Friday 16 January 2009

Pointsettias


1 - 15 Dec
I adore the flame red splash of pointsettias
and fill my fireplace with plants.
16 - 25 Dec
I can't imagine my home without pointsettias.
25 - 31 Dec
I have started
to fall out of love
with the brash, bold colours.
1 Jan
I don't want pointsettias in my home.
Fortunately, most years the plants know this
and politely shrivel and die.
5 Jan
This year the pointsettia is unnaturally healthy.
I have tried neglect
and am considering cruelty.
16 Jan
I am getting desperate.
Does anyone want to adopt a pointsettia?

19 comments:

Lynn said...

Send it to my mother. She managed to keep hers from Christmas 2007 looking lovely until this very moment, and would welcome the opportunity to add to her little poinsettia family. Otherwise you could "accidentally" leave it outside after giving it "a bit of fresh air."

Anonymous said...

Ugh. I can't bear the things. Leave it outside.

Anonymous said...

We affectionately refer to them as "poison-ettas." We gave one to my MIL and it lived for 10 years! When she passed so did the poison-etta.

Anonymous said...

You could light a fire...

Unknown said...

I suggest a medicinal dose of fresh air out in the garden should hasten its demise

Anonymous said...

Think of Africa where they are most beautiful trees along with the jacarandas and don't have any hesitation in dwarf arboricide. (Sorry I don't know the latin for potplant-icide).

The Coffee Lady said...

put it in the attic till next December

that'll sort it out one way or the other

Anonymous said...

Hee Hee I always feel the same about mine! I finally end up throwing them out and then I feel guilty.

dragonfly said...

I am SO in your club...my dreadful thing won't die this year either, in spite of cruel neglect!

Unknown said...

Oh dear, I don't think I have ever known such a long lived specimen, how very inconsiderate of it.

dottycookie said...

Years ago, before I discovered gardening, I 'won' a poisettia at a work do. I tried my best to look after it and care for it, and lo, it became sicker and sicker until all its leaves fell off. I have detested them ever since, the evil, confidence sapping beasts.

Are you sure yours isn't some rare GM strain? If underwatering won't do it, perhaps you could try to drown it ...

Anonymous said...

Alice--I cannot believe this post, as I am having the same--the very same--issue here at our house. The healthy pointsettia that JUST WON'T DIE.

WHY WON'T YOU DIE, POINTSETTIA? I HAVEN'T BEEN WATERING YOU FOR WEEKS. YOU'RE ON A DIET OF NOTHING BUT NEGLECT. AT YET, YOU THRIVE. AND YOU LOOK LOVELIER THAN EVER. YOUR BRIGHT RED FOLIAGE IS AN EYE-SORE. YOU MUST GO AWAY. CHRISTMAS IS OVER. DO YOU HEAR ME? NOBODY WANTS YOU HERE. YOUR TIME IS UP.

I am partial to Dottiecookie's idea. I think I will drown mine.

Sal said...

Funny that..as mine just goes on and on and on. Must be a good year for them ;-)

Ali said...

Send your hated poinsettias my way. I kill them almost instantly. One particularly memorable year, I got through 6 in Advent alone. Now I just don't bother buying them.

Jackie said...

Get Poppy to do what Willow did to ours..back up and wag violently. It was dead by Christmas eve.
(Oh but is Poppy pre docking ban..? Oh well she'll just have to back a bit further..)

Karen J said...

Well, I've done the terrible deed! I've put the pointsettia outside - and, actually, I don't feel *too* guilty!!! Go on, Alice, you know you want to!!!

RW said...

That is so funny. I feel the same way too. I have one lovely plant that is still in great shape but to me it represents Christmas and Christmas is OVAH. OVAH.

Al said...

Just send it to me. I am totally unable to keep any house plant and inwardly groan whenever someone buys me one. It truly will be dead and gone within the week. Alice, thank you so much for all your kind messages to Ginny and myself. Life has been hectic recently. Rufus is growing faster than I can believe - 4 (nearly 5) teeth and trying to crawl. Not yet 7 months old. The new book takes up so much time as does the hustle and bustle of daily life - all good. Gin and I are hoping to create a blog of our daily "alice and Ginny" lives sometime this year.
Will keep in touch until then.
With lots of love,
Alice xxx

Doolallysally said...

I'd opt for drowning I think! Having said that, my dead plants and flowers get put in the brown bin(recycling) which makes me feel a whole lot greener! Do they have to be completely dead - I don't think soooo!!!

By the way, I'm starting a "What's on your bedside table" tag if you fancy it, details are over at mine. Love Sal x