CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gritt's Greenhouse has been busy spreading holiday cheer this month. Penny Goff, partner and general manager, said they have distributed 40,000 poinsettia plants this season.

"We did the Greenbrier this year, too," Penny said. "I'm not sure of the number, but it's around 4,000 to 5,000 that we delivered to them."

The Putnam County company sells the plants in seven sizes, and it supplies most of the local florists as well as florists throughout West Virginia and surrounding states. Gritt's is one of the poinsettia suppliers for Kroger, and it supplies TerraCare and several small garden centers. Gritt's provides poinsettias for many area fundraisers, as well.

Penny said they grow and distribute seven varieties: early and late reds, pink, white, jingle bells (red with white specks), winter rose, maroon, marble and coral.

I remember a trip to southern California years ago, and as we drove around I was amazed to see poinsettias used in the landscapes of the homes around Los Angeles.

Here are some tips for keeping your poinsettia in top holiday form for as long as possible, courtesy of the Paul Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, Calf.

Place your plant in indirect sunlight for at least six hours a day. If direct sunlight can't be avoided, diffuse the light with a sheer curtain. A room temperature between 68-70 degrees is optimal. Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia.

Avoid drafts or excessive heat from ventilation ducts or fireplaces. Water when the soil feels dry to the touch, avoiding over-watering. Always remove the plant from its decorative container before watering and allow the water to drain completely. Don't fertilize the plant when it is in bloom, wait until after the blooming season and use a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.

Take a break

Houseplants slow down for the winter so take a break and go easy on the water and fertilizer. While this is a general rule of thumb, I have a couple of plants that become particularly dry because they are near furnace vents, so I have to put them on a different watering schedule than the rest.

Most plants like to dry out between watering, especially in the winter.

Fuel fee?

I ordered online a Jasmine topiary for an aunt in Florida from Jackson & Perkins this week, and I took advantage of a one-day free-shipping coupon that I had received. Imagine my dismay when they still tacked on a $3 "fuel fee." I wonder if any of the other gardening supply places are passing this cost along to the buyers.

Butterfly bushes that don't bolt

I'm thinking spring, making a list of plants I want to include in my new beds. While I love butterfly bushes, it seems like the ones I have planted have sent seeds everywhere, and now I'm pulling the plants out of unwanted places.

Helen Yoest, a member of the board of advisors of the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, N.C., recently wrote an interesting letter to Horticulture Magazine. The publication had carried a story about butterfly bushes, and Yoest noted that while the bushes are wonderful for attracting butterflies, they are often invasive. Actually, she was quite polite (love that Southern charm!) as she noted, "Parts of North Carolina deal with the exuberance of some Buddleia species." That's a nice word for potentially invasive.

Yoest suggested alternative plants. "'Blue Chip' was developed by Dr. Denuis Werner, director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University and a plant breeder in the NCSU College of Agriculture and Life Science. An unusual dwarf butterfly bush, 'Blue Chip' is a very, very low seed setter. As such, it is unlikely it will produce unwanted seedlings. 'Blue Chip,' along with 'Miss Ruby,' a pink dwarf and also a very low seed setter, are the first to be introduced as part of the Lo and Behold plant series through Proven Winners."

Put these on your short list to pick up this spring!

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 348-1249.