by johnah on November 17, 2020
Poinsettia seed pods are edible and useful for many purposes. They are also very popularly known as Christmas trees ornaments. There are several varieties of poinsettias available today, but all have one thing in common – they’re delicious!
What Are Poinsettia Seeds?
Poppy seeds come in two types: red and white. Red poppy seeds taste sweet with a hint of spice; white poppy seeds taste bitter with a hint of sweetness.
The seeds are small (about the size of a grain of rice) and oval shaped. The outer layer is brownish-red, while the inner layer is white. The seed pod is round and flat at both ends. Its surface has three distinct layers: an outer shell, a center core, and an inner husk. Each layer contains different chemicals that give each variety its unique flavor.
How Do You Grow Poinsettia Seeds?
You can grow poinsettia seeds indoors in pots or outdoors in your garden. The best way to start growing poinsettia seeds is to purchase them from a local nursery.
If you live near a city, chances are there’s probably a nursery nearby that sells poinsettia seeds. If not, you might want to consider buying some online from Amazon or other online retailers.
1. Starting Poinsettia Seeds In Pots
If you have a green thumb and you’re patient, you can start growing poinsettia seeds in pots.
It takes a while for the seeds to sprout, so you’ll need to be dedicated and attentive. You’ll also need to be able to provide the right lighting, temperature, and humidity for your new seedlings.
Follow the steps below to start growing Poinsettia seeds in pots:
Step 1: Get a small pot (no larger than 6-8 inches). Fill it with a mixture of garden soil and perlite (aim for a 4:1 ratio). Or, you can use coconut coir or another sterile potting mix. Avoid fertilizers and pesticides when growing poinsettia seeds.
Step 2: Moisten the potting soil or potting mix.
Step 3: Place your poinsettia seeds in the pot. Try to place them about an inch deep. Gently cover the seeds with more potting mix.
Step 4: Place your pot in a location that receives at least 60-75% humidity. A nice, cool room works well for this. A basement is perfect if you have one!
Step 5: Place a clear container with water on its side over the soil. The water level should be about an inch. This will help provide moisture to your seeds and keep them from drying out. (Newspaper is often used to keep the humidity high, but you can also use a more scientific method and use a container with water instead)
Step 6: Place your pot in a location where it will get sunlight. A window sill would work well. Aim for around 4 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Step 7: Keep the soil moist but not wet. Poinsettia seeds need to be kept moist in order to sprout, so don’t allow the soil to dry out completely, but don’t drown it either. If necessary, use bottled water (Avoid water with minerals or other additives since this may have adverse effects on the growth of your plant).
Step 8: Keep your pots in a location where they will get sunlight, and keep them watered. If you haven’t grown a plant from seed before, be prepared for some failures. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for the seeds to sprout, so don’t get discouraged if they don’t sprout right away or at all!
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Sources & references used in this article:
Poinsettia by P Ecke – 1939 – Google Patents
Poinsettia plant named ‘Fisearltez’ by K Zerr – US Patent App. 12/658,860, 2012 – Google Patents
Control of poinsettia growth and pigmentation by manipulating light quality by MJ McMahon, JW Kelly – HortScience, 1990 – journals.ashs.org
Application technique influences imidacloprid efficacy on poinsettia by ML Bell – Hortscience, 1996 – journals.ashs.org
MEDIA AMENDED WITH BROILER LITTER COMPOST DID NOT AFFECT POINSETTIA GROWTH by VV Allen, BK Behe, TS Krentz, CC Montgomery – HortScience, 1995 – journals.ashs.org
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