The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Horticulture Club is ready to spread holiday cheer with its annual poinsettia fundraiser, featuring over 1,000 plants grown by students. The sale, scheduled for December 5, will offer 1,020 poinsettias in various colors and sizes, all cultivated by around 30 members of the club.
“Poinsettias help set the mood for the season,” said William Anderson, the club president and senior plant and landscape systems major. “They create a sense of togetherness, perfect for celebrating with friends and family.”
The plants begin their journey in the summer, when the club receives small-rooted cuttings, each about 2 inches in diameter. The students transplant these into containers, and, counterintuitively, trim the tops of the plants to encourage branching. “Trimming signals to the plant to grow outward, which helps shape the poinsettia,” Anderson explained.
Poinsettias are particularly vulnerable to pests and diseases, so the club develops a detailed pest management plan. The plan is mainly implemented by Stacy Adams, professor of practice in agronomy and horticulture, who also serves as the club’s adviser. Fertilization is another key aspect of the process, with both general and specialized fertilizers used to ensure the plants grow strong and healthy.
“They need nutrients just like we do,” Anderson said. “Calcium, for example, strengthens both our bones and the stems of the plants.”
As the plants approach their final growth stages, students carefully manage light exposure. They simulate short days by covering the plants and using artificial lights to regulate their growth. “We use timers to control the light, ensuring they receive it exactly when needed,” Anderson said.
While poinsettias are often associated with the holiday season, Anderson encourages people to continue caring for them after the holidays. He notes that yellowing or wilting leaves are often a sign of dormancy rather than poor care. “It’s not necessarily something you’re doing wrong,” he said. “It’s just the plant’s natural cycle after it flowers.”
The lower leaves tend to yellow first, and Anderson suggests trimming the tops and reducing watering at that point. Given the proper care, poinsettias—native to tropical regions—can regrow and thrive as perennials.
The Horticulture Club’s poinsettia sale not only brightens the holiday season but also supports club activities, including educational trips to gardens and orchards, as well as improvements to their greenhouse facilities.
The sale will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on December 5 at both the Nebraska and Nebraska East unions. The Teaching Greenhouse West, located at 1875 N. 38th St., will also be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for in-person sales. Online orders can be picked up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. on December 4 at the Teaching Greenhouse West. Payment is due at pickup, and both cash and card are accepted.
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