Light Requirements For Plants: Explained !

A Definitive Light Guide for Plants

It’s time to welcome a new plant into your home, which means that it’s also time to identify the light your space receives! The number one thing to consider when you select a new plant friend is their light requirement. And we know it can feel a little confusing at first, but don’t fret! This page was specially designed to set you up for success when choosing the right plant for your space. We will identify the light that your space receives, what terms like bright indirect light really mean, and of course, ensure your choice is a perfect match with suggestions for each area of your home.

WHAT IS INDIRECT SUNLIGHT ?

What's the difference between indirect and direct light, and how do green thumbs define low light? While there's no exact way to define some of these terms, having a general idea of each will go a long way toward selecting the right houseplant.

Direct light - Light coming in through west- or south-facing windows. Direct light is the most intense light that indoor spaces receive, and will expose plants directly to the sun's rays. The most common houseplants don't like direct sunlight, but some that can handle the heat are birds of paradise and succulents.

Bright indirect light - It's not direct, but it's steady and bright. Think of spotlights right next to a window that gets a dash of direct light (but no more than an hour a day) before being obstructed. It's ideal for the plants in this collection.

Medium light - Areas of a room about half the distance between a window and the back wall receive medium light. These areas still receive constant light from the windows, but it's not direct. This light is ideal for many palms, Dracaena Compacta and Philodendron...

Low light - Low-light areas are seven feet or more from windows and can also be places that receive no natural light, such as some offices and bathrooms. Some plants like low light and many can adapt to it. Low-light houseplants tend to grow more slowly than other plants, but there are still plenty of options. Our low-light collection is a treasure trove of shade-loving houseplants.

CAN I USE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT FOR MY PLANTS ?

The short answer is yes. Artificial light is the light emitted by light bulbs, particularly grow lights. Ordinary lamps and ceiling lights don't offer much light for plant photosynthesis (although they still contribute something!), so if the only light sources are ordinary lamps and ceiling lights, you'll want to select a low-light plant. But grow lights offer light that plants can easily photosynthesize.

What type of light do you have? A quick way to find out is to do a quick hand test. Take a piece of paper or other flat surface and hold your hand about a foot away from it, between it and the light source. If you don't see much shadow, or if it's very faint, the light is weak. In a medium-light situation, you'll see a blurred or fuzzy shadow from your hand, and in bright light, you'll get a clear, sharp shadow.

Knowing which direction your windows face will also be useful in determining the types of light you're working with:

NORTH FACING WINDOWS

Windows facing true

true north don't receive direct sunlight at any time of day (at least in the northern hemisphere). They receive constant soft, diffused light. Indoor green plants from the "shady" collection, such as Dracaena Compacta, Pachira Aquatica, Ficus Elastica and Calathea Paon de Rio, do well when placed four feet or more from north-facing windows.

SOUTH FACING WINDOWS

South-facing windows are the star of any room, as this direction receives the most light throughout the day. The sun rises in the east and, as the planet rotates, the sun's rays hit south-facing windows from late morning to mid-afternoon. South-facing windows provide a good amount of bright light for most of the day, so most plants will love being close to this window, especially bright plants like Bird of Paradise, Olive Tree, Croton Miss Iceton, and Bamboo Palm.

A note on direct sunlight: south-facing, unobstructed windows will receive a good amount of direct sunlight, and most plants don't like to sit in direct sunlight. Be careful when placing certain plants directly in front of a window that receives a lot of direct sunlight.

EAST FACING WINDOWS

East-facing windows receive sunlight in the morning (the sun rises in the east). Morning light is generally soft, making east-facing windows a gentle match for plants that appreciate bright indirect light. If you can see the sun rising from your window, it's an east-facing window. Plants that like bright, indirect sunlight, such as Ficus and Monstera Deliciosa, are excellent choices for placement near east-facing windows.

A note on direct sunlight: morning sunlight is generally a soft light, and most plants will tolerate direct sunlight from east-facing windows. However, if you live in a very sunny location (lucky you!), keep an eye on things in summer, as the sun can become too harsh for plants that otherwise like to bask in it for the rest of the year.

WEST FACING WINDOWS

At midday, the sun is high in the sky and ready to begin its slow descent as it sets in the west. Sunlight will filter through west-facing windows from mid-afternoon into the evening. If you can see the sun setting through your window in the afternoon, it's a west facing window. The light received by west-facing windows is very strong when direct, so most plants should be placed outside the areas where direct sunlight strikes. A tree with a braided trunk or an evergreen tiger will benefit from indirect sunlight from this direction, and plants such as the Sago Palm and succulents are among the few to tolerate direct sunlight from a west-facing window.

You can also use landmarks to determine which direction your windows are facing, or use a compass (sounds laborious, but it's super handy and a great tool !).

MEET YOUR MATCH (LIGHT)

Shop from this list of our all-time favorite plants for every lighting need. You may notice that some plants appear on more than one list. That's not a mistake! Some lucky plants can thrive in varying degrees of indirect light.