SPOTLIGHT ON... Poinsettia

The shops are full of poinsettias, and the great thing is they are available in a whole host of colours as well as traditional red.

Look for creamy white or pale pink, or even a combination of the two, but whatever you do, buy from an outlet such as a garden centre greenhouse or a store where the plants have been kept warm.

Poinsettias are originally natives of Mexico – if frosted or kept in temperatures that are too low, they will suffer from leaf drop.

Also, make sure the compost in the pot is damp. Have it wrapped up for the journey home so it arrives in good condition.

When you get it home, unwrap it, stand it in good light rather than in a dingy corner, and keep away from radiators and other heat sources that may dry it out and cause the leaves to curl. Feel the compost every day and water as soon as it starts drying out.

I’m making poinsettias sound temperamental and tricky to grow. They’re not, providing you give them the conditions they like.

When happy, they’ll carry on being decorative right into the new year.