Poinsettias are a quintessential holiday plant, with their festive red and green leaves brightening up homes and public spaces every winter. While their bold colors may make them appear hardy, poinsettias actually require specific growing conditions to thrive. One of the most critical factors is sunlight—too much or too little can quickly damage these delicate tropical plants. If you want your poinsettias to live their best life, read on to discover everything you need to know about meeting their sunlight needs.
How Much Sunlight Do Poinsettias Need?
Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico, so they are accustomed to warm, bright conditions. They need between 4-6 hours of direct sunlight every day. Less than 4 hours will cause their leaves to fade, droop, and yellow. More than 6 hours, especially midday sun, will scorch the delicate foliage.
Indirect sunlight from an east, west, or lightly shaded south-facing window is ideal. Outdoors, poinsettias need a spot sheltered from intense afternoon sun. If you live in a low sunlight area, you may need to supplement with grow lights. LED plant bulbs providing 1000-3000 lumens positioned 12-18 inches above the plant for 6-8 hours per day will satisfy their hunger for light.
Reading the Leaves: How to Tell if Your Poinsettia is Getting Too Much or Too Little Sun
The poinsettia itself will let you know if its light levels are off.
Leaves fading to green or yellow indicate too little sun. Move to a brighter location.
Leaves wilting or scorching (brown crispy spots) signal too much direct sun. Filter the light with a sheer curtain.
Pale stunted growth is a sign of insufficient sunlight. Supplement with grow lights.
Bleached and faded bracts (the colorful modified leaves) show that sun intensity is too high Move out of direct sun
Aim for vibrant dark green leaves and rich colorful bracts—the poinsettia’s way of saying “light levels are just right!” Monitor their appearance and adjust sunlight as needed
Where to Place Poinsettias for Proper Sun Exposure
Now that you know how much sun poinsettias require, where should you put them? Here are the best spots:
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East Windows: Receive gentle morning sun that poinsettias appreciate. Close sheer curtains to diffuse harsh afternoon light.
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West Windows: Offer ideal afternoon sun that won’t overexpose plants. Filter intense late day sun with sheer curtains.
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South Windows: Provide the most light but can be too intense. Filter sunlight with sheer curtains. Move plants a few feet back from the window.
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North Windows: Usually too dark for poinsettias. Supplement with grow lights.
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Outdoors: Place in partial shade protected from midday sun, such as under a canopy or patio cover. Move plants into direct morning sun then back to shade.
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Grow Lights: Use LED grow bulbs 12-18 inches above the plant for 6-8 hours per day. Works well for low light indoor spots.
Rotate plants occasionally so all sides receive even sunlight exposure. Monitor leaf color and condition and adjust the placement as needed. With a little trial and error, you’ll find the perfect sun-drenched spot for your poinsettias.
Sunlight Needs By Poinsettia Variety
While all poinsettias need 4-6 hours of sun, some varieties have preferences for higher or lower light levels.
High Light Varieties: Can tolerate more direct sun.
- Classic Red Poinsettias
- Pink Poinsettias
- Orange Poinsettias
- White Poinsettias
Low Light Varieties: Prefer diffuse sunlight.
- Burgundy Poinsettias
- Speckled Poinsettias
- Yellow Poinsettias
- Blue/Purple Poinsettias (painted)
Start higher light varieties in brighter locations, and lower light types in more sheltered spots. Adjust as needed based on leaf feedback.
Miniature poinsettias need protection from hot sun that can damage their tiny leaves. Be extra diligent about diffusing sunlight for these petite plants.
Providing Winter Sunlight for Poinsettias
One poinsettia challenge is that their peak holiday season coincides with the year’s lowest light levels. How do you keep them radiant?
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Select the brightest, sunniest room in your home. South facing is best.
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Place poinsettias right up against the window. Remove anything blocking light.
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Keep windows clean to maximize sunlight penetration.
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Change sheer curtain panels to lightweight types that filter less light.
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Use mirrors and reflective surfaces to bounce more sunlight onto plants.
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Supplement natural light with grow lights. The red/blue light bulbs work well.
Take steps to maximize every bit of sunlight coming into your home during winter. With diligent monitoring and these tips, your poinsettias can continue looking bright and festive all season long.
Let There Be Light! Optimal Sun for Happy Holiday Poinsettias
Sunshine is life for poinsettias, but too much intense sun can be deadly. By understanding their light needs and carefully monitoring your plants, you can easily provide the 4-6 hours of gentle sunlight they require to thrive. Position plants in east or west windows, or give south-facing spots gentle filtration. Move outdoors in a sheltered location during summer. Supplement with grow lights if needed. Soon you’ll master the art of perfect poinsettia sun exposure, rewarding you with vibrant blooms that shine all season long.
Poinsettias come in many colors
You can find poinsettias around the holidays to fit into almost any decorative scheme. They range from creamy white to pink to the traditional bright red. Some varieties have bracts with patterns in red and white, pink and white, or green and white and even bright orange.
Flower forms vary as well with some looking similar to a rose. You will also find unusually colored poinsettias such as blue or purple in garden centers. These are cream-colored varieties that are spray painted. They are sometimes sprinkled with glitter.
- Indoor light: Put in a south, east or west window where the plant will receive bright daylight.
- Outdoor light: Part sun, 4 to 6 hours daily.
- Temperature:
- Indoor temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees F are ideal.
- Avoid placing poinsettias where the temperature fluctuates or may be drying, such as near cold drafts, heat ducts, fireplaces, fans, space heaters, etc.
- Poinsettias will suffer damage if they are exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees F.
- Freezing temperatures will kill poinsettias.
- Keep soil moist.
- Water plant when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch, or the pot feels lightweight when lifted. Never allow poinsettias to get so dry that they wilt.
- Remove from decorative foil or outer pot before watering.
- Make sure your plant is in a pot that drains freely.
- Set the plant in a sink and water thoroughly, allowing the plant to drain completely.
- Never allow poinsettia pots to sit in excess water. Constant wetness will rot plant roots.
- You do not need to fertilize your poinsettia during the holidays.
- Start fertilizing your plant when you see new growth (new green leaves, stems, bracts).
- Fertilize with an all-purpose household plant fertilizer.
- Mix with water it at half the recommended strength.
- Feed your poinsettia every 3-4 weeks to keep the plant healthy and provide the necessary nutrients for new growth.
In late spring or early summer, transplant your poinsettia into a larger container (about 2 to 4 inches bigger than the original pot) or a part-sun garden bed.
- In pots, use a soil mix with a good amount of organic matter such as peat moss. Make sure your new pot has good drainage.
- In the garden, plant into a garden bed with well-drained soil that gets 4 to 5 hours of sun per day. Mix in organic matter such as peat moss or compost into the soil. This will help maintain soil moisture and create a good growing environment for the roots.
- Water your poinsettia thoroughly after transplanting.
How Direct Sunlight Affects Poinsettias
Direct sunlight is the frenemy of the poinsettia. Too much and youll witness a tragic scene of wilting, like a plant crying out for sunscreen. The leaves can burn, turning a crispy brown, as if theyve been left in a toaster oven. Discoloration is another telltale sign; leaves may lose their vibrant green, looking more washed out than a faded pair of jeans.
The Secret to Keeping Your Poinsettia Alive ALL YEAR
FAQ
Can poinsettias get too much sun?
Even plants get sunburned. If the Poinsettia had too much sun early, the leaves turn white and curl up. The leaves can be cut because they won’t recover from too much sun. Put the Poinsettia immediately back into the shadows, give good care and hope that the rest will recover.
Where is the best place to put a poinsettia?
Poinsettias like bright light, out of direct sunlight. Additionally they need to be away from draughts and like minimum temperature of 13-16°C (55-60°F), so somewhre like a table a little away from a window in a living room is usually ideal.
Do indoor poinsettias need sunlight?
Healthy poinsettias have dark green leaves below the bracts and foliage all the way to the base. With proper care and attention, your poinsettia can brighten your home for months to come. Consider these tips. Poinsettias need a minimum of six hours of indirect sunlight each day.
How often should you water a poinsettia?
Poinsettias don’t need to be watered often.
As a rule of thumb, poinsettias only need water every week or ten days, but remember to check them daily as each home is different. Before you water, always check if the poinsettia soil is dry.
How much sunlight does a poinsettia need?
How much sunlight do Poinsettia need? To get adequate sunlight indoors, your Poinsettia required bright indirect sunlight. Keep them where the light is bright near a sunny window but don’t let the light directly hit the plant as full sun can damage the leaves.
What is the best light for a poinsettia?
The best light for a poinsettia is bright, indirect light. Poinsettias will do best if they receive bright light for at least 6 hours a day. However, it is important to avoid direct sunlight as this can burn the leaves.
What happens if a poinsettia gets too much sunlight?
A plant exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period will also sunburn the foliage. The leaves will slowly turn brown, wither, and may fall off. The same could happen to your poinsettia during the hottest hours of the day if it’s getting too much light. Too much light (especially direct sunlight) results in rapid moisture loss from the leaves.
Do poinsettias wilt in direct sunlight?
Direct sunlight is the frenemy of the poinsettia. Too much and youll witness a tragic scene of wilting, like a plant crying out for sunscreen. The leaves can burn, turning a crispy brown, as if theyve been left in a toaster oven.
How do you care for a poinsettia plant in winter?
Frequent pinching back of the stem tips will ensure seasonal color in winter. Poinsettia do best when placed in bright, diffused sunlight, so place your plant near a sunny window where it will receive at least six to eight hours of diffused light per day. Be aware that exposure to direct sunlight can burn bracts and leaves.
Do poinsettias need a new light?
As the sun’s path and strength shift throughout the year from season to season, your poinsettia’s light needs change too. Here are some adjustments to make: In summer, excess sun coming through southern or western windows can scald leaves. Filter light with curtains or move the plant back from the window.