Are Your House Plants Getting Enough Light? Warning Signs and What You Should Do

Besides water, warmth, and proper soil, light is one of the most important things that a plant needs to thrive. It helps create various parts of a plant, including fruits, flowers, leaves, stems, and roots.

Light is so vital to plants that they can suffer greatly from insufficient light exposure. When this happens, plants often undergo significant changes that manifest in their outward appearance.

Is your house plant growing to one side instead of straight-up? That's a signal they need more light. When an indoor plant lacks sufficient light, it tends to lean toward a natural light source, which causes longer than usual stems.

Most house plants need light for chlorophyll – the green coloring matter – to develop and manufacture food through photosynthesis. When there is a light shortage, the chlorophyll may stop working at peak performance, causing the leaves to change color and size.

When the beautiful leaves' variegation that caught your eye at the nursery begins to disappear, that could be a sign of insufficient light. Yellowish foliage, small or pale leaves are also signs of light-deprived plants.

If your plant stems are stretching towards the window, chances are your plant is not getting enough light. Photosynthesis in plants uses mainly the blue and red rays from the light, which is why plants lean toward a natural light supply.

To notice a leggy plant, just compare how your house plant looks now and how it was when you bought it. If you see unnaturally long stems with fewer leaves, you might want to move the plant where there's more light.

House plants are beneficial to homeowners in many different ways. They help purify the air and create a comfortable, welcoming feel.

Studies also show that plants can help create a better work environment, relieve stress, and improve your sleep quality. And for these reasons, you'll want to provide sufficient lighting to ensure plant growth uniformity at all times.

Luckily, there are so many things you can do to prevent the above signs of insufficient lighting and enjoy all your house plant has to offer.

The first thing you can do to maintain your house plant's glory is to provide enough natural light. This is best done by placing the plant in a place where the stems and leaves can reach the sunlight's rays.

Artificially lighting houseplants is another effective method to ensure your plants look healthy at all times. There are plenty of full-spectrum plant lights on the market, ranging from contemporary lamps to classic styles with long tube lighting. If you are not sure what's the best for your plant, a fluorescent tube that is specially made for indoor plants may be a good choice.

To ensure that your plant gets enough, sometimes you may have to move it where the sunlight is during the day. When doing this, it's vital to ensure that your houseplant is on a wheeled platform or in a basket with handles for easy moving and to avoid damages.

If your house plant is in a well-lit room but still seems to be suffering, you may have to move it closer to the source of light. You can elevate it with plant stands or hang it from the ceiling using plant hangers.

House plants often come with recommendations on how much light they need and their ideal position. If, for instance, a plant tag suggests that you place it near a north-facing window, doing just that will give your house plant a chance to grow as it should.

With all the benefits plants have to offer, there's no reason why you shouldn't bring nature close to you.

However, it is important that you pay attention to what your house plant is saying so you can tell when it is light-deprived. Using self-watering flower boxes and planters can help you maintain a consistent watering schedule, but it won't replace the need to monitor your plant's light needs. Doing this will ensure that you (and the plant) enjoy living together.