Poinsettias in season at the A+ Garden Center
SALISBURY, Md. – Poinsettias are a native plant to Mexico, being grown locally in Salisbury.
Horticulture Teacher at Parkside High School Jerry Kelley says they come in vibrant colors of red, pink and white are what draw so many people to buying them. “Poinsettias are one of our favorite crops because obviously they are so beautiful,” he said.
Poinsettias are the perfect holiday gift, and they are in season at the A+ Garden Center green house just outside of Parkside High School.
“This time of year in the month of December is our busiest time as everybody decorating and gift giving and sharing the love in the community,” said Kelley. “”We got these plants in the middle of September, so its an everyday process from September to December.”
Kelley says the growing process can be difficult for poinsettias. “Making sure that these plants have just the right water, moisture and fertilizer to have them come out bright and beautiful,” he said.
Kelley says the best part of growing the poinsettias at A+ garden center is “the community comes in here. “They come in here excited to see these amazing plants and they get to share them with their friends and their community,” he said.
Kelley says once the vibrant plants bloom, they put students and community members in a great mood. That includes horticulture student Sophia Demary, who cannot decided which type she likes best. “I can’t have a favorite because me personally, I love all of them,” Demary said.
Demary says the most difficult aspect of growing the poinsettias is keeping temperatures regulated, adding, it’s a great learning experience.
“Trying to maintain the temperature inside and be more aware if anything happens out of the blue,” Demary said. “We would clean everything off and make sure that the plants, if they had any dead leaves, we would clean them off and make sure everything was clean, so we kept good care and maintained the plants.”
The poinsettias run from $6 to $17, based on the plant’s size and maturity.
