Foliage and Plants Blog

I am usually an extremely calm person, but after dealing with Apple Tech support I want to kick or smash something. Calls are answered promptly, but the robot who takes the initial call never understands what I am saying no matter how clearly I  speak or how often I repeat myself. I have finally discovered that if I keep pressing zero, a human gets on the line. He or she wants my name, my phone number and the serial number of the product I am having problems with. So far so good. After trying various things to solve the problem  (usually spending anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour) I am referred to a supervisor. Guess what, he or she wants my name, my phone number, and the serial number of the product I am having problems with. Why do I have to repeat it all again? Why can’t they look at the notes of the previous person? The supervisor inevitably says, “I am going to put you on hold while I look over your file. I’ll be right back.” After waiting about 5 minutes, nine times out of ten I am disconnected. Do they EVER call me back  using the phone number they had asked for several times? NO, Never!  I call again, go through the entire process again, same robot, different tech, different supervisor, name, serial number, phone number, problem, what’s been tried, waste another 30 minutes because it is NOT POSSIBLE to reach the same people I had just been speaking to for 30 minutes.  At this point I am mean & nasty to some poor unsuspecting well meaning person because I have now spent over an hour trying to explain my problem over and over and over. Everything does eventually work out & the problem is usually fixed, but does it have to be such a painful time consuming process. If Steve Jobs tried out his company’s tech support, you can bet the entire process would be revamped within 24 hours.

Now that Christmas is quickly approaching, everyone is asking about poinsettias. Here is some great information about poinsettias thanks to Ron Wolford, Unit Educator, Horticulture & Environment at the University of Illinois. I have summarized his excellent article; but if you want to read it in full go to:
www.urbannext.uiuc.edu

Joel Poinsett, the 1st US Ambassador to Mexico, found the plant growing in Mexico and brought it back to the United States. It’s scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima (meaning very beautiful euphorbia). William Prescott, a horticulturist, renamed the plant poinsettia in honor of Joel Poinsett.
Starting in 1900, the Ecke Family of California became the leading producers of poinsettias

Simple Facts:
Poinsettias are not poisonous
The sap of poinsettias may cause skin irritations
In nature poinsettias are perennials
The showy colorful part of the plant is really modified leaves (bracts)
The flowers are the tiny things at the center of the bracts
Poinsettias are the best selling potted flower on the United States.
85% of flowers sold at Christmas are poinsettias.
Selecting a Poinsettia
Should have dark green foliage down to the soil line
Bracts should be completely colored
Colors available today: red, pink, white, salmon, jingle bell, burgundy, marble, peppermint, Da
Vinci, Monet, with new colors added every year
Plant should be full and balanced on all sides
Do not purchase plants that are still in their paper or plastic sleeve
Do not purchase plants that are pushed together on over crowded shelves
Do not purchase plants that have yellow pollen on their leaves (plants are past their prime)
Care of Poinsettias
Protect from cold and wet weather when you take them home, both of theses cause leaf damage
Keep them in a cool room with indirect light and they will last longer
Water when dry, over watering will cause leaves to drop off as will excessive under watering
Do not fertilize while in bloom
Getting a Poinsettia to Reflower
THIS IS NOT EASY!
In February or early March cut the plant back to 4″-6″ above soil line
Late spring or early fall repot into container 2″-3″ larger than original
Keep pinching leaves to encourage branching
Flowering is photo periodically; it happens when nights are long
Without long periods (at least 12 hours) of totally darkness, flowers will not form
It takes 60-85 days of this darkness for flowers to set
Once color starts to show remove from dark area