with a tendency to drop all their green foliage and red bracts just a few days after Christmas.

This plant thrives on bright, sunny natural daylight. At least six hours daily is recommended. Placement near a sunny window is ideal. Be careful of places where the hot afternoon sun may shine directly on the colorful bracts. In this situation, it may be desirable to pull a light shade or sheer curtain to diffuse the light for an hour or so to avoid fading the bright red bracts. Temperatures should not exceed 70 degrees during the day or fall below 65 degrees at night.

Poinsettias do best with a moist soil condition -- not too wet and not too dry. Water the soil thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch. The best indication of a thorough watering is when the water begins to seep through the drain holes at the bottom of the inner pot. Be sure to discard any excess water as poinsettias left sitting in water may suffer from permanent root-rot damage.

It is not necessary to fertilize your poinsettias when they are in bloom during the holiday season. However, a balanced, all-purpose household plant fertilizer, such as 10-5-10, certainly won't hurt and could help maintain the rich, green foliage color and promote new growth following the holidays.

Because poinsettias are sensitive to cold winds, chilling temperatures, frost and rain, outside placement during winter months is not recommended. Chill damage will occur if these plants are exposed to temperatures, causing the plant to drop their leaves quickly. Be aware that exposure to frost, even for a short time will usually result in the death of the poinsettia plant.

To maintain poinsettias in good condition, keep them constantly moist, never standing in water and never wilting from drought. Place them where light is bright possibly a few hours of direct sunlight in early morning or late afternoon. Do not allow them to get chilled.

With these few steps, your holiday plant should give you months of colorful pleasure.

So celebrate National Poinsettia Day Dec. 12, and brighten the holiday season with the beauty and elegance of the traditional holiday favorite -- the poinsettia.

Mary Blue resides in Cape Girrdeau and is an avid gardener.