Poinsettias Hate Sitting Next to These—discover why and how to keep these color-changing foliage plants happy!
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are popular holiday houseplants with leafy bracts that change hues from green to cream, red, pink, or white in response to shorter fall days. These robust color-shapeshifters hate sitting next to these, though—find out why!
Avoid Placing Your Poinsettia Next to These
1. Air Conditioners
Native to Mexico, poinsettias thrive in moist soil in temperatures around 65-70 F (18-21 C) and cannot tolerate extreme fluctuations. Placing them directly under air conditioners can expose them to sudden dips and highs, stressing them out!
Similarly, they’re exposed to cold drafts and kept near a window that opens and closes often; this weakens their health. Anything below 50 F (10 C) can risk their survival.
2. Fire Places, Radiators, or Ovens
Poinsettias hate sitting next to sources of heat! Keeping them in a room that is constantly warmed up using firewood or other sources of heat will dry out the plant, causing it to show signs of dehydration and affect its growth pattern.
3. Fans
The next obvious enemy is fans, which can dry out the soil quickly. This can lead to shriveled leaves or yellowing, which affects the plant’s ability to photosynthesize and produce enough food. Keep your poinsettias where the conditions are stable and relaxed!
4. Fruits
Here’s a surprising troublemaker disguised as a harmless neighbor—fruits! While ripening, fruits emit ethylene gas, which causes leaf and bud-drop in poinsettias and makes them age prematurely.
The plant will not blossom when placed near fruits like bananas, mangoes, and apples, as they are one of the most common highest emitters of the gas.
5. Mirrors & Grow Lights
Poinsettias grow best in partial shade. So, extreme sunlight will do more harm than good. Placing poinsettias next to reflective surfaces will tremendously increase the light exposure if the mirror catches it.
The same will happen if grow lights are overused. Although these won’t have the same intensity of daylight, they can be relatively bright and interfere with the plant’s natural preferences.
6. Pet Homes and Toddler Cradles
Although poinsettia is not an extremely toxic plant, it still contains Diterpene esters, especially in its milky sap, that can lead to contact dermatitis or temporary blindness if it comes into direct contact with the skin or eyes. It also causes mild irritation if ingested.
Placing them next to curious toddlers or pets is more of a health risk for the latter than the plant, either way making it a bad choice for a location!
7. Bathtubs or Water Sources
Poinsettias prefer 40-55% humidity levels, and placing them next to bathtubs or other rooms or items with higher humidity hurts them. This can invite fungal diseases or other pests, which will, in turn, damage the plant.
An airy room with no temperature fluctuations is a good choice to maintain consistent ventilation.
