Sunlight + Your Houseplants

Sunlight + Your Houseplants

By Jennifer LaMontagne

Sunlight + Your Houseplants

Sunlight and Your Houseplants

Are your houseplants happy + healthy? Now is a great time to pay extra attention to your indoor plants and give them a checkup during the long winter.  How do you know if you’ve placed your houseplants in the best location in your home?  Are your plants receiving as much sunlight as they need?  Here are a few helpful tips to consider!

The type of plant you have will determine how much daily sunlight it requires to grow. Some plants require more sunlight than others.  For example, ficus prefers moderate to high amounts of sunlight in a south facing window.  Snake and ZZ plants do best in moderate, indirect sunlight.  If you’re not sure how much sunlight a plant should get, just ask!

How much light is your plant actually getting? It’s best to keep in mind that interior light in the brightest area of your house will be lower light than a shade area outside.  Also, consider what is affecting the light from coming through your window.  Is there a large tree in front of the window blocking light?  What size is your window?  Do you have blinds or curtains blocking sunlight from getting through?  Which direction is your window facing?  North and east facing windows are relatively cooler and let a low amount of light in.  South and west facing windows will let a higher amount of light inside and will be a warmer temperature.  

 

How do you know if your plant is getting enough light once you have placed it in a certain spot indoors?  Some signs to look for in a healthy plant are: new growth, dark leaves, only some leaf drop, strong variegation (in variegated plants), and the soil needs regular watering.  When a plant is not receiving enough light, indicators can include: no growth, leaf yellowing, lots of leaf drop, loss of variegation in variegated plants, constantly wet soil.  Signs of too much sunlight can include: new growth, pale leaves, lots of leaf drop, scorched leaves, and soil remaining constantly dry.

 

These are just a few helpful tips to keep your houseplants happy and healthy.  Stop in to chat with us if you have specific plant questions and to check out our large selection of houseplants!

0 comments

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published