The color of poinsettia bracts is truest and most brilliant when seen in natural light. While poinsettias grow under natural sunlight conditions, we seldom expose them to natural light in the market chain. In the consumer's home, poinsettias are under interior lighting, however, the quality of home lighting is often superior to light used in the market. Light enhances or degrades bract color depending on the light source used to display poinsettias. Light intensity and light quality are two important factors for poinsettia consumer satisfaction.
Light intensity is the brightness of the amount of energy falling on the poinsettia.
Poinsettias need a minimum amount of light energy to maintain their living processes. When the light intensity falls below this level the plants deteriorate, the leaves fall off and there is a reduction in consumer satisfaction. The minimum interior light intensity for plant maintenance differs among poinsettia cultivars. Placing poinsettias near windows during daylight hours for additional light exposure sustains them for longer periods of time. Avoid direct sunlight, however, which may over-heat and burn the plants.