Red is the most popular poinsettia color, but in the University Gardens at K-State, red isn’t the only color you’ll see.

"I’m actually growing Ice Punch," KSU Graduate Morgan Jenkins said.

K-State students are growing 49 different types of poinsettias from across the world.

Floriculture student Jenkins is one of the K-State students growing the popular holiday plant.

"I want to own my own floral shop later in life, so I’m interested in learning the science behind the art right now," she said.

Not only are the students learning how to grow poinsettias, they’re studying how these plants, which come from Mexico, grow in the Midwest.

"In places like Southern California they become shrubs that are three times as tall as you and I," KSU Horticulture Professor Kim Williams said.

Williams is teaching the students to control the temperature to keep these plants the perfect size for decoration.

"Anything that’s hands-on you learn, it’s going to be ingrained in you," she said.

Williams has been showing students the art of poinsettias for 13 years and she’s learned a few tricks on how to make them last once you get them home.

"The key problem is over watering," Williams said. "It’s easy just to kind of love them to death"

She says to be sure not to over water the plants or leave the plant in a pot that doesn’t drain and keep your poinsettia away from cold places like your windows.

"They’re going to love warm temperatures, thinking about where they’re native to down in Mexico," Williams said.

The poinsettias will be sold to raise money for the K-State University Gardens.

They'll be on sale from at the garden's visitor center at 1500 Denison Ave. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 2 and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Dec. 5. The cost is $10 for a 6.5-inch plant or six for $50, while 10-inch centerpieces are $15 each.