The Importance of Indoor Plant Lighting

Potted plant

In nature, plants they do their best to be able to capture the amount of light they needeither by climbing the trunks of those that are taller, growing rapidly to occupy a site that has been left empty, and / or developing wide leaves so that they can absorb more light.

However, those that we have at home can have serious problems to develop well. Therefore, when we want to have our home with some plants, it is important that we place them in the right location. Thus, the correct lighting of indoor plants It will allow us to have a very well decorated home.

How much light do they need …?

trees

Elastic fig

Elastic fig

Trees are generally not recommended to be kept indoors, as they can grow 10 meters or more. But the truth is that there are many species that, through pruning, can be grown in pots for many years and even throughout their lives, such as Ficus. They are very well placed in the corners, or placed on both sides of the sofa in the living room.

Yes, they need a lot of light. If they are in poorly lit rooms their leaves will fall quickly.

Shrubs (including climbing plants), and the like

Monstera indoors

Shrubs are essential plants to decorate gardens and, yes, also homes. They do not grow as much as trees, so they are much more manageable and just as decorative. But where to put them? The reality is that it depends a lot on the genre to which they belong. For example:

  • Aspidistra: it is indifferent. It grows well both in rooms with a lot of light and in those where there is not much.
  • Calathea: ditto.
  • cyca: room with lots of light.
  • dracaena: ditto.
  • Epipremnum: grows both in bright rooms and in semi-shade.
  • Monstera: ditto.
  • Schefflera: room with lots of light.
  • Jasminum: ditto.
  • Yucca: room with lots of light.

Bonsai

Bonsai privet

Bonsai are trees or shrubs that are grown in very small trays. Getting a healthy and spectacular plant growing in a bonsai pot takes a lot of time and work, especially if it is a tropical species, which will need protection against the cold during the winter months. So that problems do not arise, it is advisable to place these -the tropical ones- in a room in which a lot of light enters natural.

Cactus and succulents

Potted succulents

Cacti and succulents, also known as succulents, they need a lot of light to growespecially if they are inside the home. Ideally, place them in rooms where a lot of natural light enters through a large window, or put them near windows.

But, yes, you have to remember to go turning the pot every 2-3 daysso that in this way all parts of the plant receive the same amount of light.

Flores

Cyclamen

Plants grown for their flower, such as cyclamen, petunias or dimorphotheques, They are one of the ones that need the most light so that its flowers develop properly. For this reason, it is necessary that they be placed near windows, in rooms where a lot of natural light enters or in interior patios.

Palms

Chamaedorea elegans

The palm trees are very elegant, and they also provide that exotic and tropical touch that makes any room look spectacular. Although there are not many species that can be grown indoors, the ones that exist are enough to achieve a little paradise at home. The most recommended are all of the genre ChamaedoreaThe Deeply shiningthose of the genre howea (better known as Kentia), the phoenix roebellinii and high vines.

Place them in bright rooms and they will grow wonderfully, you’ll see .

How do you know if a plant needs more light?

Phototropism

This Phalaenopsis orchid grows in the direction of light.

When a plant lacks light, what you can do is:

  • Developing increasingly thin and long stems with the aim of finding the light through the elongation (or stretching) of the cells of the stem that is more shaded thanks to auxins, which are phytohormones that are formed in the cells of the tips of the branches. This behavior is known by the name of phototropism, specifically the positive one.
  • Dropping the leaves and flowers: when it lacks light, it can become bare, almost literally.
  • Stop its growth: even if it keeps the leaves and flowers, the growth is practically nil. The plant needs sunlight in order to photosynthesize and grow.
  • White spots may appear on the leaves that are expanding until they turn brown and fall off.

Another thing that can happen is that we have it in an area with a lot of light, but there is another more powerful light and the plant grows in the direction of this second light. If this happens to you, all you have to do is, or move her away from this second light, or bring her closer to her to avoid that it ends up growing in a curious way.

If a plant has grown too much looking for light, what can be done?

Image - norita.wordpress.com

Image – norita.wordpress.com

It depends on the plant in question . If they are succulents, and especially cacti, unfortunately little can be done other than to put them in brighter rooms. On the other hand, if they are plants such as Diffenbachia, Yucca or Dracaena, in addition to changing their place, they could prune the stem a little so that they emit lower stems; but this task should only be done if the specimens are a little overgrown, since if they are too young they most likely will not support pruning. In case of doubt, contact us.

In case you have planted some seeds and the seedlings look like the ones in the image above, you must bring them to a window and rotate the pot every 2 days so that they can grow well. If you plan to take them outside, put them in semi-shade first so that they adapt to the sun, since they burn very easily if they do not acclimatize before.

And with that we are done. I hope it is useful for you and you can know where to put your precious plants so that they grow in the best possible way, without having to develop weak or excessively long stems.

The Importance of Indoor Plant Lighting

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