Whether you grow plants inside or outside, proper sunlight is key to helping them thrive. When staying on the bright side, your green beauties get the energy they need to make nutrients, remain resilient against diseases, and simply live their best lives.
However, all plants have their specific needs and requirements. In this article, we’re going to break down 3 ways to understand your green pets a little better.
Visual Evaluation
Start by simply taking a look at your collection. Are your plants growing evenly and robustly? There are a few important things you should particularly watch out for:
- Leaf size. If the new growth is small and the space between leaves is elongated, the plant craves more light.
- Color. A well-lit plant has bright, green, and uniform growth; pale and yellow leaves indicate insufficient light, while reddish spots may point to excessive sunlight. Weak light also makes colorful spots in variegated plants smaller, leaving them mostly green.
- Leaning. Plants naturally lean toward the light source. If you see your plant growing in a certain direction, it may be a sign that it’s trying to reach for more light.
Shadow Test
There are several other ways to check if a spot is bright enough for your plants to do well. For example, you can put your hand between the light source and the plant and look at the shadow. If it’s sharp, everything is fine. A blurred or soft shadow, however, means the light is too dim and insufficient for your plants.
Light Meter
Light meters, also known as luxmeters, come in handy if you want to know the precise light intensity. A word of caution: some plants prefer direct sunlight, while others thrive in partial shade. So, it’s a good idea to always check if the reading falls within the recommended light range for your particular species. To make things even easier, you can do this using Plantum’s Light Meter feature.
Chase the Shadows Away
If your plants are going through hard times and you think inappropriate sunlight conditions are to blame, don’t give up! There are several things you can try to help them bounce back.
- Take advantage of windowsills. Be careful, though, and don’t make any sudden moves, as a rapid change in sunlight intensity can stress your plants out. To avoid casualties, start with diffused light and slowly transition to direct sunlight over a period of a few weeks.
- Use grow lights. Just be careful not to place them too close (to avoid burning the plant) or too far away (so that your greenery can actually benefit from the grow light).
- If it’s an outdoor plant that’s struggling, consider trimming surrounding vegetation that may be blocking the light.
By learning how much light your plants need, paying attention to their well-being, and changing the conditions accordingly, you can create a top-notch environment for your green pets to grow strong and lush. Good luck!