Graig MantleCal Poly poinsettia project students will host an open house at the Poly Plant Shop on Friday and Saturday.
Poinsettias are in full bloom and ready to be taken home. With about 3,000 plants and 29 varieties, there are plenty to choose from. All range in color and size with unique names like “Jingle Bells” and “Kris Kringle.”
The Enterprise Project students have potted, watered, pruned and taken care of the plants since spring. Originally, they were given about 200 small cuttings of poinsettias of different varieties, which grew and multiplied into the thousands available now.
The cuttings were donated to Cal Poly by Paule Ecke, a grower in San Diego, who also crossbreeds the plants and gave them their names. One variety, “Peter Star White,” has white bracks (modified leaves, which are the flower-like part of the plant), straying from the traditional red color.
With sizes ranging from 4 inches to 4 feet, the pruning process took a lot of time and effort.
“They’re just picky little plants,” said Hilary Hirzel, an environmental horticulture science senior and Enterprise Project student.
She explained the plants are delicate and sensitive to heat and over-watering. She said plants should stay healthy and last with proper care.
Poinsettias are indoor plants that need indirect sunlight and watering once a week, she said.
Hirzel is showcasing painted poinsettias this year, which are literally painted different colors, and sometimes are speckled, striped or have glitter. She uses a water-based paint with ethanol that does not burn the leaves.
“We’re hoping to have a paint booth,” she said, so people can come and paint their own poinsettias at open house this weekend.
Right now, the painted poinsettias are pre-order only, but cost just $2 or $3 more than regular poinsettias.
Regular poinsettias range in price from $6 to $60, depending on size.
Some 4-inch potted plants, if left alone and uncontrolled, can grow 10 to 15 feet, Jose Sanchez, another enterprise student, said.
Sanchez also mentioned that full “controlled” growth can take from one to eight months, depending on size. Once they are fully grown, to be in full bloom takes from eight to ten weeks.
“It’s the largest enterprise project,” Sanchez said about the poinsettias.
Last year, the group sold more than 2,500 plants, and this year expectations are the same.
This Friday and Saturday the Poly Plant Shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shop is located on campus in the environmental horticultural science building, on Via Carta Road.
For more information and directions, visit www.polyplantshop.com.