The Ultimate Houseplant Lighting Guide

Welcome back my wonderful Plant People!

Whether you are a plant beginner or a plant expert, I am glad to have you here! Like discussed in my last blog post, 5 Tips on How to Not Kill Your First Houseplant, lighting is V important. Different Plants like Different Lighting. It really is that simple. Now, what’s not so simple is finding the right lighting situation for your plant baby. There are quite a few things to keep in mind when finding the perfect spot for each plant. Just like us, plants have feelings too, okay!!?? 😅 My promise to you is that by the end of my Ultimate Houseplant Lighting Guide, you will be an expert at finding the perfect location for all your little (or big!) plant babies.

First, let’s discuss finding the best facing windows for plants.

BEST FACING WINDOW FOR LIGHTING: SOUTH FACING.

• You will get the most bright light in a day with a south facing window since the sun travels from east to west across the sky.

Now, don’t give up hope if you don’t seem to have any south facing windows. There are many plants that can thrive in other facing windows. Below you can find additional information on the other window facing types:

• West Facing windows are also good and receive a fair amount of afternoon light. East Facing windows get more morning light and are great for plants that need moderate amounts of light. And, lastly, North Facing windows aren’t the greatest option for lighting, but your low light, shade-loving plants can live here if you have no other options.

Alright, now that we have that discussion out of the way, you may be asking yourself, “How the heck do I find out which way my window faces?” Well! Open up your handy-dandy smartphone and pull up your trusty Compass App. I would argue most, if not all, smartphones now have a Compass app built into them from the start. Just ask Siri! Once you have that open, point it in the direction of your window and voila! You have your window direction. Great! You have found your window… What’s next?! Let’s move forward and discuss the many types of lighting. My Plant Friends & I made a couple snazzy infographics to make sure everything is easier to understand. (Shoutout to one of my fave local artists, Natalie Meagan for making this infographic possible!) I see you, all you visual learners! (It me. A visual learner 🤣)

BRIGHT LIGHT VS. MEDIUM LIGHT VS. LOW LIGHT

So, now you know about the different types of light, but do you know which kind your plant needs? Do yourself a favor and when you first get your plant, make sure to take a look at the little tag sticking in the soil. This will tell you exactly the type of light your plant needs. Don’t have a tag? That’s okay! A quick google search with your plant type should turn up that information as well. Once you have a handle on which lighting type your plant needs, you are getting closer to finding the perfect spot for your plant. Does your plant require bright light? Great! Let’s discuss the different types of bright light.

BRIGHT DIRECT LIGHT VS. BRIGHT INDIRECT LIGHT

Again, I say different plants like different lighting. I end up moving my plants all around until I feel like they are happy. Just remember to keep an eye on the leaves to make sure your plant isn’t receiving too much light. You don’t want to burn your little plant baby! We have now arrived at our last lighting topic, Grow Lights.

ARE GROW LIGHTS A BETTER OPTION FOR YOU?

Maybe you live in a small apartment with minimal window space, maybe you live in a dungeon with no windows… who am I to judge?! LOL. Anyway. If you find yourself feeling like your plants aren’t thriving with natural light, Grow Lights may be the best bet for you. Below in the pictures, I’ve linked a few of our faves. Looking to know more about Grow Lights? Click here to read our new post where we dig into the different types of Grow Lights.

CONGRATS! You've made it to the end of the Ultimate Houseplant Lighting Guide! Are you a plant lighting expert now?! Where did you place your new plant friends around your home?

Until Next Time,

Jessie

Pin on Pinterest!