There is always something new in the gardening world -- Now it is National Poinsettia Day! December 12 commemorates the best-selling potted plant.

It has been designated as a day to enjoy poinsettias, and to honor Dr. Joel Robert Poinsett, the American diplomat who first introduced the plant here in the United States.

The poinsettia has long been a symbol of the holiday season, and now is the only holiday plant that has a day named in its honor.

With more than 60 million plants sold nationwide each year, the poinsettia is the No. 1 flowering potted plant sold in the United States.

National Poinsettia Day is an opportunity to dispel a long-standing fallacy about this holiday favorite. According to the Poinsettia Growers' Association, the widespread belief that poinsettias are poisonous is a misconception. The safety of poinsettias in the home was clearly demonstrated in scientific studies conducted by Ohio State University in cooperation with the Society of American Florists.

This holiday plant comes in many unique forms from self-watering mini plants to beautiful centerpieces, baskets and various sized potted plants to beautiful centerpieces, baskets and various sized potted plants to spectacular topiary trees. They used to be on the market just a few weeks before Christmas, but now have been on the local market since early November. They were originally sold as cut flowers, not potted plants.

Native to Mexico, the poinsettia originated in a region near present day Taxco.

Joel Robert Poinsett, a Southern plantation owner and botanist, was appointed as the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico (1825-1829). While visiting in Taxco, he was struck by the beauty of the brilliant red plants he found blooming in the region during December.

He sent some of the plants to his plantation in Greenville, S.C., where they flourished in his greenhouse. Although they have a botanical name, Euphoria pulcherrima, they were given the common name by a German botanist in 1833, and poinsettia has remained ever since.

Joel Poinsett, has Cape Girardeau connections. Mrs. Fulton White, a resident of the Lutheran Home, was Franchon Palsgrove, whose mother was a Poinsett, a relative of this famous man who died Dec. 12, 1851.

The plant bearing his name became a living symbol of Christmas.

While red poinsettias remain the overwhelming consumer choice, there are white, pink, peach, yellow, marbled and speckled to choose from. The colorful parts of the plant, commonly thought of as the flower, are actually modified leaves called "bracts." As natural daylight decreases in November and December, the bracts' color changes.

Not so many years ago, it was not uncommon to find the poinsettia curbside with the family's Christmas tree by New Year's Day. The past 25 years has brought remarkable improvement in the quality of this plant, the result of extensive research and breeding work.

The poinsettia thrives on indirect, natural daylight. Exposure to at least six hours daily is recommended by the Paul Ecke Ranch of Encinitias, Calif., the leading growers of this holiday plant.

Avoid sites where the plant is exposed to direct sunlight, as this may fade the bract color. Avoid placing it near drafts, excess heat or dry air from fireplaces or ventilating ducts.

Poinsettias require moderately moist soil. Water the plant thoroughly when the soil feels dry to the touch. Remove the plant from decorative pots or covers and water enough to completely saturate the soil. Never let the plant set in standing water as root rot could kill the plant.

It is not necessary to fertilize the poinsettias when it is in bloom. However, a balanced, all-purpose household plant fertilizer may help maintain rich, green foliage and promote new growth after the holidays.

Even if you do not have a green thumb, the poinsettia can provide pleasure throughout the year as an attractive green foliage plant. When the bracts age and lose their aesthetic appeal, cut the plant back to 8 inches in height.

When you put other indoor plants outside, after night temperatures average about 55 degrees, include your poinsettias.

It has always been our theory to let the professionals take care of the reblooming of the poinsettia, although we tried it several times and had to put them to bed (under a large box or inside the garden room closet), it was never worth the effort. They did bloom -- in time for Valentine's Day with a red bloom about the size of the top of a coffee mug.

Poinsettias are the traditional Christmas flower all over the world, so help celebrate this first National Poinsettia Day on Dec. 12, by enjoying and sharing this most popular potted plant.

~Mary Blue is a resident of Cape Girardeau and an avid gardener.