Indoor plants need light to grow. One of the most important aspects in healthy growth. How much light are they going to need? How can you make sure you’re providing the right lighting conditions?
For plants to look great and work well in your home, you should reflect as much as possible of their natural environment in the position that you select for them. Let’s dig into Different houseplant lighting requirements How to light houseplants and what you can do about it is explained in this guide.
Why is Sunlight important to Plants?
In almost all cases, plants cannot survive without sun. Photosynthesis is the process by which they convert sunlight into energy. This occurs in the chloroplast cell. It is fascinating and unique that plants have different levels of the chloroplasts. The more chloroplasts a plant has, the more light it can absorb.
Nature is infinitely resourceful, as we know. The amount of chloroplasts that plants produce can be changed based on how much light is available. When plants go through the hardening procedure, it is very easy to observe. Increasing the frequency of exposure to sunlight. You can use your houseplant’s ability to adapt to help them adjust to your environment.
Measurement of light
Lumens or lux are the units used to measure how bright a light is that can be seen by the human eyes. Lumens is a measurement for illumination by visible light from a source in a unit of time. Lux uses an area unit to measure the same thing. One lux is one lumen for every square meter (3,2 feet).
A stand-alone 100W bulb can give you around 1600 lumens. The amount of light that will be covered by the bulb will determine the lux level. In general, a 150 lux lux rating is recommended for a room.
It is not enough for growing plants. 1000 – 2000 lux is around the ‘bright, indirect sunlight’ most indoor plants require, and positioning will be The plants need to receive sufficient light.
Use Technology
A light meter can be used to determine if plants receive enough light. They are used by photographers to determine the amount of light coming into lenses.
There is no way to know with certainty, for example, that a watermelon needs 1000 lux to be at its best. And with its previously discussed ability to change its chloroplasts, it’s not a practical application of a researcher’s time to produce a list.
We do, however, have a number of apps (some free) you can download that will help you. Give you an indication of your home’s light, and most have a handy ‘not enough’ light notification. Make use of these, even if it’s just for fun.
Understanding Light Indoors
Plants grown outdoors are different from plants grown indoors. That may seem obvious, but it’s important to understand that windows can magnify or diffuse light, affecting its intensity. You can reduce the intensity of light by moving plants a few feet away from a window.
Outdoor light (not full sun) can be used during daylight hours. around 10,000 – 25,000 lux. Indoors, this is rare unless you’ve invested heavily in artificial grow light systems.
Most of the indoor plants we purchase were grown in greenhouses with lights that have been artificially adjusted by the grower to promote maximum growth. It may not receive the exact light that was given to it by the grower once it is brought into your home. The magnified effect of the window glass can cause the sun to damage plants.
Window Aspect
The light intensity of your home is affected by the direction that your windows face. The sun will move in and out during the day. This is an arbitrary list. List of windows for the Northern Hemisphere:
- North Face – the side with the least amount of light coming in and only suitable for shade-loving plants. This is fine in summer but you will need to bring the plants inside or use grow lights during winter.
- South facing – the opposite of north facing, with the most light in summer and enough light in winter. This is the best window for sun-loving trees. Use curtains or blinds to filter out light for plants that require bright, indirect lighting.
- West Facing – in summer, this side of the house will get good afternoon sun, and it would be good for sun-loving plants, although not as strong in intensity as the south-facing windows.
- East facing – this side will get mostly morning sun, and plants that require moderate sunlight will like this position best.
Houseplants and their Lighting Types
In the instructions that come with the plant, you’ll often find the light requirements. They usually fall into one of three categories.
Direct Light
They are plants like cacti and succulents that grow best in direct sunlight. These plants can grow in the full sun outdoors or Plants that can be grown indoors. They prefer to be in direct sunlight for at least six hours a day, and have plenty of light throughout the day.
The top 10 plants that thrive in direct sunlight:
- Jade plant (Crassula ovata) – fleshy leaves and tree-like stems keep this plant hydrated, and it loves hot, sunny conditions.
- Sansevieria or snake plant – tough as nails with long fleshy stems and interesting coloring.
- String of dolphinsCurio peregrinus) – my favorite of the string plants that all have unique features and are known for loving a sunny position to give their best showing.
- Eucalyptus – any of the trees grown indoors will need a good deal of sunlight, and it adds such a lovely fragrance to a room.
- Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) – loved for its giant leaves, this plant will need plenty of light to grow. They love the sun and are very expansive outdoors.
- Pelargoniums – remind me of bursts of color against a pure white wall in some village in the hot Mediterranean. As long as they get enough sunlight, these are great indoor plants.
- Money treePachira aquatica) – a swamp tree that makes such a unique houseplant. For design purposes, it is great for creating vertical height.
- Areca palm (Dypsis latiscens) – soft and flowing palm that can tolerate some mediocre light but will thrive in direct light.
- Lemon trees – the ultimate treat is to grow a lemon as a houseplant, enjoy the scent, and pick lemons for the kitchen. The trees will need a lot of sunlight for them to fruit and flower.
- Basil – loved by many, but in desperate need of direct sunlight if it’s to grow well indoors. Perfect for a sunny south-facing window in the kitchen.
Bright Indirect Light
This is the most common phrase used when referring to houseplants. This group includes a variety of plants including tropical climbers, small tree species, and plants with large and small leaves. The plants come from the tropical rainforest canopy. They are used to the dappled shades but prefer direct sunlight.
The best location for these plants is Close a window. The light can be diffused with a diffuser. A sheer curtain or Check out our website for more information. You can choose to have a shady window.
The top 10 plants that emit bright indirect light
- Philodendrons – just so many to choose from, and with the most interesting foliage and forms as to make them collector’s plants.
- Rubber plant – in all its forms, these statement Ficus Plants are hardy and resilient.
- Dragon Tree (engl.Dracaena Margata) – a very pretty spiky plant that has a different form from many other houseplants, which makes it a good combo plant for interest.
- English Ivy (Hedera helix) – a climbing vine that can be used on high shelves to cascade down with leafy color.
- Happy BeanPeperomia ferreyrae) – just the name is enough for me, but it does have good characteristics and very green-bean-looking succulent leaves.
- Boston fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata) – a large flowing fern that has a special place hanging on patios and in homes of many homes.
- Peace lily – very forgiving Spathiphyllum With lovely white sail flowers and green leaves. The new varieties like ‘Sensation’ have huge leaves and are very special for an area with enough space to show them off.
- Pilea glauca – delightful little trailing plants dubbed silver sparkle because of its silvery-green leaves.
- Yucca – I think there is a place for yuccas in any home. The plants are tough and have spiky, showy leaves.
- Zebra plantHaworthiopsis fasciata) – a succulent on another level that’s able to withstand a little less light than other succulents. Beautifully striped leaves.
Medium Light
These plants can be found on the forest floor, protected from the sun by the trees, shrubs and vines that grow above. These plants It can be placed slightly further from windows But not so far as the low-light corners.
Top ten plants to grow in medium indirect light
- Japanese painted fernAthyrium niponicum) – just one of the ferns that belong in this category. This silvery-leaved fern with purple bits differs from the dark or bright green varieties.
- African violet – the toughest flowering indoor plant on my list. I once kept one alive with very little care for 20 years, until one day I decided to repot it – it died within a week.
- Anthuriums – a little old-fashioned, but some new colors are very special. If you’re looking for a houseplant that will last a long time, they are suited to the task.
- Hoyas – beautiful trailing plants with velvety star-shaped flowers that are formed in balls. It’s an exciting time when they flower, but the rest of the time, they look after themselves.
- Orchids – a definite favorite and often used as a replacement for fresh-cut flowers. With the right care, they can flower for several months.
- Pitcher plants – fascinating plants that are surprisingly easy to grow, looking at their exotic nature.
- Monstera – giant leaves like Swiss cheese. What’s not to like?
- Alocasia – there are so many beautiful ones in this group of plants that it’s too difficult to choose.
- Polka dot begonia (Begonia maculata) – the dotty leaves are why you want this plant. It is very unusual.
- Rhapis palm (Rhapis excelsa) – a lovely palm that grows well.
Low Light
This is a very difficult area to fill in, as anyone who has a dark bathroom will attest. This category is Consider areas with smaller or north-facing window and those further back in the room that are less bright.. The majority of these plants prefer brighter light, but can tolerate low-light conditions. Although they may require less water or grow more slowly than usual, these plants will still survive.
Ten of my favorite plants for low-light conditions
- Baby Rubber PlantPeperomia obtusifolia) – cute as pie little tropical plants that will cope with low light.
- Pothos – a good selection of pothos will deal well under these conditions and even thrive. These are great for trailing.
- Spider plantChlorophytum comosum) – variegated leaves and curly, spidery leaves are the joys of having these plants indoors.
- Aspidistra – also known as the cast iron plant because it is one of the toughest houseplants around, and it has lovely dark green leaves.
- ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) – there is plenty to like about this plant, and it is not only its look but the fact that a bit of neglect goes a long way. Don’t be overly fussy with it, and it will grow beautifully.
- Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) – a pretty fern-like a bird’s nest with lime green leaves and a wonderful growing habit.
- Maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum) – the most delicate of ferns to look at and yet quite hardy.
- Tillandsia, or air plants, will thrive in low-light rooms, particularly bathrooms, as they love the humidity.
- Calatheas – with their pretty variegated leaves, these are brilliant for low-light areas.
- Philodendron scandens – I’m not sure once you have this plant whether it can ever be killed off – maybe with kindness?
How to tell if your plant is getting enough light
If your plants are growing and looking healthy, they have enough light. If you think your plant doesn’t get enough light, Leaning towards light, it can often stretch and become leggy.. You may notice that the leaves of plants with too much sunlight have scorched marks or are yellowing. The plant can be moved to a better position for more light.
Top up artificial light
If you want to take care of your houseplants seriously, it might be necessary to purchase artificial light. This will help them get the amount of light they need. There are various types of lighting specifically manufactured for plants, whether it’s for houseplants, kitchen herbs, or sowing seeds indoors when it’s frosty outside. It is unlikely that the standard lighting in your home will be sufficient. Before adding more lighting to your home, consider the following.
Select lights that are made to look as close as possible to the sun.. These will be called ‘full spectrum’ or ‘broad spectrum’ LED or fluorescent lights, and they are sold specifically for plants and growing plants.
Full spectrum lights are a balanced mix of blue and red. Blue light promotes green, leafy foliage but also keeps stems shorter. Red light promotes vegetative growth and better flowers. It also encourages taller stems. This is why a balance of colors will benefit your plants.
In order to avoid getting bogged down with measurements, Kelvin is the unit that measures thermodynamic temperature. It’s used in lighting in order to determine the color temperature of the light bulb. Light bulbs that are closest to the daylight required by plants should have Kevin ratings of 5000-6500K.
Position your extra grow lights at the right height for the plants if you have them. They may burn the leaves if you place them too close. Too far away and they will not work. Depending on the brand, some manufacturers may specify a height that is optimal for their lighting.
Final Thoughts
Getting enough light into a home so that houseplants will have a chance to grow well can be a challenge, but it’s more of a trial-and-error experiment. It’s not harmful to move plants around in order to give them the light they need.
When my houseplants look sad, they go into my office. There is plenty of light. and give them much needed TLC before rotating back into the apartment. You can learn much from observing how some plants thrive where they are placed, while others struggle.