What's Meant by 'Indirect Light'? Your Guide to Houseplant Lighting
For any plant parent bringing a new green fellow home, finding the best placement for a new plant can be tricky. While yes, interior design is important, one must also take into account how exposure to light factors in on placement choice. A quick Google search of your plant type will yield results such as “prefers bright light” or “keep in indirect light” but what do these terms actually mean in practice?
It all comes down to understanding how light works in your space. In order to keep your plants happy, it’s best to start with figuring out what lighting conditions you can offer and if not by natural means, how the need can be supplemented. So let’s dive right in.
Why is Lighting Important for your Plant’s Health?
Photosynthesis, plants absorbing sunlight, CO2, water to create energy emitted as oxygen and sugars are integral to all life. For indoor plants, the process of photosynthesis must be maintained at its full ability through your care.
Different types of plants will require different types of care, and this includes how much light and water they receive. Too much light exposure and your plant may produce oxygen that destroys the plant and stops the process of photosynthesis. Too little light exposure and your plants will essentially starve, lacking the chlorophyll they need to survive.
The Different Types of Lighting and What They Mean
Indirect sunlight: what does it mean? Most houseplants will require some form of indirect light and this can come in varying degrees. When we talk about indirect lighting we’re usually referring to spaces that receive diffused light in increments rather than at all times of the day.
For example, ficus elastica require bright, indirect light. This means placement near a window that receives a steady amount of bright light for at most an hour a day. Some philodendrons and monsteras enjoy this bright indirect light as well.
On the other hand, there’s bright, direct light as well. This kind of lighting means the sun's rays directly hit the plant without obstruction and is usually better suited for outdoor plants.
Low light areas, such as bathrooms or offices, are further away from windows or sources of light and are better suited for slower growing plants. Plants like Sansevieria Laurentii (snake plants) or ZZ plants can tolerate low light conditions.
A visualization of natural indoor light.
Window Facing
Different light exposure levels are also determined through which way your window faces geographically. Low light indoor plants could be placed in proximity to north facing windows because they will not receive any direct sunlight throughout the day. Plants that prefer bright light will prefer south facing windows, consider this for your cacti and palms.
North Facing Windows: No direct sunlight, low diffused light
South Facing Windows: Bright light throughout the day
East Facing Windows: Softer light as the sun rises in the morning, bright, indirect light
West Facing Windows: Stronger light as the sun peaks and sets, direct light
Artificial Lights
If you’re worried about a lack of lighting options due to what windows are available to you, plant lights or grow lights can help supplement what is needed. LED lights can offer some assistance for low light spaces but grow lights, which emit red, blue, purple, or green light can further assist in adding that extra light needed for the plants that require more.
At the end of the day, it’s about listening to your plants and feeling out when they could be doing better. A quick rearrange and lighting adjustment can do wonders for your little green friends. Check out our plant store to find out which plants need what types of lighting.
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