Whenever you are planning your garden no matter where you live, your growing space is limited to your plan so every inch matters. Other than water and air sunlight can make our break the success of your plants. It is literally the fuel that your plants need to survive. Let’s go into why sunlight maters so much, how to measure light levels and how to fix it if you need more or less.
Sunlight is very critical for plants for the simple fact that plants make their own food via photosynthesis which helps grow stems and leaves, produce flowers and fruits, absorb nutrients more efficiently, and stay compact and strong. Without the right amount of sunlight, plants get leggy, can grow slowly, or simply wither away.
Here’s are the types of different lights levels and the ideal windows or sides of the house that you would want your plants.
| Light Type | Description | Ideal Direction |
| Full Sun ☼ | 6+ hours of direct sun every day | South facing |
| Bright but Indirect 🌤 | Light near the plant but not direct on leaves | East/West facing |
| Low Light ☁ | Farther away from the windows/shaded | North facing or corners |
*Tip: Use you phone to take a photo of the light coming though your window or across your garden at 9am, 12pm, 3pm to see the direction of the sun in/around your space.
It is important to choose the right plants for your space -matching you plants to your light. Here are a few plants that do well in different types of different lights.
| Low Level | Medium Light | High Light |
| Pothos ZZ Plants Snake Plant | Mint Parsley Lettuce | Tomatoes Peppers Basil |
What if you don’t have good sun? There are plenty of options to help your plants grow if you might not have enough space in front of your windows.
- Grow Lights – There are plenty of small full-spectrum LEDs that are energy-efficient, can be discreet, and work good for herbs and seedlings.
- Rotation of Plants – This is a great way to make suer that all of your plants and all sides of you you plans get exposure.
- Go Up! – Using hang planters new windows or use shelves to get extra light access by using your walls and air!
Here are some ways to know if your plants are getting enough sun:
Healthy signs ✅
- Vibrant Color
- Regular New Leaves
- Compact and Upright Growth
Warning signs ☢️
- Pale of yellowing leaves
- Leggy or spindly stems
- Soil stay stays wet for longer than necessary (low light = less evaporation)
For now though, I hope you have a good grasp on the importance of sunlight and how significant it is for the development of your plants. Take the time this week to understand your space, choose you plants that match the space your in, and supplement them in the way that they need!
And until next time, Plant with a Purpose! – BTR NEW
