Bright Ideas: A Guide to Houseplant Lighting and Placement
By The Jungle Room Plant Co.
Understanding Natural Light in Your Home
Every home has a range of light zones, depending on window direction, obstructions (like trees or buildings), and even seasonal changes. Here’s a breakdown of the most common light levels:
Bright Direct Light: Typically found on south- or west-facing windows, this is unfiltered sunlight. Great for sun-loving plants like cacti, succulents, and most herbs.
Bright Indirect Light: Common near east- or south-facing windows with sheer curtains or just out of reach of harsh rays. Ideal for monsteras, philodendrons, and most tropical houseplants.
Medium Light: Areas a few feet away from a window, where light is bright but not intense. Think ZZ plants, pothos, and peace lilies.
Low Light: Spaces with limited natural light, like north-facing rooms or corners far from windows. Suitable for snake plants, or low-light-tolerant ferns.
Matching Plants to Light Levels
Some quick pairings:
High Light Plants: Bird of Paradise, Aloe Vera, Cactus, and Succulents
Medium Light Plants: Dracaenas, Spider Plants, Peperomias, Fiddle Leaf Fig, and ZZ Plant
Low Light Plants: Sansevieria, Ferns, Peace Lilies
If you're ever unsure, it's safer to start a plant in bright indirect light and adjust from there.
How to Find the Best Spot
Determine your window direction.
Use a compass app or remember: South = strongest light (in the Northern Hemisphere).
Observe sunlight throughout the day.
Morning light is gentler than afternoon sun.
Test with your hand.
Hold your hand up where your plant would sit. A crisp shadow = bright light. A blurry shadow = medium. No shadow = low.
Rotate, Reposition, Repeat
Plants grow toward their light source. Rotate them every few weeks to keep growth even. If growth stalls or leaves pale, your plant might need more light. Scorched or faded leaves? Try moving it back a few feet or diffusing the light.
Bonus: Artificial Light Tips
Not enough natural light? Grow lights work wonders. Look for full-spectrum LED bulbs and set them on a timer to mimic day length—12 to 16 hours is a good baseline for most plants.
