By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Texas students learned about poinsettias through Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Farm From School program in December.

Kindergarten through fifth-grade students across Texas virtually “meet” with a farmer or rancher once a month through Farm From School on a video conferencing app.

This month, Jimmy Klepac, a greenhouse grower in Blanco, gave students a tour of Klepac Greenhouses and taught students all about poinsettias.

“Texas students tuned into our last Farm From School visit for the semester to learn all about poinsettias from Jimmy,” said Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director Organization Division, Education Outreach. “Students asked Jimmy many questions about growing and caring for poinsettias.”

During the 30-minute virtual session, Klepac discussed how poinsettias are grown, different poinsettia varieties and taught students how to keep the beautiful plant alive.

Poinsettias are the most popular pollinated plant throughout the world, holding a special place during the Christmas season, and Klepac grows 170,000 poinsettias each year.

Plans for the holiday plant begin in the summer when Klepac receives small cuttings of the plant. The cuttings are then placed in propagation where they grow through rooting.

“After four weeks in propagation, the plants will form their roots, and then we’ll place them in bigger pots to grow,” Klepac said.

Poinsettias require special attention and care. The plants need good air circulation and constant temperature control.

Ideal poinsettias have six bracts. The brightly colored bracts, often mistaken for the plant’s flowers, are modified leaves that surround the small, yellow true flowers at the center, known as cyathia.

“There’s three sets of bracts on the plant,” he said. “The oldest set of bracts is on the outside, followed by the secondary set. The third set of bracts is in the middle, and when the pollen starts to show, it indicates that the plant is maturing and will be ready for harvest.”

Poinsettias naturally bloom in December. The plant can sense the limited sunlight hours and shorter days when the clock turns back. That is when the bracts begin to change from green to red.

Klepac explained how to properly care for the plant.

“Poinsettias need water, and the best way to tell if they need water is to check the soil,” he said. “If it’s moist, then the plant is good. If you don’t feel any moisture, then it’s time to water it.”

Klepac is the third generation to run Klepac Greenhouses, where the plants they grow are sold to wholesalers and retailers across Texas.

“This has been my passion ever since I was a young kid,” he said. “All I ever wanted to do was be in the greenhouse business with my family. I love the plants. I love being in the business, and I love walking through the greenhouse every day and seeing how everything is growing.”

More information about Farm From School
Kindergarten through fifth-grade students virtually “meet” with a farmer or rancher once a month using a video conferencing app.

This semester, students learned about turfgrass, hair sheep and longhorns.

The popular program will be back again next spring, and teachers can register online. Click here to sign up by Jan. 10.

Visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc for more information and the latest announcements on TFB’s Ag in the Classroom activities.