1 Get to know the light in your home
We’ve created a handy illustration to help you figure out where to position your plants based on the light that you receive through your windows. South facing windows are the brightest, followed by east and then west-facing windows. Generally speaking, strong direct light will come in from the window and then good indirect light can be found up to 1 to 2 meters away from the window and low light can be found in shadows or corners.
3 Find out your plant's natural growing environment
Understanding where in the wild your plant naturally grows is essential for knowing what light it needs! For example, the gorgeous rare Jewel Orchid can tolerate lower light levels as its natural habit is on the shaded forest floors of South East Asia. Have a look at our Plant Care A-Z and Plant Bio’s for each individual plant to find out the origin of your plant.
2 Understand how your plant grows
Light is food for plants. Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction that produces food for your plant to survive and thrive from! Sunlight aids this reaction through the leaves of your plant. This is why it is so important to wipe those leaves as the build up of dust blocks photosynthesis from happening.
6 Know what light it needs
A very common mistake people make is putting house plants directly on the window sill! When in fact most house plants prefer indirect light and full sun rays can scorch your plants delicate leaves. What plants can stay on the window sill? Some species that love direct sunlight are: Cacti, Succulents & Snake plants.
4 What is variegation?
Ever wondered why plants produce variegation on their leaves and how to increase it? It’s down to the green pigment that can be found in the plants cells...or lack of! For vareigated species, more light means less green pigment. For example, if ayour Philodendron Pink Princess is growing new leaves that are predominantly dark green, then you need to give her some more indirect light and you’ll soon see that gorgeous detailed pink variegation grow through.
5 Can artificial light help your plants? The surprising answer to this question is... yes! Many low light plants can be helped by the light rays that come from artificial light. This allows plants to survive in offices and window-less rooms. It does, however, go without saying that the best light source for your leafy pals is the natural one. Ever heard the term grow-light? Many plant enthusiasts use these to help plants and seeds to grow but are no means necessary for your indoor jungle.