The holiday season is upon us, and Colorado State University horticulture students are getting ready to host the annual poinsettia sale. For over 25 years, this tradition has provided festive plants to the community as well as valuable experiential learning for students in the floriculture practicum taught by Joshua Craver in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.
Continuing an upward trend to meet demand, the program has doubled the number of plants for sale, with nearly 2,000 plants of 17 different cultivars available.
Hands on learning
The poinsettias are grown at the CSU Horticulture Center where students are responsible for all the decision-making and work needed to produce the crop. They began their work back in August, raising the plants from cuttings and tending to them nearly every day.
The class is a primer in intensive greenhouse production. Students perform activities like watering and fertilization, dealing with pests, and maintaining the proper soil pH. The state-of-the-art CSU Horticulture Center is set up with the latest technology; students use soil-moisture sensors and automation to optimize production.
“We want to make sure students are getting experience with techniques and equipment they will encounter when they graduate and enter the horticulture industry,” said Mike Hazlett, research associate with the Horticulture Center.
Some techniques remain simple, however. Every night students cover the plants with a light-blocking tarp to simulate fall’s shorter days, which triggers the dramatic change in color. Even a little bit of intrusive light, for example from a streetlamp, can disrupt the flowering process and the plants will remain green.
All proceeds will funnel back into the horticulture program, ensuring future students have access to the prized experiential learning the practicum provides.
Hazlett added that the annual sale is an important community engagement opportunity where students can interact with customers and see the impact of their efforts. It’s also a chance to showcase the students’ achievements. “They put in a lot of hard work all semester to produce a high-quality crop, and they’re proud to share their work,” he said.
Sale details
The sale runs Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday Dec. 4 from 3-6 p.m. Location: CSU Horticulture Center, 1707 Centre Ave., Fort Collins, CO. Price: $15 for 6-inch pots, $20 for 8-inch pots. Cash, check and credit cards accepted.
For questions, please contact Mike.Hazlett@colostate.edu.
