Poinsettia Sale – TODAY. Support URI Master Gardener Program

Each year, the URI Master Gardener Program participates in the North American poinsettia trials, assisting three breeders (Syngenta, Ball and Dummen) with data collection for multiple varieties of poinsettias. The plants are grown up in our greenhouses at East Farm, and growing notes are reported back to the breeders annually; including information about growth stages, leaf structure, bloom and color. 

This year, URI has grown 1,800+ plants of 49 varieties using integrated pest management practices (e.g. introduction of beneficial insects to control pests, rather than pesticides) to sell to the public. Poinsettias will be sold for $10.00 per plant, OR at a discounted price of $8.00 per plant for bulk orders of 30 plants or more. Plants are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last.

Poinsettia sales directly support the URI Master Gardener Program’s educational services, including the Gardening and Environmental Hotline, kiosks, soil pH testing, public presentations and our Project Open House.

Caring For Poinsettias

DO:

• Place your plants in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day. If direct sun can’t be avoided, diffuse the light with a shade or sheer curtain.
• Provide room temperatures between 68 – 70°F. If you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia!
• Water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch.
• Use a large, roomy shopping bag to protect your plant when transporting it.

DON’T:

• Place your plants near excessive heat, including near appliances, fireplaces or ventilating ducts.
• Expose your plants to cold drafts or temperatures below 50°F – poinsettias don’t belong outside in the winter!
• Over water your plants or allow them to sit in standing water. Always remove your plants from any decorative container before watering and allow the water to drain out the bottom.
• Expose your plant to chilling winds when transporting it or fertilize it when it is in bloom!

Go here for all the info: