We all know, in general, how important sunlight is for our houseplants. But what we sometimes forget is how much these light preferences can truly affect their long-term health and growth. I’ve fallen victim to the “shop now, read later” buying sprees and failed to scan the accompanying care tips. Purchased plants labeled as needing full sun despise my home’s rather dark interior and now sulk broodily in the corner of my living room. Turns out, the perfect spot for my plant wasn’t so perfect after all! This, of course, can be easily remedied with a simple solution—knowing the ideal location to place indoor plants to fit their preferences.
Why Do Plants Need Sun Anyway?
Let’s go back to the basics. Your plant’s leaves are filled with chlorophyll, a pigment that gives them their green color. It’s chlorophyll’s job to gather energy from the sunlight and turn it into food through a process called photosynthesis. Less adequate light means less growth. And more sulky stares from your plant.
Understanding Light Levels
We all can see how light affects plants outdoors, where it’s easy to observe shadows and direct sunlight. But indoors, it can be more difficult to gauge light level, to the potential detriment of your plants. In general, there are three main categories for indoor light:
- Bright Light: Refers to direct sunlight for 5-6 hours (preferably all day) from a western or southern facing window.
- Indirect Light: Refers to light from eastern-facing windows or the other side of a room that receives bright light for most of the day.
- Low Light: Refers to light in rooms with northern-facing windows or windows shaded by outdoor foliage or other buildings.
When considering where to place indoor plants in your home, be sure to answer these questions first: which rooms receive the most sunlight? From which direction? What is the layout of each room, especially by the windows?
Know Your Plant Type
Some indoor plants thrive off of bright light, such as Aloe Vera or other succulents. Other plants, like the ZZ Plant or Golden Pothos prefer indirect and even low light. Knowing the light level each houseplant needs for optimal growth will determine where to place it in your home. But if you’re still not sure, place indoor plants close to a window that receives bright, indirect light. If after a few months, your plant still looks happy and healthy, it’s in the ideal location!
XO,
Micah
I got a bird of paradise the other day, and I had the perfect place picked out for it! It looked so nice in its cozy corner by the TV stand. But alas, I did not think it was getting enough light so I had to move it outside to my patio 🙁