What Works: Poinsettias from Medina County

MEDIIf you buy poinsettias from a florist to decorate your home or office this holiday season, chances are they came from a greenhouse here.

Barco Sons Greenhouse began in Rocky River four generations ago. In the 1960's, it moved south and has become one of the leading growers of the lush red Christmas plants.

"They come into us as rooted cuttings," owner Ken Barco explained.  "In July we begin giving them special nurturing,-- heat, humidity, water and light, so they'll be full-grown plants for the holiday season.

Barco Sons Greenhouse will grow 60,000 poinsettias between July and Christmas. 

The plant originated in Mexico and in some regions is considered a weed. There are thousands of varieties of poinsettias.  Barco Sons grows seven.

"The traditional red is by far the most popular," Barco said. "We also grow pink, white, burgundy, marble, Picasso and "Jingle Bells."

"Jingle Bells is a red, pink and white mixture,"  Barco said.  "It looks like a red poinsettia with speckles all over it."

Speaking of speckles, Barco Sons also sells wholesale blue, purple and purple-with-gold-glitter poinsettias.

These are the handiwork, not of nature, but of painters at the greenhouse, which has a staff of 17 employees.

Barco Sons is a wholesale business, selling poinsettias to florists and the Buehlers supermarket chain. 

The greenhouse is maintaining its wholesale prices at the same levels of one year ago.