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Becoming a plant parent could be the best decision you’ve made, but before you bring home a potted bundle of joy, you need to know where to put it. In the right spot, your plant will get the ambient light it needs to feed and grow. Get it wrong and your dream plant will deteriorate before it’s had a chance to thrive. Plant care labels are useful as a starting point, but it can be a challenge to understand how they relate to the different areas of ambient light in your home.
To test the brightness of the light in an area, hold your hand over a sheet of white paper – the clearer the shadow of your hand, the brighter it is. You can also measure light levels using a light meter app. Pay attention to how the light changes at different times of day and in different seasons.
The amount of direct or indirect light depends on whether the windows face north, south, east or west – north-facing windows may provide direct sunlight for six or more hours of the day, while south-facing ones without direct sunlight are better suited to low-light indoor plants. Morning sunlight through east-facing windows is generally less intense than the afternoon light coming through north or west-facing windows. Light intensity also varies depending on what floor you are on and any obstructions such as trees and buildings.
This label refers to the strong light shining through a window right onto any plants placed nearby or on the windowsill itself. Watch out, as it can easily burn delicate leaves.
What to buy: Many succulents including cactus and jade are fine with full sun, along with yucca and some species of palm and bromeliad, but check the tag carefully. Some sun-loving plants such as dracaena still need to be protected from scorching afternoon sunlight.
Bathing in this kind of light from large windows and skylights can be a mood-booster for humans and a lifeline for many of our favourite indoor plants. This label describes any well-lit spot that’s out of direct sunlight.
What to buy: Syngonium, monstera, calathea, spider plant, dieffenbachia, philodendron, Chinese money plant, rubber plant and fiddle leaf fig.
Some plants prefer a combination of light and shade. In their natural habitat, they grow under the protected shade of tree canopies or in filtered light that’s dappled by leaves and branches. Indoors, they may get filtered light through curtains and blinds or be sheltered by other indoor plants and other obstructions. You can also limit light by positioning plants further away from windows.
What to buy: maidenhair ferns, moth orchid, hoya, calathea, snake plants, ZZ plants, peace lily, cast-iron plant
Plants positioned in rooms with small windows, on shelves or far away from larger windows are considered to be in low light. Since all plants need some light, this is probably not the ideal condition for the plant. Some species tolerate it more than others – they’ll survive, but growth will slow down. As a rough guide, if it’s too dark to read by, the light is too low for a plant.
What to buy: snake plants, Devil’s ivy, peace lily, ZZ plants, cast-iron plant
Look out for signs that your plant is in the wrong spot and try moving it to another position.
Too much light: Leaves develop brown patches and tips and turn crispy at the edges.
Not enough light: Lack of growth and flowering, leaf loss, yellow leaves, small leaves, long stems leaning towards the light.
Try these tips to help you get the lighting right.
• Lift it: Choose indoor pots that are light enough to move around so you can vary the light as needed.
• Fake it: Install full-spectrum grow lights to help plants survive in low-light areas.
• Spin it: Rotate pots by 90 degrees weekly for more even exposure to light.
• Swap it: Give plants occasional periods in brighter light inside, or in sheltered spots outdoors. If you buy two of the same plant, you can switch them between indoors and out every couple of weeks.
• Dust it: Wipe large leaves to remove dust that can interfere with light absorption.
• Reflect it: Position mirrors to reflect natural light into darker areas.
Explore our huge range of indoor plants and flowers, you’re sure to find the perfect plant for your place.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
