Nice and Light: Keep Houseplants Healthy With Perfect Lighting
Getting the lighting requirements right for indoor plants is no easy task. Here’s how to tell whether yours need more or less time in the sunshine — and what to do about it.
Growing plants indoors can be a tricky proposition. Different varieties have unique requirements, especially when it comes to water and lighting needs. Understanding how to help each plant thrive within your indoor space comes down to knowing how to meet these needs.
Here’s a guide for how to care for light-sensitive plants in your home.
It’s a mistake to assume that all plants need as much light as possible. In truth, many varieties thrive with limited exposure.
Many tropical plants, which tend to make excellent houseplants, evolved in dark, shady spots under leafy canopies. Too much light will make them stressed and lead to stunted growth and leaf damage.
A few popular light-sensitive houseplants include devil’s ivy, creeping fig, elephant’s ear, weeping fig, Chinese money plant, and rattlesnake plant, among many others.
These low-light-loving plants do well in dark corners of your home. They thrive next to north-facing windows or even in spaces with minimal natural light altogether. Learn which plants can handle these conditions, and you can fill even dark corners of your space with plant life.
Not all plants thrive in low-light conditions. Here are the signs your plant might be better off in a different location.
You’ll know your plant is struggling to get enough light when you start to see long stems with lots of space between the leaves. Plants that look thin and straggly are reaching for as much light as possible, leading to this stretched-out appearance. Provide them with more, and you’ll soon see thicker, lusher growth.
Does your plant seem to be dormant? Is it going months on end with minimal changes? A lack of new growth might signify it’s not getting the light necessary for photosynthesis and is instead putting its limited energy toward maintenance.
Note that it’s normal for plants to enter dormancy in the winter — even when kept indoors. The problem occurs when this lack of new growth lasts for more than a few months.
Are your houseplants starting to grow in particular directions? If you find their new leaves and stems are also angled toward the light source, this might be a sign that it’s a little too scarce. Rotating the plant every time you water can help even out this angled growth, and so can moving the pot to a brighter spot.
When an indoor plant seems only capable of producing small, stunted leaves, you may want to reevaluate its light exposure. Minimal growth is a sign the plant isn’t getting enough energy to put out new, full-sized foliage and instead is committing to the bare minimum to survive.
One clear sign that plants aren’t getting enough light is the development of browning leaves and tips. However, leaves can become discolored for various reasons, including overwatering (or underwatering!), nutrient deficiencies, pest damage, and more.
Consider ruling out these other factors one at a time, so you don’t inadvertently stress the plant by making too many changes at once.
If you feel like you never need to water your indoor plants, this may be a sign that lighting might not be adequate. Potting soil dries out because the plant’s roots draw it out and use it to stimulate new growth. Too much water sitting in the pot can signify that the plant isn’t in a growth phase.
Move the plant to a location with more light, and you will likely notice that the potting soil dries much faster than before.
Note: Keep in mind that getting watering right for indoor plants is a balancing act. Water too often, and the plant will deal with “wet feet” that leave it susceptible to rot and mold problems. Make sure you research the specific watering requirements for each variety to ensure you can meet their needs.
If your growing zone deals with freezing winter weather, then it’s common to bring potted plants indoors once the weather starts to turn. The shift from being outdoors to sitting on a windowsill can be stressful for plants accustomed to unlimited natural light.
You can ease this transition by bringing plants indoors gradually — a few hours a day for a week or two — so they have time to acclimate to the change in lighting.
If you have houseplants known for their vibrant leaves that seem to be turning dull, a lack of light may be to blame. When healthy, variegated houseplants will have a mix of colors throughout their leaves. However, too little light will make the leaves “revert” to green without those prized pops of color.
That’s because green leaves are the most efficient for photosynthesizing, and a plant starved of light will do everything possible to maximize the opportunity to capture it. Improve the plant’s access to light, and its bright colors should soon return.
Sometimes, indoor plants experience the opposite problems and struggle because of too much light exposure. Here are the most common signs that your plant would do better in lower light conditions:
Here’s the good news: It’s a simple fix to improve the lighting conditions for your indoor plants. Whether they require more or less of it, a few small changes can ensure they stay at their healthiest. These tips are designed for increasing light exposure.
Dealing with light-sensitive plants isn’t difficult, but it does require some attention. If you follow the suggestions outlined here, it should ensure you’re giving your plants the right conditions to thrive.