The Plant Doctor is a big nerd who loves sharing the art of indoor plant care. Greenery is not only beautiful, but extremely good for our health and wellbeing. These blog posts are passionately written to help people learn more about plants.

If the blog below inspires you to learn even more, you can choose the way you like most: you can read more indoor plant blogs (click here), join a weekend workshop (click here), have your own private workshop (click here) or watch online videos (click here).

Now let’s get started!

Indoor house plants not only add beauty and freshness to our living spaces but also require proper light to thrive. Light is one of the essential elements for a plant's growth and overall health. Understanding the different light requirements of indoor plants can help you create the ideal environment for your green companions to flourish.

In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of light for indoor house plants and provide some useful tips to ensure your plants receive the light they need.

A beautiful calathea, loving lost if indirect light.

Importance of Light:

Light is crucial for photosynthesis, the process through which plants convert light energy into food. Without adequate light, plants may struggle to produce enough energy to support their growth and may exhibit weak and leggy growth. On the other hand, too much light can cause leaf burn and stress the plant.

Great indirect light for these indoor house plants.

2. Understanding Light Conditions:

Different indoor plants have varying light requirements. Some plants, like succulents and cacti, prefer bright, direct light and thrive in sunny windowsills. On the contrary, tropical plants like peace lilies and pothos prefer bright, indirect light and can be placed a few feet away from a window. Low-light plants, such as snake plants and ZZ plants, can tolerate dimmer conditions and are suitable for rooms with limited natural light.

A lil plant loving soft light on a window sill.

3. Observing Light Levels

To determine the light levels in your home, observe the intensity and duration of sunlight that different areas receive throughout the day. In Australia, bright direct sunlight is usually found near north-facing windows if they are unobstructed outside. West facing windows take the afternoon sun and heat, while east-facing and south usually have soft indirect light. Assessing these factors will help you place the right plants in the right spots. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, look up which direction the sun rises and sets where you are!

Lovely lil succulent. They love stronger and more direct light. But why has this lil guy lost a leaf!? Over watered! Choose an option at the bottom of the post if you’d like to learn more!

4. Rotating Plants

To ensure uniform growth and prevent plants from leaning towards the light source, some people rotate them regularly. This practice allows all sides of the plant to receive an equal amount of light and promotes symmetrical growth.

However, The Plant Doctor prefers to not rotate, to let plants grow in the direction they like, appreciate them for how they grow in the environment that’s best for them, and let them spend their energy growing strongly in one direction as opposed to constantly readjusting.

5. Supplemental Lighting

If your home has limited natural light or lacks suitable windows for certain plants, consider using artificial grow lights. LED or fluorescent grow lights designed specifically for plants can provide the necessary light spectrum to support plant growth. Place the lights close enough to the plants to mimic natural sunlight without causing heat stress.

A lovely weeping fig, weeping in soft indirect light.

6. Avoiding Direct Sunlight

While some plants love direct sunlight, others may suffer from leaf burn when exposed to intense rays. To protect your indoor plants from scorching, consider using sheer curtains or blinds to filter the sunlight during the hottest parts of the day.

Lovely indirect light for these indoor plants.

Light is a fundamental factor in the success of your indoor house plants. Understanding the light requirements of different plants and providing them with the appropriate light conditions will foster healthy growth and vibrant foliage. By observing natural light levels, rotating plants (if you choose), and supplementing with artificial lighting when necessary, you can create an optimal environment for your green companions to thrive and brighten up your living space. Let there be light for your indoor house plants, and watch them flourish in all their splendor!

Happy gardening!

Want to learn more about indoor house plants?

The Plant Doctor

Jul 26 Let There Be Light: 6 Tips to Light Up Your Indoor House Plants

Importance of Light: