I noticed a few weeks ago that I had a block of 10" Prestige that started to color up ahead of the rest of the Prestige in that bay and now it is obvious that my broker snuck in a tray of "Early" Prestige liners into my order. It was hard to get a picture at this angle and it is very overcast today but note the coloration in the center of the picture vs. the closest bench and furthest bench. I really like how these colored up earlier this year but wonder what they will look like by Christmas since they are ahead of my regular crop. My sales every year depend on the quality of last years crop and these "early" to color Prestige may not look so good a month from now. Does anyone have experience with how Early Prestige looks at Christmas compared to Prestige?...Thanks....Michael Pawelek

Michael, I have run into a couple of other mix ups between Prestige and Early Prestige. The names are so similar and Early Prestige is so new. Our experience with holding Early Prestige in a relatively warm greenhouse is that it holds better than most varieties. However, they will be a couple of weeks older than your Prestige and will not look as fresh. Unless something unusual develops, you will be able to sale them. If possible, move them to coolest area you have. Good luck. Jim

Dr. Barrett, I have two accounts where the orders go out early so they will receive the Prestige Early this year. I have found that most business/corporations that buy Poinsettias have their office parties early in December and most folks start vacations by December 15th so the Poinsettias go home with the employees a week or two before Christmas. Years ago the vast majority of my customers did not want their Poinsettias until after December 15th in the fear that they would not even last until Christmas Day. Now about 50% want them for parties the first 2 weeks in December but still expect the poinsettias to look spectacular by the 25th! Trying to juggle the timing for the "early" and then the "late" users can be frustrating. I've also noticed a difference in Church use depending on denomination. My two Catholic Church customers are not allowed to decorate until Christmas Eve. My 3 Baptist Churches want their Poinsettias early in the month and decorate around week two of December....Michael Pawelek

Hi Michael -

It has been our experience with Early Prestige that it holds very well - possibly even better than Prestige. The key as Jim said is keeping them cool once they are ready to go to preserve the cyathia. If, for example, you have them in a house with later varieties that you are trying to push with warm temperatures of course the plants won't hold as well and quality will decrease - but this can be said for any variety and we do feel that Early Prestige holds up better in this type of situation than others on the market.