tact on THE TELESCOPE
(Photo by Ken Baer)
A Symbol of Christmas By Ken Baer
The poinsettia, radiant in its purity, a Christmas symbol recognized the world over. Cultivated by the Aztecs in Mexico before the Western Hemisphere was exposed to Christianity, and prized by King Montezuma, the poinsettia was initially used for its bracts' reddish-purple dye and its latex for a medicinal preparation to counteract fever. Today, poinsettias adorn shopping malls and dormitory halls, living rooms and office chambers to remind us that the real meaning of Christmas is non-commercial. Because of its holiday blooming time, Franciscan priests used poinsettias in their nativity procession, Fiesta of Santa Pesebre, back in the Seventeenth Century . The flower, a member of the botanical family 'Euphorbiacea,' was introduced to the United States by Joel Robert Poinsett, who in 1825 was serving as the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Ambassador Poinsett, also a revered botanist, supplied his greenhouses in South Carolina with the flowers, and distributed plants to horticulturists and botanists. The name 'poinsettia' became acceptable in all English-speaking countries. In 1909, a man by the name of Albert Ecke who owned land in Hollywood, California and raised gladiolis and chrysanthemums, started specializing in poinsettias. After Ecke passed away ten years later, his second son, Paut inherited the responsibility of managing and operating the family business, which now focused on producing
field-grown poinsettias for the local flower market. Poinsettia breeding programs were established in the 1950's at several state universities and by a number of horticultural firms. The prominent ones were: Paul Ecke Poinsettias in Encinitas, California; (Ecke moved from Hollywood to Encinitas in 1924 because of better climate and land) Paul Mikkleson's in Ashtabula, Ohio; and Zieger Brothers in Hamburg, Germany. The sprawling Ecke Ranch, located directly east of 1-5, on Saxony Drive between Leucadia and Encinitas Boulevard's, grows poinsettias year-round. Mother stock plants are grown outdoors in the fields and are then chosen for quality and cuttings are taken in order to establish the greenhouse crop, which is Ecke's main business - the indoor poinsettia. From July through September, Ecke distributes cuttings of over twenty different poinsettia varieties to growers throughout the nation and throughout the world. These customers then use the cuttings to grow into their mother stock plants for their Christmas crop and research. The blooming season at Ecke's is occuring now. By driving past the ranch, a sea of crimson may be viewed, and these field poinsettias are sold to the cut-flower market, a particular favorite to Mexican buyers . Wholesale florists to the trade buy Ecke's blooming greenhouse plants . Ecke offers his wares at the flower market in downtown Los Angeles, and buyers begin shopping at two o'clock in the morning .
Because of the plant's perishable nature, only florists in the Southern California area and parts of Arizona can buy Ecke's blooming crop. Hollywood-produced Christmas television specials are decorated with Ecke's plants, and last year they garnished the rooms of the then-President-elect Reagan's Pacific Palisades home . In producing a fall or Christmas crop the grower can regulate the date of maturity by selecting the proper variety, controlling the temperature inside the greenhouse, and by using lights to delay initiation, or by using a black cloth to hasten initiation. The pricing of poinsettias varies greatly, depending on location and costs incurred by the individual grower. Locally, florists and nurseries price poinsettias according to the known wealth of an area. A florist in La Jolla will definitely charge more for a plant than would a florist in San Marcos. Supermarkets charge an economical price, but the quality and life-span of their plants is limited. The poinsettia comes in a variety of colors and shapes . From white hanging basket plants, to pink miniature "pixie" plants, to the new poinsettia "trees" in traditional red, and the ever-popular standard pot plant, in every color from "marble" to brick red, the poinsettia has firmly established itself as a holiday symbol. With dedicated people, such as Paul Ecke and Paul Mikkleson, the poinsettia will continue to thrive in a plastic world. Seasons Greetings!