Podcast Episode Summary: Más de uno (Onda Cero)

Title: Qué sabemos de las plantas de Navidad

Date: December 23, 2025

Host: Carlos Alsina
Guests: Jorge (colaborador regular), Pablo Vargas (biólogo y botánico, CSIC/Jardín Botánico), Fernando Espadas (florista, Las Camelias)

Overview

In this special Christmas episode, Carlos Alsina and his panel unravel the fascinating history, botany, and symbolism behind popular Christmas plants — especially the Flor de Pascua (Poinsettia), the Mistletoe (Muérdago), and Holly (Acebo). Blending knowledge and humor, the team is joined by scientific and artistic experts for a rich conversation about plant care, cultural traditions, and floral art during the festive season.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Survival of the Flor de Pascua at Home

• [00:36–01:25] Carlos asks Jorge if he manages to keep Poinsettias alive after Christmas. Jorge admits, “No se me muere necesariamente... pero no me aguanta más allá de Navidad” (“It doesn’t necessarily die, but it doesn’t last past Christmas”).
• Alsina promises tips later to help everyone keep their Flor de Pascua alive all year round.

Notable Quote

• [01:25] Carlos Alsina: “Atención a todos... vamos a dar aquí todas las claves para que no se les muera la planta, para que les dure todo el año y no sólo en Navidades.”

2. The Story and Science of the Flor de Pascua (Poinsettia)

Origin and Nomenclature

• [02:09, 11:17–13:54] The scientific name and origins are discussed. Jorge explains it was named after Joel Robert Poinsett, the first US ambassador to Mexico, who brought the plant back to the US.
• Aztec uses: for decoration, fever remedies, and red dye from its bracts.
• Numerous European botanists (such as Humboldt) later studied the plant.

Notable Quote

• [12:00] Jorge: “Las culturas precolombinas la tenían en muy alta consideración. Una planta cuyo nombre científico me lo ha apuntado aquí es Euphorbia pulcherrima...”

Botanical Clarification

• [14:09–15:59] Pablo Vargas joins in to clarify its scientific classification: “...el nombre científico ya no se llama Ponsetia pulchérrima, se llama Euphorbia pulchérrima... ahora Ponsetia se queda como nombre común.”

Structure and Curiosities

• What we call the “flower” is actually colored leaves (“brácteas”) designed to attract pollinators.
• The plant’s latex is toxic and was once used for folk medicinal purposes, especially to burn warts; this latex is common in the Euphorbia family.

Care and Maintenance

• The Poinsettia is native to Mexico and warm climates — it doesn’t cope well indoors in Spain due to lack of sunlight and humidity.
• [18:45] Pablo debunks the myth about wrapping the plant in newspaper during winter; it changes color as days shorten due to pigmentation shifts.
• There are white and yellow cultivars due to modern breeding, not necessarily poor health.

Notable Teaching Moment

• [16:02] Pablo Vargas: “Las hojas rojas se llaman brácteas... para llamar la atención a los polinizadores. Es mucho más rápido y más efectivo tener una hoja grande roja, ¿verdad?...”

3. The Christmas “Grito” Film Sound Effect (Cultural Sidebar)

• [02:19–06:14] Carlos Zoomer offers a quirky detour about the famous “Wilhelm Scream” used in countless films, its origin in 1950s Westerns, and its connections to sound editing. Although off-topic, it maintains the episode's playful tone.

4. Other Classic Christmas Plants: Mistletoe and Holly

The Real “Plants of Christmas” Tradition

• [20:38–26:01] Pablo Vargas explains that “muérdago” (mistletoe) and “acebo” (holly) have much older roots in European celebrations than the relatively modern Poinsettia.
• Mistletoe is a parasite with white berries and is toxic to mammals but not to birds; holly is almost a small tree and has red berries and spiky leaves.
• There are persistent folk customs about bringing these plants inside at Christmas, derived from both pagan Celtic and Roman traditions.

Regional Customs

• In humid northern Spain (the “España húmeda”), holly is traditional; in the south, with less holly, mistletoe is more common.

Notable Quote

• [26:03] Pablo Vargas: “Es anterior a los celtas o celta... la estrategia siempre se ha hecho... adoptar también los suyos.”
• [24:04] “Parece que ya en el siglo XXI... todavía no [lo sabemos todo]. Seguimos sacando... el año pasado en Canarias, tres especies nuevas del género rosa.”

5. Practical Uses & Symbolism

• Mistletoe was used for making birdlime (liga) to trap birds — a practice now outlawed.
• Holly wood sinks (is denser than water) and was historically used for walking sticks and bows due to its hardness.

Notable Quotes

• [25:07] Pablo Vargas: “Yo voy por el campo comiendo todo tipo de frutos para saber lo que prueban los animales...”
• [27:42] Alsina: “He visto que el acebo no nada, no flota, se hunde.”
• [28:22] Pablo Vargas: “El acebo... es muy dura y muy buena y muy fácil... antes era muy importante tener buenas varas, tener buenos arcos, tener buenas flechas...”

6. The Christmas Tree (Abeto)

• [29:29–29:54] The Christmas fir tree (“abeto”) is a more recent import, adopted from older Germanic pagan and Protestant traditions.

7. The Artistic Side: Floral Design at Christmas

Interview: Fernando Espadas, Master Florist

• [31:43–36:27] Fernando recounts growing up surrounded by flowers, learning his family trade, and competing in national and global floral design competitions.
• Spanish floral art is shaped by climate, material, and tradition, but is now evolving thanks to social media and European influences.
• Christmas is a major season for floral decor in Spain, with a growing inclination to decorate homes, businesses, and offices, matching European customs.

Notable Quotes

• [34:13] Fernando Espadas: “España tiene una un poco una forma de trabajar… el propio clima o la propia vegetación que tiene ese país o la propia forma de vida de la gente, eso va implícito al arte floral, a cada estilo de cada país.”
• [35:47] “La Navidad es muy importante... Estamos en España acostumbrándonos a cada vez más decorar nuestra casa por Navidad... Es muy importante decorar en Navidad nuestras casas y nuestro entorno en la actualidad en España.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• [14:44] Pablo Vargas: “Tengo malas noticias, porque el nombre científico ya no se llama Ponsetia pulchérrima, se llama Euphorbia pulchérrima.”
• [16:02] Pablo Vargas, on Poinsettias: “Lo que llamamos flor son esas hojas rojas... para llamar la atención a los polinizadores.”
• [18:45] Alsina: “Y eso que dicen de que tienes que en invierno rodearla de papel periódico para que no le entre la luz, para que al año siguiente vuelva a tener las hojas rojas.”
• [26:03] Pablo Vargas: “Os voy a contar un poco, porque tiene mucho que ver con las dos Españas… La España húmeda… y el muérdago, como en el sur no hay tanto acebo…”

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 00:36 | Introduction to Christmas plants and their longevity | | 11:17 | The story and symbolism behind Poinsettia | | 14:09 | Botanical clarification by Pablo Vargas | | 15:59 | “Flor de Pascua” structure and purpose | | 18:45 | Myths and facts on indoor care for Poinsettia | | 20:38 | History of Christmas plants: native vs. imported | | 22:30 | Mistletoe and holly: biology, toxicity, and folklore | | 24:04 | The continuing mysteries and discoveries in botany | | 29:29 | The Christmas fir tree and its European roots | | 31:43 | Interview with Fernando Espadas, the floral artist | | 35:47 | Trends and importance of floral decor at Christmas |

Conclusion

Blending science, history, and creativity, this episode demystifies Christmas plant traditions for Spanish listeners. The show moves from the scientific and historical to the practical and decorative — always with a sense of humor and a friendly, informative tone. Whether listeners want to keep their plant alive, learn a quirky fact, or get inspired to decorate, this episode has them covered.