How to give your plants the right light

Giving your plant the right amount of light is essential if you want to see it thrive.

Your plant needs just the right amount of light. Too much and it will burn...and die. Too little and it will wilt...and die. Some will tolerate a broad spectrum of light but others won’t be so forgiving - usually the pretty ones.

Most indoor plants at your local nursery will flourish in bright indirect light - that means about a metre away from a eastern or southern window. Monstera varieties, fiddle leaf figs, peperomias and rubber trees will tolerate this kind of light but can also handle some direct morning sunlight which is when it’s not as harsh.

On the other hand, succulents, cacti, aloe vera and birds of paradise prefer a lot more light so a western window - depending on the harshness and length of the light exposure - is better for these ones.

Snake plants, ZZ plants, philodendrons, pothos, dieffenbachia and aglaonema are not only fairly easy care plants, they will also thrive in differing amounts of light. Snake plants and ZZ plants can do more light exposure while pothos, philodendrons and dieffenbachia can do less.

If in doubt, your plant will tell you if it’s not getting enough light by either reaching towards the light if there is not enough or crisping if there is too much.