Even with all of the benefits plants provide, many would agree that being a plant parent can sometimes be a challenge — and one of the biggest challenges is knowing how much light your plant needs to flourish and grow.
Plants use the energy in sunlight to turn water and carbon into glucose (plant food), therefore it is crucial to know the light requirements of your house plants.
Different plants have different light tolerances, so before bringing home a new plant you need to consider the type of light your home can provide. Some plants do well on a shelf close to a window in the living room, others thrive in scorching sun on the windowsill, whereas some would prefer the dappled shade of a low-light bathroom.
To help you select the right plant for the right spot, here is some information about the three types of light tolerance you need to know:
FULL SUN (DIRECT SUNLIGHT)
If you're looking for plants for a very sunny corner in your home, your mind should rush to the desert-dwellers. In their natural environment, plants like succulents and cacti spend most of their day in sunny, warm conditions and can tolerate prolonged periods of direct sunlight.
Be aware, though, that scorching heat can damage some succulents so place them in an area that receives soft morning sun.
Sun lovers: Cacti, succulents, ponytail palm and spineless yucca.
LOW LIGHT (SHADE TOLERANT)
All plants need light and would starve without access to UV light. Some plants are accustomed to growing in low-light conditions and naturally grow in the lower parts of the forest, where they are overshadowed by the foliage of other plants and have adapted to these lower light conditions.
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