Poinsettias are a holiday staple. Their red blooms can be found in shops and decorating family fireplaces.
One local wholesale grower supplies the seasonal shrub to many of the Valley’s resorts and independent nurseries. Monica Vega is the CFO of Dream With Colors, an annual flower grower. She said poinsettias are difficult to grow and maintain, but by buying locally, businesses have a chance for premium plants.
“You can go to Walmart, and you can get a poinsettia. It might not be the same quality for less," Vega said. "So the market is a little difficult to sell them, but there’s still a demand for them.”
Her family business grows about 15,000 poinsettias each season.
Cheryl Goar of the Arizona Nursery Association said poinsettias require precision. A grower doesn’t want leftover plants in the greenhouse.
“You want to have the poinsettia ready the week of Thanksgiving, and then have it sold out by Christmas because nothing is lonelier than a poinsettia on December 26th,” Goar said.
If you aren’t ready to let go after Christmas, Goar said you can plant poinsettias outside in the garden.
