Postproduction Factors Shipping, handling and storage - Ship plants with sleeves to avoid injury to the leaves and bracts during handling and shipping. Light - Plants shipped in the dark may develop premature leaf and cyathia drop, so keep shipping and holding times as short as possible. Temperature - Ideal shipping and storage temperatures are between 55 to 60 F. Temperatures below 50 F will cause chilling injury which will cause bracts to turn white. This includes maintaining temperatures above 50 F during loading and unloading. Ethylene Gas - Poinsettias produce ethylene because of the mechanical bending of the leaf petioles during sleeving.
Ethylene causes leaves and bracts to droop.
Generally, the longer poinsettias are sleeved, the longer it will take them to recover. To reduce additional ethylene effects during shipping all injured or diseased leaves and bracts should be removed before sleeving. Retail Handling Delivery - Plants must be unboxed and unsleeved immediately upon delivery. Light - Place plants in display areas with 100 fc of light. Light from incandescent bulbs or fluorescent lighting with cool white tubes give the best display of bract color.