Does My Houseplant Have Enough Light?
Light is one of the most critical concerns regarding houseplant health. Some parts of your house have perfect conditions, while others will cause plants to suffer. All plants (even shade varieties) require access to light to photosynthesize, the process through which plants create energy. Without the right amount, plants will become stunted and eventually die.
Is My Lighting Wrong? How to Tell.
Plants will let you know fairly fast whether they have too much or too little light. Here are some of the most common signs there’s an imbalance.
Leggy Growth: When light is hard to find, plants grow tall and lean as they reach for it, leading to long, spindly stems. You may also notice large gaps between the leaf nodes.
Pale Leaves: A lack of light prevents plants from producing chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for keeping leaves green.
Few (If Any) Flower Buds: Minimal light can cause a plant to go dormant, making it less likely to produce flowers.
Dropped Leaves: Too little light stresses a plant, and it will attempt to lighten its burden by dropping leaves, so it doesn’t have to maintain them.
Scorched, Bleached Leaves: Finally, if a plant gets too much light exposure, it may suffer from sunburn, which presents itself as fried or bleached leaves.
Understanding Different Light Environments
Your houseplant should come with care instructions that specify its lighting needs. But how does “low light” actually compare to “high light”? Here is what these terms really mean.
Note: A foot-candle is a measurement for light intensity. It represents the amount of light received by a one square-foot surface one foot away from a candle or equivalent light source.
Low Light
Measuring between 50 and 250 foot-candles, low light conditions include north-facing windows and dark corners. These plants need minimal (if any) direct light, and in nature, they are found growing under larger plants. They also tend to grow slowly and don’t need frequent watering.
Medium Light
At 250 to 1,000 foot-candles, medium light conditions might be an east- or west-facing window that’s out of direct light. It works well for many plant varieties, but you may need to add supplemental light during vigorous growing phases.
High Light
Rated at more than 1,000 foot-candles, high light conditions include bright rooms and south-facing windows. These are the ideal conditions for starting seeds or tending to full-sun plants. Note that houseplants in these conditions tend to dry out faster and will require frequent watering.
Should I Add Artificial Lighting?
If your home is dark but you love high-light plants, it’s possible to use artificial lighting to make up for the lack of sunshine. LED or fluorescent bulbs tend to be the most common choice, or you can choose specialty grow lights designed for maximizing plant growth.
Specific bulb colors may offer different benefits. For example, red light promotes flowering and setting fruit, while blue light is better for starting seeds and growing non-flowering plants. White lights are great for general use.