As we know, plants have a few key necessities they require for survival, like water, soil, food, humidity, temperature, and sunlight. But much like people, the amounts of each of these vary greatly between plants. Because we know that plants require sunlight to perform photosynthesis, it can be difficult to understand that sometimes plants can receive excessive or insufficient sunlight. For some plants, it is as simple as placing the pot on the windowsill and moving on, but for others, it can be a more complicated mix of lighting requirements. In this guide, we will walk you through some of the specifics when it comes to keeping your houseplant healthy and well-lit.

Different Types of Light:

Bright Light (Direct Sun) This comes from those south-facing windows in your home which receive direct light all day long. These will be the brightest areas in your home.

Bright Indirect Light This can either be filtered light from a south-facing window or light that’s just to the side of a south-facing window.

Medium Light Medium-light can typically be found in the interior of a room where there’s south or east-facing windows providing light.

Low Light Areas in your home which are near north-facing windows or those dark corners of a bright room can be defined as low light areas.

Little to No Light Rooms with no windows at all or rooms with windows where the sunlight is being blocked by a tree or building fall into this category.

It is important to understand where the light in your home is coming from and how intensely it shines. Plants can be very sensitive to changes in light.

Troubleshooting:

There’s nothing worse than bringing a new plant home, and after a week or two having it start to develop crispy leaves or seeing the leaves start to turn yellow. These can be signs that your plant isn’t happy with the light it’s getting.

Not Enough Light: Have you ever seen a plant growing lopsided with all of the new growth leaning toward a window? This is the plant saying it needs more light. Limbs that appear leggy or otherwise stunted growth are sure signs that your plant needs more light. Additionally, if you see yellowing or dropping of leaves, that can also be an indicator of poor light.

Too much light: Similar to the way we get a sunburn, plants exhibit similar characteristics when they’re exposed to too much sun. If your plant develops brown, crispy leaves (especially at the tips), or you notice burned patches on the plant, you might want to try moving your plant to a darker area.

Keep in mind that some of the above symptoms like leaf drop can be caused by a few things, so lighting may not necessarily be the culprit. Check your plant for signs of over or under watering, and look for bugs or disease as well as lighting conditions. When in doubt, call us or pay us a visit. We’re always here to help.

Corners: Many people like to place their plants between two windows on a corner table or, if you have a fiddle leaf fig, standing in the corner of a room or space. The problem, in this case, is that the light arcs around the plant and deprive the plant of the necessary light it needs. Consider low light houseplants for room corners.

Which Plant for Which Lighting?

Bright Light (Direct Sun)

Bright Indirect Light:

Medium Light:

Low Light:

Little to No Light

If you have any concerns about light or which plant might work best for your space, drop in for a little VanWisdom from our houseplant experts!

 

Whether you own a home, rent an apartment, or just want to add something decorative to your office or dorm, houseplants can be the perfect accent piece. But let’s face it, not all of us are decorators or have an eye for interior design! One thing that I found makes decorating a little easier is separating plants based on which room you are trying to decorate.

Many people like to welcome plants into their living room and bedroom–two rooms that can have a diverse array of lighting environments. It is important for houseplant health that they receive proper sunlight, so you wouldn’t want to place a Snake Plant by a south-facing window where it will receive too much bright direct light.

Houseplants also have different requirements when it comes to temperature and humidity, so it is important to not stress the plant out with certain issues like window drafts, excess humidity, or dry air. Calathea, for example, is a sensitive plant when it comes to humidity and temperature, it will thrive in environments like bathrooms and kitchens (or truly any room with a humidifier) but might suffer if placed in an entryway near outside doors.

Plants are particular about where they are placed, but most houseplants are hearty and can tolerate a range of environments, like the Chinese Evergreen. If you need assistance in finding the perfect plants for your space, our Houseplant Specialists will assist you every step of the way!

We hope to see you soon!

 

As plant lovers and gardeners, we are no strangers to putting a ton of TLC into our plants, whether it’s through pruning, watering, or fertilizing. But for as much as we give our plants, the same could be said in return!

When it comes to houseplants, there are some surprising benefits that we might overlook. Of course, the largest draw for owning indoor plants is an aesthetic one, who doesn’t love to decorate? Aside from brightening up your home, however, houseplants have been known to aid in the following:

1. They Improve Air Quality

There are many different species of houseplants that are known to be excellent air-purifiers, capable of scrubbing the air of harmful household toxins that can come from cleaning supplies and cigarettes. Houseplants also are great at producing fresh oxygen within the home and are capable of humidifying the air, making them ideal for those dry winter months.

2. Lower Stress Levels

Houseplants are capable of promoting brain activity that is known to reduce both physical and psychological stress. Tending to houseplants and their upkeep has been shown to reduce heart rate and blood pressure.

3. Can be Therapeutic and Meditative

Similar to how plants reduce stress, they can also minimize symptoms of certain mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Just as we care for pets to reduce the impact of mental illness, taking care of plants can also promote a stronger sense of positive mental health.

4. Boost of Productivity

In certain studies, houseplants have been shown to contribute to an increase in work ethic, studying, and other types of productivity. When people are less stressed, they are able to focus on tasks and projects easier, making houseplants like Snake Plants and Orchids perfect for office spaces and dorm rooms.

 

With so many benefits, it isn’t hard to see why houseplants are such a must for homeowners and renters. If you are looking for a mood booster, stop by our heated greenhouse; we will be more than happy to help match you with the perfect houseplant for your needs!

Houseplants are not only gorgeous to look at, but they provide several health-improving qualities to our homes, as well! Many houseplants have been shown to remove toxic chemicals from our air and produce refreshing oxygen and humidity inside our homes. Here is a list of several houseplants to help you breathe easy this Winter!

Snake Plants

Flamingo Flower

Chinese Evergreen

Pothos

Orchids

Dracaena

 

We hope to see you soon!

 

It’s almost fall, we are all starting to feel the nip in the air. It’s time to start thinking about making room for life inside our homes. Plant life that is! I love to try and fill our greenhouse this time of year with plants that will make your homes plantastic. Plants not only add greenery and color to your home but also enhance the quality of life for everyone.

Breathe easy-Plants purify the air in our homes. As we take in the oxygen gas the plants release which helps keep our cells and bodies alive, the plants take in the carbon dioxide our bodies release. Our plants also pull other contaminants from the air and then the root micro-organisms convert them to food for the plant. The plants help us and we help the plant.

Improve health-Did you know plants release water vapor into the air? By adding that humidity to the air studies have shown that those of us with many house plants in our homes tend to have lower risks for illness, and generally promote the healing process of those that have been sick.

Enhance concentration-This year especially I have had a few large businesses come in to buy plants for everyone’s office. They truly believe that the enhancement of concentration and boost in the mood the houseplant helps with makes for a very productive company.

As a mother, a few houseplants for your kids going off to college not only makes it feel more like home but lets them be creative with their space while they are trying to make a home away from home. I would start with something easy at first like cactus/succulents, or maybe a ZZ plant until they get used to taking care of things themselves.

Let us help you pick the right plant for the right place.

Make sure you take advantage of our website, we have lots of creative videos, and on our events page we will soon have info on our annual houseplant weekend. Always a great time with new fun workshops and videos on how to be creative to make your home and health plantastic!