Every once in
a while this time of year you'll see a monster poinsettia
growing in someone's yard in full, brilliant color. Chances
are, that is not going to happen for the majority of South
Florida gardeners, who can't resist sticking the ubiquitous
Christmas plant into the ground after it finishes blooming
— at least not year after year.
It is possible to plant a poinsettia in the yard and get
a huge shrub with striking color that thrills the neighbors
every holiday season. More likely, especially in water restrictions,
it will dry up on you. Or it will get just a glimmer too
much light during the night after October, which means that
even though it may have grown bountifully, its bracts will
remain green. Or you could do everything right and it could
be viciously attacked and defoliated by big fat ugly poinsettia
hornworms.
That is why my real favorite holiday plant is the Schlumbergera,
known as the Christmas cactus.
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