Houseplants bring a touch of nature and freshness to our living spaces. However, for them to fully thrive, it's essential to provide them with lighting that suits their specific needs. For healthy plants, the light levels should mimic their natural environment as closely as possible.
Light and Plant Growth
Poor lighting is the main cause of problems in houseplants. It's therefore essential to understand the intensity and quality of light they need.
Plant growth is orchestrated by hormones called auxins. Their circulation influences the growth of stems, leaves, and flowers. The pigments present in the leaves capture light and give them their colour.
Outdoors, plants receive light from all sides, which promotes balanced auxin circulation and harmonious growth. Indoors, light usually comes from a single direction, which can lead to unbalanced growth.
TIP: To grow beautiful houseplants, rotate their pot a quarter turn each time you water them. The light will then be distributed over the entire surface of the plant.
Where to Place the Plant - Too Much or Not Enough Light!
Light intensity, meaning the amount of light received by the plant, must be adapted to its specific needs. Too much or too little light can disrupt photosynthesis and slow down growth. It's therefore crucial to identify the light needs of each plant and place them in an appropriate spot in the room.
Too much light intensity: chlorophyll is destroyed.
- The leaves turn pale.
- Bleached spots appear.
- The leaves turn brown and dry.
Not enough light intensity:
- The plant becomes leggy (increased distance between nodes on new shoots).
- The stems become thin.
- The leaves turn yellow and become smaller.
- Variegated foliage turns green.
- Flowering plants stop blooming.
Begonias are plants that adapt well to low light intensity.
Understanding Light: Spectrum and Colours
Light is composed of different wavelengths, each corresponding to a specific colour. Plants mainly use the blue and red wavelengths for their growth.
- Blue: Promotes compact and leafy growth.
- Red: Stimulates growth and flowering.
Choosing the Right Lighting: Natural or Artificial?
Natural sunlight is ideal for plants. If your home lacks natural light, don't hesitate to use artificial lighting as a supplement or replacement.
- Classic light bulbs: Inefficient for plant growth.
- Fluorescent tubes: Better than classic bulbs, but not optimal.
- Horticultural LED tubes and lamps: More expensive, but recommended for indoor growing.
Sunlight According to the Seasons
A south-facing window provides maximum sunlight and warmth. Ideal for sun-loving plants like cacti, succulents, citrus trees, or hibiscus.
- From November to March, the rays are less strong. Several plants then need this orientation to compensate for the decrease in winter light.
- During the hot season, the sun can burn the foliage of plants that require less light and are exposed to the south.
East-facing windows offer morning sun and coolness for the rest of the day. The light is bright, and the sun is not strong enough to burn the plants.
- Ideal for ferns, gesneriads (African violets, elephant ears, florist's gloxinia, lipstick plants), calatheas, philodendrons, or monsteras.
West-facing windows are preferable for plants that only require a few hours of sun per day.
In the north, winter light is often insufficient, even if some plants can be content with it in the summer. These locations are suitable for plants that tolerate low light, such as snake plants, ZZ plants, or cast iron plants.
By understanding the light needs of your plants and providing them with suitable lighting, you'll allow them to fully thrive and offer you their most beautiful greenery all year round.
Remember: Observe your plants, they will tell you if they are receiving the right amount of light!
