Could someone tell me the most accurate way to measure the height of poinsettias for graphical tracking.Also I know this is a general question that may not be able to be answered .I have 7 " pots 2pp that are 9- 10 Inches tall from bottom of pot to top leaves.I was wondering how this compares with other growers at this time. I am looking for a finished height of 20- 22 " and am in Northtern Ohio. Thanks

I use the growth curves on the University of Florida's Poinsettia web site brought to you by Dr. Barrett. They skipped the '2006 information and there is not much on the '2007 pages yet but you can go to the graphs for '2005 and get a general feel for where the height should be at any given date, adjusting or course where you might be located on the planet. The graphs work for me just as they are because my growing season here in S.E. Texas corresponds to the growing conditions in most of Florida. They do not use the container size you mention but the 6.5" container size on some graphs will give you a ball park feel by you using a curve a few inches above the upper curve for your 7" containers. I grow a premium larger Poinsettia than those sold at the chain stores so I usually grow, for example, my 6" Prestige Red at the high end of the 6" growth curve where as those growing for mass merchandising might use the lower range on the graph....Michael Pawelek
PS-Cruise around the whole web site for some great information.
University Of Florida Poinsettia Site

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Michael Pawelek,

Thanks Mike.On their graph are the measurements taken from the bottom of the pot to the top most leaves?

Most growers measure the plant from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant. The graphs on Florida’s site are using measurements taken this way.

Using our graphical tracking program On Target if we look at a 7" crop with an early finish such as Freedom the minimum height right now would be approximately 10" and the maximum height would be 12". For a crop that finishes later such as Prestige the minimum height would be 9" and the maximum height would be 11". Note the heights for a later finishing crop are shorter right now because of the extra production time at finish. If you have not already taken advantage of this free height tracking program you should check it out. It is web based so all your data is saved from season to season. There is no software to download so you can access your account from any computer with internet access. Our technical staff can also log on simultaneously and provide height control advice based on your graphs. You can also create custom curves using data from a previous season’s crop if that better suites your needs. Track as many crops as you like and again best of all, it’s free!