The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) blog notes in the world of holiday shrubbery, the poinsettia has always taken a backseat to the Christmas tree. With its lights and ornaments, the tree has become the icon of the holiday in contrast to the poinsettia, which is usually placed in a nearby corner.
When the electric costs required to grow poinsettias soared, Grower Direct Farms, a wholesale greenhouse grower, took advantage of the USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to conserve natural resources while improving their operation.
Grower Direct Farms installed micro-irrigating water systems in its greenhouses and completed an NRCS energy audit to now grow poinsettias in a more efficient way.
As for the holiday rivalry, the Christmas tree and poinsettia are beautiful and perfect examples of Mother Nature at her finest. But a poinsettia is a masterpiece with no need for extraneous adornment. It stands bright and shiny on its own.