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)
- Jade
- Aloe
- Croton
- Kalanchoe
- Peperomia
- String of Pearls
- Cacti
- Succulents
- Citrus
- Hibiscus
- Hoya
- Crown of Thorns
Bright Indirect Light:
- Norfolk Island Pine
- Fiddle Leaf Fig
- Ficus
- Schefflera
- Orchid
- Ivy
- Money Tree
Medium Light:
- Palms (Most)
- Bromeliad
- Rubber Tree
- African Violet
- Pilea
- Spider Plant
- Ferns
- Monstera
- Philodendron
- Begonia
- Dracaena
- Pothos
Low Light:
- Cast Iron Plant
- Anthurium
- Calathea
- Snake Plant
- ZZ Plant
- Chinese Evergreen
- Ferns
- Peace Lillies
- Polka Dot Plant
Little to No Light
- Snake Plant
- ZZ Plant
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!
Choosing the right houseplant can be difficult depending on where you live. Some homes have little window space, others run too cool or dry, and others might be too hot. In these instances, you may feel limited in your houseplant selection when you would prefer something like a Croton, but have to settle for a Snake Plant instead. There is a plant, however, that seems to thrive in that goldilocks zone of houseplant care: The Peperomia! Check out some of our favorite species below:
Peperomia ‘Ecuador’
Peperomia ‘Fuzzy Mystery’
Peperomia ‘Raindrop’
Peperomia Caperata ‘Schumi Red’
Peperomia Obtusifolia
Peperomia Caperata ‘Napoli Night’
Peperomia ‘Variegated Upright’
Peperomia ‘Marble’
We hope you love Peperomia just as much as we do. we are constantly on the lookout for new and exciting variegations and varieties. Keep checking in at our North Branford location to see what’s new!
We hope to see you soon!
There are many plants that have specific watering requirements and specific lighting requirements, but one of the more overlooked plant maintenance requirements is humidity! If your home is too dry, there are a multitude of houseplants that can succumb to issues like wilting, drying, or drooping without proper humidity.
Most of the houseplants we love come from more tropical climates with higher humidity–not really conducive to the Connecticut climate. Thankfully, humidity is an easy fix! Simply use a humidifier near the plants to help keep their leaves healthy. If you don’t have a humidifier, you can mist the leaves about 2-3 times a week (4-5 in the winter). Here are some of our favorite High Humidity Plants:
Calatheas
Peace Lillies
Venus Fly-Traps
Orchids
Alocasia
Fiddle Leaf Fig
We are always seeing new houseplants at the glass house, and we would love to help you pick out the perfect companion plant for your home, office, or dorm!
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!
With the holiday season behind us, you might be looking at the empty spot where your Christmas Tree once stood, wondering, “What can I put here?” Nothing quite livens up an empty room like a decorative floor plant! With so many varieties to choose from, we wanted to show you a couple of our post-holiday favorites:
Fiddle Leaf Fig
- Can grow beyond 6 feet.
- Prefers bright indirect light
- Water once per week (allow soil to dry in-between watering).
- Naturally purifies and humidifies the air.
- Promotes concentration and mental positivity.
Snake Plants
- Can grow up to 3-8 feet tall.
- Prefers bright – low indirect light
- Lightly water every 2 weeks.
- Cleanses the air of chemicals.
- Low maintenance, and perfect for beginners.
Monstera
- Can grow up to 10-15 feet tall and 8′ wide.
- Prefers bright – medium indirect light
- Water every 1-2 weeks (Allow soil to dry in-between watering).
- Excellent air-purifying abilities.
- Rewarding to grow and support.
Schefflera
- Can grow up to 10-25 feet tall.
- Prefers bright – medium indirect light
- Water every 10 days to maintain damp soil.
- Excellent air-purifying abilities.
- Can promote concentration and focus.
We hope to see you soon!
When it comes to houseplants, do you feel like you don’t have a green thumb? NO problem we say! Easy Care plants are for everyone. At Van Wilgen’s we want you to be a successful gardener. Our glasshouse hosts many indoor plants that are sturdy, durable, and low maintenance. What have you got to lose? Why not bring a little color and life into your home with one of these indoor plants.
Snake Plant
Ferns
Air Plants
Areca Palm
Succulents
Draceana
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
Arbicola Schefflera
ZZ Plant
Pothos
We know you can do it!