What makes plants require light?
Water and nourishment are essential for all living creatures. Food is light to plants. They employ it in a crucial process called photosynthesis, in which chloroplasts absorb light energy and set off a number of metabolic events, one of which results in the production of carbohydrates (plant food). Because sugars drive plant growth, a plant will produce more energy and grow more quickly in response to increased light exposure.
Recognize these pairs:
- Color = Quality
- Intensity + Quantity
Understanding how and why a plant behaves in your house depends on these aspects of light.
The hue and type of light determine the quality. Light is energy that has several wavelengths, each of which corresponds to a specific color. Because plants “see” light differently than humans do, the colors we can see with our own eyes may not be useful to them. Green light is worthless to plants since it is reflected by them, giving them their green appearance. Instead, plants need visible light that they can absorb and use, such as yellow, orange, red, blue, and violet, as well as infrared and UV radiation from the sun.
The amount of light depends on how brilliant or how intense it is when it reaches the leaves. The leaf will capture more energy and grow more quickly the more light photons it receives. For example, begonias and oxalis require high light to support their rapid development. Any plant that bears fruit or flowers also needs a lot of light. Basic building blocks for complex compounds, such as floral colours, such water, CO2, carbohydrates, and nutrients are what these plants use, but only under the appropriate lighting circumstances. Some plants have self-regulating mechanisms, and if there isn’t enough bright light, they will even refuse to flower or will try to but fail halfway through the process.
The darkest shade outdoors is still brighter than the sunniest window indoors.
Light is bouncing from all directions outside, even in the shade, from 360 degrees around and from the 180-degree arc overhead in the sky. When a plant is indoors, light typically only comes from one source, such as a sunny window, drastically decreasing the amount of light and essential photons a plant needs as well as the angles from which it bounces off. We literally trigger something known as exponential reduction in photon exposure when we bring a plant indoors. This reality is a little bit easier for us to recall because of the lovely quote above.
The terms “bright light” and “low light plants” may have come up before, but what do they actually mean?
If there are no obstructions (curtains or blinds, a tall tree or building that casts shade, etc.) between the plant and the light source, it is said to be in bright light or “full sun” (a sunny window). When indoors, here is where your plant will be exposed to the brightest or most direct light. As sun-loving plants, ficus, succulents, and monstera should be positioned in or no farther than 2-3 feet from a window. In general, you should position them where the room is the brightest.
Light that has been dispersed (via sheer curtains) between the plant and the light source is known as “medium light” or “filtered sunlight” (a sunny window). Some call it what “shady sunlight This medium light is produced by anything that partially blocks the route between your plant and the light source. Ferns and aroid plants (ZZ and Philodendron) are accustomed to being shielded from the sun because they have evolved to survive on the forest floor. They prefer circumstances with medium light because they have not adapted to withstand the intense rays of direct sunshine.
“Low light means that your plant won’t receive any direct sunshine. It is most likely a short distance from your light source (a sunny window) or any other location where it can see the outside but not the sky. Having less light means having less food and energy. Even though some plants can survive in low light, they won’t grow well.
Remember that depending on the time of day and season, the sun’s position in the sky changes, impacting how much light your plant receives. Keep an eye on how the light varies throughout the year and move your plants as necessary.
Would you like to know how much light your plant receives? The solution should be a shadow test. When the sun is at its highest around noon, take a sheet of paper and hold it up to the source of light. Put your free hand about a foot or so above the paper you are holding. A softer shadow denotes medium brightness, while a sharp shadow denotes high light. Your plant is living in low light if it is a few feet away from a window, even a sunny window.
Remember that plants need light to survive. Before choosing your plants, make sure to know how much natural sunshine your plant need and how much light your location can supply.
What does low light mean in terms of indoor plants?
It’s time to welcome a new plant into your house, which also means that you need figure out how much light your room gets! The most important factor to take into account when choosing a new plant mate is how much light they demand. And although it could seem a little perplexing at first, don’t worry! This website was created just to help you make a successful plant selection for your environment. We’ll determine the amount of light that comes into your space, explain what concepts like strong indirect light truly imply, and, of course, make sure that your option is the ideal one with recommendations for each room in your house.
What is Indirect Sunlight?
What distinguishes indirect from direct light, and what does “low light” mean according to green thumbs? While some of these phrases can’t be defined precisely, having a rough understanding of each one will help you choose the proper plant.
Direct light is the light that enters via windows with a southern or western orientation. Direct light exposes plants to the sun’s rays directly and is the most intense form of lighting that indoor environments receive. The majority of common houseplants don’t like direct sunshine, but some do, including cactus, succulents, fishtail palms, and birds of paradise.
Bright Indirect Light is constant and bright despite not being direct. Consider the areas that are immediately adjacent to windows that receive a brief amount of direct light each day (up to an hour) before it is blocked. For the plants in this collection, it is perfect.
Areas of a room with medium light are those that are roughly half way between a window and the rear wall. These regions continue to receive constant, indirect light from the windows. Numerous palms, Dracaenas, Philodendrons, and other plants in our medium light selection thrive under this light.
Low Light – Low light locations include those that are at least seven feet from windows as well as those that have no natural light, such as certain offices and restrooms. Many plants can adapt to low light, and some thrive in it. Although low light plants grow more slowly than other plants, there are still a wide variety of choices. Our low light collection is a treasure trove of indoor plants that prefer shade.
Can I Use Artificial Light for my Plants?
Yes, to answer briefly. Light from lightbulbs, and grow lights in particular, emits artificial light. Although they nonetheless make a contribution, standard lights and overhead lighting do not provide enough light for plants to photosynthesize. , so you should choose a low light plant if the only light sources available are standard lamps and overhead lights. But grow lights, which you can learn more about here, provide light that plants can easily photosynthesize.
Understanding Your Light and Space
Which type of lighting do you use? A fast hand test is a quick way to find out. Hold your hand about a foot away from a piece of paper or another flat surface so that it is between the light source and the paper. You are receiving low light if there is little or no shadow visible. You will see the shadow of your hand in medium light as hazy or fuzzy, and in strong light as a sharp, distinct shadow.
It will be easier to decide what kinds of light you’re working with if you know which way your windows face:
North Facing Windows
True north-facing windows are never exposed to direct sunlight (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). They constantly receive mild, diffuse light. When placed four or more feet from north-facing windows, plants from the Medium Light Collection including the Dracaena Lisa, Braided Money Tree, and Snake Plant will thrive.
South Facing Windows
Any room with south-facing windows is the highlight because they receive the most natural light throughout the day. The sun rises in the east, and as the earth spins, it shines through windows facing south from late morning until midday. Most plants will enjoy being close to this window because south facing windows offer bright light for the majority of the day, especially light-loving plants like the Bird of Paradise, Fishtail Palm, and Desert Cactus.
A word about direct sunlight: Most plants don’t like to be in the harsh direct rays of the sun, and unblocked south-facing windows will receive a considerable bit of it. When positioning specific plants in front of a window that receives a lot of direct sunlight, use caution.
East Facing Windows
East-facing windows are illuminated in the morning (the sun rises in the east). East facing windows are a nice match for plants that prefer indirect bright light because morning light is often mellow. An east-facing window is one from which you can view the sun rising. It’s a good idea to place plants that appreciate bright indirect sunlight close to east-facing windows, such as the Fiddle Leaf Fig and Monstera Deliciosa.
A word about direct sunshine: Most plants can tolerate direct sunlight from east-facing windows, and morning sunlight is typically a mellow light. Keep an eye on things in the summer, when the sun may become too harsh for plants that would usually enjoy basking in it throughout the rest of the year, if you live somewhere that receives a lot of sunshine (lucky you!).
West Facing Windows
The sun is high in the sky by midday and getting ready to start its gradual ascent as it sets in the west. West-facing windows will receive some sunlight from mid-afternoon till dusk. Your window is west-facing if you can see the sun set through it in the late afternoon. Most plants should be positioned outside the regions where direct sunlight hits because the light obtained by windows facing west is particularly strong when it is direct. A Braided Money Tree or Tiger Evergreen will benefit from the indirect light coming from this direction, and desert cacti and succulents are among the few plants that can withstand the direct sunlight coming from a west-facing window.
You can also use a compass (which seems hard but is incredibly convenient and is a very useful tool!) or landmarks to establish which way your windows are facing.
Meet Your (Light’s) Match
For every level of light, choose from this selection of our all-time favorite plants. Some plants may appear on many lists, as you may have noticed. There is no error here! Some plants are fortunate enough to grow in various levels of indirect light. These superstars include snake plants and braided money trees.
What window provides plants with medium light?
Our indoor plant light guide wouldn’t be complete without discussing where to find each light level in your house now that we’ve covered the various light levels. Take a couple daytime strolls to see where the light falls to better understand the lighting in your home (say at 9am, noon, 3 pm, and 6pm). Based on which way the windows in each room face, you can further divide the lighting in your house into several categories.
North Facing Window Houseplants
Windows that face north rarely receive any light. You might get an hour or two of light in the morning or late afternoon if your window faces northeast or northwest, respectively. Unless there is a nearby window facing another direction to increase the room’s lighting quality, low-light plants are suitable for these windows.
South Facing Window Houseplants
South-facing windows receive more direct sunshine in the late morning and early afternoon as opposed to their north-facing counterparts. Although direct sunlight will be most intense during these times, it will be there all day. The best houseplants for these windows are typically high-lighters. With the right protection from furniture, curtains, or other plants, medium-light plants can flourish close to south-facing windows.
East Facing Window Houseplants
East-facing windows receive the morning’s first dazzling rays of sunshine. However, at midday when the sun is directly overhead, their direct sunlight will begin to fade. Windows that face east still let in a decent quantity of light and heat without being oppressive. For windows facing east, medium-light plants are the best choice.
West Facing Window Houseplants
Windows facing west receive the most direct sunlight from late afternoon till sundown. It will be beneficial for plants to receive their light during the hottest portion of the day if they are positioned near a west-facing window. Some plants may burn as a result of this, while high-light plants will flourish in a west-facing window. With the right protection, plants that prefer medium light can also thrive.
How long do plants need mild light?
If they aren’t getting any sunlight, the majority of typical houseplants may thrive with 12 to 14 hours of artificial light. Medium-light plants thrive when placed no more than one foot from the lights and need around six hours of sunlight every day, so they benefit from a higher light intensity. You can place low-light plants 2 to 3 feet away from the light source because they normally thrive in shade or with less than four hours of direct sunlight.
Despite the fact that these plants require lighting with varying intensities, artificial lighting still lasts for the same period of time. Provide your plants with an additional two to six hours of artificial light in the evening if they get some midday sun but not enough of it, like from a nearby window.
Where should I put a plant that needs medium light?
Find out the kind of natural light your room receives and how many hours there are of it before buying a plant or starting seedlings. Then pick plants whose light needs correspond to your indoor setting.
Even though a plant may be able to endure low light levels for growing, more light may be needed to encourage thick foliage and flowering.
Low light
- A north window or a rather dark corner would be ideal locations for a low-light plant.
- Low-light plants don’t need much direct light. These plants are “understory plants,” which means they grow beneath the branches of larger plants, in their natural settings.
- For indoor seed beginning, low lighting is insufficient.
- Plants require less water and develop more slowly in situations with less light. By feeling the soil, you can avoid overwatering.
Medium light
- For east-facing windows or a location close to a west-facing window that is out of direct sunlight, a medium-light plant would be appropriate.
- To start seeds in medium light, artificial lighting is required.
- These plants won’t dry out as rapidly as the low light plants. By feeling the soil, you can avoid overwatering.
High light
- For areas with strong lighting, like those with windows facing the south or southwest, a high-light plant would be appropriate.
- While you might be able to start seeds without artificial lighting, plants that require more time indoors, like tomatoes and peppers, might become lanky.
- The warmth of high-light locations can cause plants to dry out more quickly. More often check on these plants and water when the soil feels dry.