Smooth Cordgrass requires about 6 hours of direct and continuous sunlight daily. These are desirable to help them grow healthily, and this will help them grow faster. You might also want to provide these species with supplemental light during the winter with the help of lamps. The species need several hours of unobstructed sunlight to have vibrant foliage, so you might want to place them in the brightest areas of your garden or indoor nursery.

They are suited to a full sun and don't tend to tolerate shady areas. It's best to have at least 8 inches of space for each plant especially if you’re planting a lot of them so each can get a lot of sunlight. Generally, the Smooth Cordgrass has a high demand for direct, full, and abundant sunlight. During summers, you can place them outside in the morning sun, so they will have enough light to grow. They don't do well with partial sunlight and don't tolerate filtered or part shade. They might also not grow well when a huge tree constantly provides shade, so plant them in areas without obstruction.

The Smooth Cordgrass should never avoid sun exposure because they seek and love the bright light. They love the sun so much that they require at least 6 hours of exposure regardless of the climate. Some areas, especially during the fall and spring, don't need protection because they require full sunlight. However, if you're located in a tropical climate or if the summer sun is too much, it's always possible to transfer the potted species inside until the temperature cools down again. Overall, you don't need to plant them near buildings, tall trees, and other structures because they need full sun for at least 6 hours.

If there's insufficient light, the Smooth Cordgrass will not thrive. This is going to result in poor growth. Fungi and bacteria can feed on the plants' tissues, which are generally common for the plants grown in shady areas. When the plants receive too little sunlight, they tend to become spindly. They will have weaker stems because they are constantly seeking to receive light, and this can result in wilting or brown leaves. You might want to see if there are insects present or a rhizome rot in Smooth Cordgrass as this can be another sign that they are not receiving enough sunlight. If this is the case, put them in another area where they will receive bright and direct light to see if it will make a difference.

During their growing phase, you need to expose the plants to the sun so that they don't have to stretch and grow upwards. You can avoid the process of etiolation and prevent the stems of Smooth Cordgrass from growing weak. This is generally prevalent for those that are receiving no sun or are in a partially shaded area when they are young. When they are already established and have matured, you also need to continuously expose them to a full sun because they need photosynthesis to grow more. When they are placed inside a greenhouse or a nursery for a very long time, and you decide to transfer them into a garden, you need to gradually introduce them to the bright lights. Still, you should never suddenly place them in direct heat, especially if it's mid-afternoon. They need a period to adapt and to become used to the intensity of sunlight in your area, so give them some much-needed time.

As mentioned, the Smooth Cordgrass needs 6 to 7 hours of direct sunlight to do the process of photosynthesis. This helps them produce enough food to grow. You can make this easier for yourself when you group them together and plant them in the same spot in your garden. This way, they will get enough of their light requirements to produce flowers, grow sturdy stems, and produce the glucose that they need for their food.

As mentioned, the Smooth Cordgrass loves the sun, but sometimes too much can hurt it. However, too much harsh sunlight can actually burn the leaves in the summer. When planted in the ground, you might want to add to their watering schedule so they will have protection. Exposure to the blades can result in sunburn, especially when the day's sun is too strong. It's highly recommended to spray some water to cool down the leaves a bit.

You need to minimize transplanting shock, especially for the young and newly-planted Smooth Cordgrass. These species will need time to adjust to their new environment but make sure to choose a location where they will get the full sunlight they need. The amount of sunlight matters as well as the season. Water them during the hottest days to reduce stress, and you might want to cover the young ones when the temperatures are extremely high. Row covers and shade cloths might be applicable for the younger ones, but the mature plants might not need them, especially if they already have established roots and stems. When you see that the Smooth Cordgrass begins to lose its color, this might be because it is not receiving enough sunlight to do photosynthesis. There's not enough chlorophyll to depict a green color; if this is the case, you need to transfer it to an area receiving bright sunlight.

Smooth Cordgrass prefers cooler weather, and has a specific temperature range you can keep it within to maximize growth. For Smooth Cordgrass to be as healthy as it possible can, you could keep them between the temperatures 65~75℉(18~25℃). Smooth Cordgrass can handle higher and lower heat levels, but whenever possible, try to keep the area you grow them in within several degrees of 65~75℉(18~25℃). If you can’t keep Smooth Cordgrass precisely within that range, it doesn’t mean they will stop growing. Smooth Cordgrass can handle a higher and lower range before they begin to suffer damage or reduced growth. On the higher end, that temperature would that would fall between 75~85℉(25~30℃). On the lower end, Smooth Cordgrass can handle temperatures as low as 5℉(-15℃). The higher temperature range is the most important to observe, as Smooth Cordgrass prefers cooler environments. Letting temperatures get above the upper range may cause growth to slow, and having Smooth Cordgrass above 85℉(30℃) could result in the plant dying.

Too much heat early in the growing stages of Smooth Cordgrass may give it an unhealthy appearance, so it's important to keep your growing space between 65~75℉(18~25℃). You’ll want to stay in the colder part of this range as Smooth Cordgrass, but make sure not to go below -5℉(-20℃). Extremely cold temperatures can hinder growth at any stage for Smooth Cordgrass, though they aren’t nearly as damaging as extremely hot temperatures. If temperatures are kept high during the budding stage, Smooth Cordgrass may not flower at all.

Tip #1: Grow in the Coldest Room of Your Home If you plan to grow Smooth Cordgrass indoors, make sure to choose the coldest room of your home. This will usually be on the side of your house that doesn’t experience the harsh heat that the sun can produce in the middle of the day. At the same time, you’ll need to ensure the room does get a healthy amount of sunlight. While you’ll want to spare your plants from the brightest and hottest part of the day, zero sunlight can drastically reduce Smooth Cordgrass ability to grow. Tip #2: If Smooth Cordgrass Doesn’t Flower Properly, It May Be Too Hot The growing season for Smooth Cordgrass, spring and early summer, can occasionally come with high temperatures. These fluctuations can negatively affect the growing stage of Smooth Cordgrass, causing flowering buds to change into non-flowering buds. These buds will open partially, or in some cases not at all, causing Smooth Cordgrass to lose some of its aesthetic quality. It's important to stay in the range of 65~75℉(18~25℃), for that reason, so your Smooth Cordgrass can flower to its full potential. Tip #3: Avoid Frost While Smooth Cordgrass can tolerate lower temperatures, as low as -5℉(-20℃), it will not do well if it encounters significant frost. If left out in the colder temperatures of late fall or winter, Smooth Cordgrass will begin to show the signs of frost damage. To recognize the signs of frost damage, you’ll look for several key aesthetic changes. First, parts of Smooth Cordgrass will begin to wilt. Then, those sections will start to become discolored, eventually turning brown or black as they die. Any parts of Smooth Cordgrass that turn these colors cannot be saved, and will have to be pruned if you intend to keep the plant alive.

It's important to keep the temperature of your growing area steady regardless of season. If you live in an area with harsh winters or very hot summers, it may be best to put your plants inside. That way, you can keep them in a cool room where Smooth Cordgrass would be able to grow in the best possible conditions. If you do leave your plants outside, make sure to observe the temperature closely. If the summer’s get especially hot in your climate-zone, make sure that your plants aren’t exposed to temperatures above 85℉(30℃). This will dehydrate and damage Smooth Cordgrass quickly, and before long, they will begin to die.

If you intend to place Smooth Cordgrass outside, you’ll want to make sure that it has shade from the heat of the midday sun. While Smooth Cordgrass does need plentiful sunlight to grow to its full potential, direct sunlight can cause a rise in temperature and damage certain elements of the plant. Choose an area that has shade providing structures or tall trees that can shield Smooth Cordgrass from the hottest parts of the day. If your climate isn’t appropriate for Smooth Cordgrass or you don’t have the proper space in your garden, you can also plant them inside. Controlling the temperature is much easier indoors, and having proper fans, ventilation, or an A/C unit will allow you to stay within the optimum range of 65~75℉(18~25℃).