If you’re new to growing houseplants, just searching for care instructions can lead you down a rabbit hole full of confusing terminology and conflicting information. We all know that light is essential for plant survival, but how much light do you need? What does “dim light” or “bright indirect light” actually mean?
Here’s what you need to know about light levels for houseplants and the types of plants that are suitable for them. (You might be surprised at what you think “bright indirect light” means and what it actually means!)
First, what happens if your plants don’t get enough light?
Aside from overwatering, one of the most common mistakes novice houseplant enthusiasts make is not giving their plants enough light. I understand. It’s understandable that you might want to use houseplants to decorate dark corners of your home. But unfortunately, by doing this you are letting yourself down.
What many houseplant enthusiasts forget is that light is always very scarce for greenery indoors. Especially when you consider modern windows that have special coatings that reduce the amount of light that passes through.
If a plant is sold as “low light”, that doesn’t actually mean it prefers low light conditions. Almost without exception, houseplants prefer to grow in what we would consider “bright light.” That’s where they thrive. In the dark, they may simply survive or even die in slow motion.
Signs that your plant is starving for light include:
New leaves will begin to grow further apart, giving it a sparse appearance. The plant grows spindly and weak and tries to stretch toward the light (a process known as etiolation). The leaves turn pale and yellow and eventually fall off. If the soil remains wet for too long, the risk of rot increases. Plants become more susceptible to pests and diseases.
Bottom line: The more light, the healthier, better-looking and more resilient your plants will be. If you want to use it to brighten up dark corners, you should consider using a grow light that supports it.
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What is “very low”, “low”, “medium” and “high” light?
There is no strict definition of light levels for indoor plants as there is for plants grown outdoors or in greenhouses. That’s why things can get confusing. What do we mean by low light, medium light, and high light? Is your coffee table a medium or low light place? And what about that shelf? People tend to underestimate the amount of light plants need.
Also, what about “bright indirectness,” which is often said without any explanation? Are a huge skylight and a small bathroom window both considered bright indirect light because there is light but no sun?
The easiest way to measure light is with a simple light meter like this one. These inexpensive devices typically display brightness in foot candles (FC), which is equal to 1 lumen (unit of light) per square foot. You can compare these measurements to online charts to determine where your spot falls on the brightness scale and which plants are suitable for growing there.
That being said, you can also measure light levels fairly accurately just by looking. So let’s take a look at the different degrees of light found in the average home, how to tell them apart, and what plants you can grow there. I’ve also provided some examples of how bright different parts of the room can be during the day (although window orientation and the season can make a big difference in how much light a room actually receives). Please note that there are
easy tips
If you are a beginner, we recommend that you skip the “No Lighting” and “Low Lighting” sections. After all, these are absolute minimum values, with very little margin of error. Your chances of success will be much higher if you place all your plants in an area with at least moderate light.
very dark light
Recognition method
I classify “very dark” areas as being one level above “completely dark” areas, i.e. rooms with no windows or completely dark corners. There is a window in a very dark place, but the plants kept there cannot see the sky at all.
Example of very dim light:
Place the plant against the same wall as a window to avoid sunlight At least 15 feet away from large windows At least 5 feet away from small windows (such as narrow bathroom windows)
On a light meter, these zones indicate 50 to 100 foot candles.
suitable plants
If you are an experienced houseplant grower, there is one plant that you may be able to successfully grow in very low light conditions such as this one. The good old pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is very hardy and only needs about 50 foot candles to survive and grow. Avoid varieties splashed with neon or cream colors and choose pure green or “golden” pothos instead.
Please note that your mileage may vary. Have a plan B in case your pothos really doesn’t seem to grow. Plants kept in the dark use little water, so water them sparingly. Also, remember not to expect too much growth or a plant that is too bushy.
low light
Recognition method
“Low light” areas actually don’t appear that dark to the human eye. In fact, this applies to most of our homes. But for most plants, which use light to synthesize nutrients, that’s not enough. Only a select few can thrive here, as the sky is barely visible.
Low light example:
A small window A north-facing window on cloudy days A window overlooking an apartment courtyard At least 5 feet away from a window that does not receive direct sunlight
On a light meter, these zones will read as 100 to 250 foot candles.
suitable plants
Many websites have long lists of plants that are supposed to grow in low light. Unfortunately, these are often not very realistic. Many of them actually include species that require moderate or high light levels. A recipe for disappointment. That’s why I actually created a list of 10 low-light houseplants.
Note that in low light there is still not much room for error. It’s easy to overwater, and you can also confuse very dark areas with dark areas. Beginners should probably choose medium light (see below) or use a supplemental grow light.
Medium light (bright indirect light)
Recognition method
Just as dim light is quite normal for us humans, “medium light” is actually very bright. We are entering a pleasant zone for houseplants here, where many lower tropical plants can thrive and grow in abundance. A medium light spot will allow the plant to see the sky clearly.
Example of “medium light”:
A bright window that doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, such as a west- or east-facing window A south-facing window that has obstructions, such as an overhang or a tree At least 10 feet away from an unobstructed south-facing window Under a small skylight With bright fluorescent lights office lighting and windows
On a light meter, these zones will read from 250 to 1,000 foot candles. Your plants prefer a spot that optimally provides at least 500 FC.
suitable plants
As long as you have a moderately bright spot, you can choose from a variety of tropical houseplants. In fact, I can’t list them all here, but here are some of my personal favorites.
Elephant ear (Alocasia sp.) Begonia (Begonia sp.) Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) Orchid (Orchidaceae) Umbrella plant (Schefflera sp.) Wax plant (Hoya sp.) Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) Philodendron (Philodendron sp. ) Thermophilic plants (Peperomia sp.) Bromeliads (Family) Bromeliaceae), Air plants (Tillandsia sp.) sp.) including jungle cacti, like fishbone and Christmas cactus Arrowhead plant (Syngonium sp.) Inch plant (Tradescantia sp.) Flamingo plant (Anthurium sp.)
highlights
Recognition method
For houseplants, a “highlight” space is defined as one that gives the feeling of being outdoors. From here the plants can see a large part of the sky and receive direct sunlight for several hours a day. Almost all houseplants want to live here.
Examples of “highlights”:
Large, sunny, unobstructed south-facing windows and glass patio doors Under a large skylight Inside a glass greenhouse On a covered patio or balcony
On a light meter, these zones will read as 1,000 foot candles or higher.
suitable plants
Almost everyone! With the exception of extreme sun lovers, such as many cacti and succulents, which are best grown outdoors, houseplants can also be grown indoors in bright areas. If you have such a place, you will not have to think about which plants are suitable there.
Lower tropical plants grow well in areas up to 1,500 FC. For some, such as indoor fig trees, 2,000 FC or higher is desirable. Be sure to acclimate your plants when moving them from a dark to a bright location, especially if the sun is strong. Gradually move them closer together over several weeks to prevent leaf burn.
Examples of plants that require particularly strong light include:
Most ficus trees Carnivorous plants Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) Yucca plant (Yucca sp.) Various indoor palms such as Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) Bird of paradise plant (Strelitzia sp.) All types of pines
What should I do if my plants are dying from lack of light?
Don’t worry! As long as it doesn’t look completely rotten or completely crisp and dry, it may be able to be saved. Even if your houseplant has lost all its leaves and is left with just a stem, don’t throw it away yet, as it may sprout again.
Move the plant to a moderately bright area and observe it carefully. Sad greens that lack light are at high risk of rotting, so you should water sparingly until they recover.
easy tips
You can move your plan from a low-light spot to a medium-light spot all at once, but upgrading to a sunny, high-light spot should be done over several weeks to prevent leaf burn.
What if a plant receives bright light for part of the day, but low light for the rest of the day?
Light levels change throughout the day and depending on the season, which can make things confusing. That’s why counting sunny hours is helpful. A window location that receives more than 6 hours of sunlight is definitely “high light,” but a location that receives only 2 to 3 hours of sunlight, such as in the morning or evening, is only “medium light.”
In places with little light, even if some light does come in, the sun won’t shine at all.
