Today' poinsettia cultivars are genetically improved to last longer and give greater satisfaction to the customer. But, even with the superior keeping quality of the cultivars currently available, poinsettias cannot withstand mishandling or exposure to adverse environmental conditions without suffering a decrease in quality. Special attention to care and handling at the retail level is necessary to insure that the ultimate customers will receive the best quality plants possible. The following guidelines are recommended for poinsettia retailers:
- Poinsettias are sensitive plants that must be protected by boxes and individual sleeves during transit. The boxes must be unloaded immediately upon arrival at the store. Plants are very susceptible to chill damage, so never leave the boxes out on a cold dock, and never refrigerate them.
- Upon receipt of the poinsettias, unbox and unsleeve immediately. Prolonged storage of poinsettias in any type of
sleeve may result in epinasty, a condition characterized by leaf and bract droop. (See. Figure 19) While a moderate degree of epinasty may be reversed by allowing the plants one or two days to recover in the proper environment, it is clear that if retailers desire immediate saleable plants, they must unsleeve them immediately. Of course, if the plants have been in transit for four or five days, unsleeving them immediately upon arrival isn't going to help much. Ideally, poinsettias should not be left in their sleeves for more than 24 hours from the greenhouse to the store
- If the retailer's poinsettia orders are too large, or the distribution system too complex to permit immediate unsleeving of the plants, the store should arrange for smaller or more frequent shipments or direct store deliveries from its
suppliers. Some stores actually order on a daily basis and have their grower deliver door-to-door on a daily basis.
- The best way to remove the sleeve is to gently tear it along the seam, carefully avoiding any rubbing or abrasion to the bracts and leaves. Poinsettia bracts are fragile and if the plants are handled roughly, bruises in the form of black or white marks will develop on the bracts.
- After unsleeving, space plants apart in a 65 to 75 F room with enough light to read fine print.
Now is the time for a thorough inspection by the quality assurance personnel. Most major retailers and growers agree on plant specifications far in advance. Any substandard conditions or shipping damage should be reported to the supplier immediately.
