Light for Plants, Explained! We're going to be honest with you. If there's one slippery topic in plant care, it's light. There's a fair amount of subjectivity involved, and, like most things in life, light can and will change: not just throughout the day but also throughout the year. That said, grasping basic concepts around light will help you better communicate with your plants, even more so as the seasons change. After all, understanding the light in your home is the first and arguably most important step to successfully owning beautiful indoor greenery. When it comes to plants and their light needs, here are the terms you'll most commonly see: Direct sunlight - The most intense light which exposes plants directly to the sun's rays. While many plants don't love lots of direct light, keep in mind that direct light, say, on a winter morning, is different than direct light at 2pm on a July afternoon. An easy way to think of it is like this: if you'll burn, your plant probably will, too. Bright indirect light - Steady and bright light, but no prolonged exposure to those harsh rays of sun. Dappled light also falls under this definition. This is the ideal light for the grand majority of common houseplants! Medium light - Think a bright room, but maybe 3-5 feet away from a window, or a dimmer room but close to the window. Low light - 5+ feet away from a light source. Many plants can still thrive in this scenario, or adapt to living with artificial light only. Want to dig a little deeper? Read our complete light guide for more.
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