Overall, floriculture contributes more than $207 million to our state’s economy, and poinsettias play an important role in that industry – North Carolina produced about 4.6 million poinsettias in 2008 and generated cash receipts of $17.9 million.
Poinsettias are grown in greenhouses across the state under specific climatic requirements. The plants must receive a balance of sunlight and darkness to produce quality plants for the holiday season. We visited the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, where Dew Farms Nursery set up a greenhouse for its variety of red, white, pink and even “jingle bell” poinsettias. To find out how a red-and-white-speckled jingle bell poinsettia is grown – and exactly what a Christmas cactus is – check out the clip below.
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Several informational events will take place across the state in the coming weeks with information for both growers and consumers:
- Homewood Nursery and Garden Center in Raleigh will host a poinsettia open house on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Mitchell’s Nursery and Greenhouse in King will host a poinsettia open house Sunday, Dec. 6, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- The N.C. State University National Poinsettia Trial Open House will be held at the Horticulture Field Lab next to the J.C. Raulston Arboretum on Wednesday Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for growers, and for the public on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 5 p.m.
For more information about any of the open house events or where to find locally grown poinsettias, go to www.ncflowers.org or www.ncfarmfresh.com.