Sunlight pouring in through an apartment window onto a Bird of Paradise and Watermelon Peperomia plants

Let's Figure Out Lighting

You may have heard that your plant needs low light, bright indirect light, direct sun, or full shade... But what does it all mean?!? Light is a plant's lifeblood, but gauging your sunlight, both indoors and out, can be tricky. Keep reading to get our tips and lighting guides.

Learn About Light

Understanding Light for Indoor Plants

Consider the plant's natural habitat

Of course, various types of plants prefer different lighting conditions based on their natural environments. Desert dwelling plants will need more light than those naturally found in the rainforest, for example.

Grouping of Bloomscape's low light friendly plants

An illustration of a South-Facting window and the sunlight that it lets in

Know the direction of your windows

Think about where the sun sets! And then understand the light that comes from each direction. North facing windows give off lots of indirect light, while South facing windows receive the most direct sun each day.

Watch and learn if the light is right

The good news is, your plants can tell you if they're getting too much or too little sunlight. Yellow, droopy, wilted leaves may mean too little, while brown, almost burnt leaves is a sign of too much heat or light.

A woman noticing the leaf of a Bird of Paradise plant near the window

Shop Indoor Plants

Understanding Sun and Shade for Outdoor Plants

Illustration of Outdoor Patio and varying light levels

Pay attention to your outdoor space

Remember to keep in mind that a building, tree, or roof can create a shaded area even if other surrounding areas get full sun. Shady plants will want 6 hours of full shade or just 3 hours of morning sun while sunny plants will need 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Choose from sun or shade loving plants

Once you know what kind of light you have, use our sunlight filters while you shop to find the Bloom Kits we recommend for your garden’s sunlight levels. This is the fun part! From Red Geraniums to White Impatiens, find all your favorite annuals and foliage.