Plant Light Guide

How to choose the right plant for your space’s lighting

Choosing a plant can be intimidating.

Especially when you read the phrases Bright, Medium & Low Light and think… “Wait, so what’s the difference?”

Don’t worry. It’s easier than you think.

These are the 3 main factors that determine lighting:

1. How far the spot is from a window;
2. Which direction is that window facing;
3. What’s in front of the window (i.e. is there direct or partial light coming in?).

Keeping those in mind, let’s figure out what kind of lighting your plant will need. And remember: You should always pick a spot first, then choose a plant that works best there.

It’s a common mistake to do this in the opposite order and that’s when you end up with a plant in the wrong kind of lighting. (If you want help choosing a good spot, see our Home Plant Guide or our Office Plant Guide.)

How to know your light level

Use the quick-start chart below to see which is best for the spot you’ve chosen:

Bright light

Direct sunlight. Long sun exposure.

• South or Southwest-facing windows up to 10 feet away.
• East or West facing windows up to 10 feet away.

Note: Intense, direct sun can burn plants. Filter the light or place plants further away from the window or in a shady spot.

Medium light

Partial, Filtered, or Indirect sunlight.

• Partial sunlight– direct sunlight during the day for a couple of hours in the morning or late afternoon from east or west-facing windows.
• Filtered sunlight – direct sunlight in your space all day but it is filtered, but NOT blocked, by curtains or blinds.
• Indirect sunlight – is a shady area next to a sunny spot.

Low light

Minimal natural light or artificial light. No sunlight in your space at all.

• North-facing windows.
• A room where the sunlight is blocked by a building nearby.
• Apartments facing the backyard or located on lower floors usually don’t get a lot of light.
• An area where there is not enough natural light but plenty of fluorescent light throughout the day.

Note: If in your space in the middle of the day, you can’t read a book without turning the light on, then it is too dark for any plant to survive.

The 12 o’clock light test

What’s outside your building can also affect the light your plant will get, so here’s an easy test to make sure you’ve got it right.

At noon — when the sun is brightest — stand in the spot where you want your plant to live. Look down at your shadow, and if it’s a…

• Strong, well-defined shadow, then you’re swimming in Bright Light.
• Weak shadow but you can still make out the silhouette, you’re working with Medium Light.
• Faint shadow without much definition, it’s a Low Light spot.

And that’s it!

Now that you know what light you have, all that’s left is finding the plant you want.