9 Reasons Your Poinsettia is Dropping Leaves

There’s nothing like growing a poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, to ring in the holiday season. This vibrant flower is easy to grow and displays striking multi-colored bracts throughout the winter. As easy as it is to grow indoors, there are still things that can go wrong. 

From environmental factors to too much water or food, your plant will start dropping its leaves when it’s exposed to dramatic changes and stress. By knowing what’s going on, you should be able to help your indoor flower before it’s too late. 

Whatever you do, don’t panic! Your poinsettia can handle some stress and with a quick change or two, it should bounce back in no time. Below are nine reasons your poinsettia is dropping its leaves and what to do to fix it. 

Sudden Temperature Changes

The poinsettia flower comes from tropical and sub-tropical Mexico and Central America. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones of 9-11. In these warm environments, temperature extremes are almost unheard of. 

If you’re growing it indoors, any sudden temperature change can negatively affect it. Imagine a cold front plunging the temperatures outside to below freezing. Any poinsettia growing near the front door or by a window will feel the chill, and respond to stressful extreme temperature changes by dropping its leaves.

To prevent this, keep it away from windows or doorways with heavy traffic. Move it away from sources of sudden cold air, and consider keeping it on a shelf or table. 

Cool Drafts

Even if your flower is growing away from a door or window, cold air may still be causing problems. Poinsettia flowers thrive in temperatures between 65-75°F (18-21°C). If there’s a cold draft inside your home, it may stress it enough for it to shed its leaves. 

This can happen when temperatures drop at night, and your central heating doesn’t heat the entire space. It can also happen in hallways where cold air funnels through whenever a door opens. 

As soon as you notice that your poinsettia is dropping its leaves, consider moving it to a new location. Cold drafts will affect your flower more frequently if it’s on the floor. Keep it away from the ground on shelving or countertops. 

It’s Not Getting Enough Light

If your plant isn’t getting enough light, it can stress it out enough to cause it to shed its leaves. This can happen if it’s growing too far away from a window or source of light. 

A poinsettia needs consistent indirect light to stay healthy. Plants growing too far from indirect light will quickly lose their vigor. Keep your festive flower near a window or skylight with consistent indirect sunlight through the winter.

East-facing or southeast windows work great. Ensure it gets at least six to seven hours of bright indirect light and up to six hours of direct sunlight. You can also use a grow light if your space is limited. 

Your Space is Too Cold

If you live in an area without central heating that gets below 65°F (18°C), it may be too cold for your poinsettia. Your plant needs warm temperatures to thrive. If it gets cold inside your home, it may be tough to grow this species of flower in the winter. 

Try moving your flower to a higher elevation when the temperatures fall at night. The best location is the second floor if you have one. If not, shelves or countertops are the next best options. 

Even in cold climates, poinsettias will thrive as long as the indoor temperature is consistently pleasant. Keep it between 65-75°F (18-24°C) and it should stay healthy throughout the winter. 

The Air is Too Dry

Your poinsettia’s native climate is sub-tropical to tropical, with high moisture throughout the year. It won’t do well in extremely dry climates, including a dry home. 

Although a little dry air won’t hurt a poinsettia, prolonged dryness could stress it out and cause it to drop its leaves. If you notice your indoor space has dry air, try using a humidifier. These machines add humidity to dry air, making it more pleasant for plants and humans to breathe. 

You can also place a tray of water near your plant to boost the humidity near it. Other great locations to grow your flower is in your kitchen or bathroom. The steam will help humidify the air; just make sure it gets enough light. 

There’s Too Much Hot Air

Sometimes, your indoor space is just too hot for your poinsettia. Although they’re from the tropics of Central America and Mexico, they prefer cooler highland environments with consistent temperatures. 

If it experiences too much heat, it can stress it out, especially if the temperature is inconsistent. This happens when your plant is growing near a hot air vent, kitchen, fireplace, or furnace. 

Always keep your plant away from sources of sudden heat. If you notice its leaves dropping, move the poinsettia to an elevated space away from anything that can emit hot or cold drafts. Your plant should stop dropping its leaves and put on new growth within a few weeks. 

It Needs the Right Amount of Water

Like most other houseplants, poinsettias have a sweet spot when it comes to watering. Too much water will drown it, and too little will dry it out. Both extremes will stress your flower and cause it to drop its leaves. 

Water your poinsettias once every week. Let the top layer of soil dry up before watering, and make sure the rest of the soil stays moist. Always avoid soggy soil to prevent root rot and the eventual death of your plant. 

Most of the time, a watering schedule is not enough to make sure your plant is getting the right amount of water. Always check the soil to see if it’s too dry or too moist. Try sticking your finger into the soil to test it. If it’s dry to the first knuckle, it’s time to give it some water. 

Excess Fertilizer

Fertilizing is important for healthy poinsettias, especially after their bracts change color in winter. However, like any plant, too much of a good thing can cause serious problems. 

Feeding your poinsettia too much will cause enough stress for it to lose its leaves. Always follow the directions on your product and don’t over-fertilize. 

If you intend to keep your plant growing past the holiday season, try fertilizing it in spring after its bracts fall. Try using a balanced fertilizer and feed it when you water it. If you notice any buildup of minerals on the soil along with fallen or wilted leaves, you’re overfeeding your colorful flower.

You Bought an Unhealthy Poinsettia

Sometimes, we choose poinsettias that are already unhealthy at the nursery. When you bring it home, any amount of stress will cause it to lose its leaves.

Choosing a healthy poinsettia is key to getting brightly colored foliage and long-lasting vigor. Healthy plants will last multiple seasons if you take care of them.