Although many people consider adding plants to their interior decor, many shy away from doing so out of fear of letting the plant die. Although a plant can die as a result of inadequate nurturing, most indoor plants don’t require much to survive. If the plant is properly watered, receives the right amount of lighting, and receives a little love, it will survive.
The amount of sunlight needed to maintain homeostasis varies from plant to plant. While some need a minimum of six hours of sun per day, others only need less than three hours of sun each day.
When choosing the perfect location for your plant, you need to know why some plants need different amounts of sun and how to identify what kind of plant you have.
How to Figure Out How Much Light Your Plant Needs
Plants, just like all living organisms, innately strive for homeostasis, which is also known as the ability to maintain a relatively stable internal state. In the case of plants, sunlight and photosynthesis contribute greatly to their ability to maintain homeostasis. For your plant to be in optimal health, making sure it is getting its necessary dose of lighting.
Thankfully, gardeners have created a labeling system to help owners understand the amount and intensity of light each plant needs. Commonly referred to as plant labels, these terms are used as an easier and faster way to choose a new location for your plant.
- Full shade – These plants require the smallest amount of sunlight in the group. They need less than three hours of sun a day.
- Part shade – Plants that need in between 3 to 6 hours of sunlight each day. They cannot stand the mid-day sun’s glare and must be moved from it.
- Part sun –These plants can survive on 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Unlike the part shade plants, the part sun plants thrive in the mid-day sun.
- Full sun – Plants that require a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight a day to maintain homeostasis.
Using these labels has made gardening easier for everyone. Nature is very complex and usually is not beginner-friendly; however, experts developed this system which simplifies the process.
Almost all modern-day plant store will either have an employee that can assist you or have the plant label information added onto the labels. All of these facilitate figuring out how to best take care of whatever plant you may get.
Where Should I Put My Plant?
All plants fall under one of the four plant labels mentioned above. Let’s walk through where to put each type of plant based on its tag for optimal light.
First come the full sun plants that need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight. One of the most common spots for these plants is the windowsill where it can soak up all the sun pouring in through the windows. Even though that is the preferred location, these plants will do well in any location that has an approximate of six hours of direct sunlight.
Just like the full sun plants, the part sun plants thrive in direct sunlight and need an approximate of three to six hours of direct sunlight to maintain homeostasis. A good spot for plants with this label would be a bright room where it can get the number of hours of sunlight it needs without necessarily being exposed to it all day. These are great plants to place on the dining table or a kitchen counter to liven up the room.
Part shade plants require the same amount of sun as the part sun plants however, they need it at a lower intensity. These plants need to be protected from the harsh rays of the midday sun. These plants work best as decorations for shelves, desks, or fireplace mantels that arent exposed to direct sunlight.
The last and final plant label, the full shade plants require the least amount of sunlight of all four categories. This makes placing these plants tricky to place. These plants are usually placed in the living quarters and bathroom where there is less sunlight than the shared spaces.
Examples Of Plants in Each Plant Label
Since all indoor plants have to be in pots, all the plants on this list do well in pots and are great options to keep in mind when choosing plants for your home.
Full Sun
These plants thrive in full sun pots and made great additions to any room. The bright colors of these sun plants’ petals add a pop of color to their surroundings.
Part Sun
Great way to add a pop of color to sunny areas such as the dining room and the kitchen. Unlike the full sun plants, these part sun plants are succulents rather than flowers and add a tropical feel to bright rooms with their vivid green leaves.
Full Shade
Full shade plants require very little sunlight, so they can be placed in bedrooms and bathrooms where there is usually less sun. While these are also flowers, they are smaller than the ones seen in the full sun plants and are perfect for desks, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
Part Shade
With their more compact shapes, these part shade plants are the final decorative touch the room needed. These part shade plants come in bright colors as well as pastels that can be incorporated discreetly into an office bookshelf or make a bold statement on your mantle.
And of course, for all the Hunger Games fans, the primrose is the perfect desk plant for you and requires very little maintenance.
Other Potential Hazards to Indoor Plants
Even though adequate sunlight plays a big part in the health of a plant, there are several other things that could harm the plant’s health. One of the most common mistakes being improper watering. No matter if it is too much or too little, any variation in the amount of water can damage the plant, even kill it.
When it comes to choosing a location for your plant, there are more aspects to take into consideration than the amount of sunlight there is in the spot. If the plant is placed next to a heater, open window, or air vent, the intense temperature and humidity changes could kill it.
The final precaution you should take when placing your plant is the predators in the area. All parents (including animal parents, of course) know that kids can be the biggest enemy of plants. Placing it somewhere out of reach is the best option to ensure no one gets hurt – not you, not your kid, and definitely not your plant.
Picking an Indoor Plant For Your Home
Indoor plants are used to add personality and life to homes, but it is important to make sure it is getting adequate lighting to maintain a stable state. If the plant is in homeostasis, it will thrive and fill the room with joy and vitality.
Once you determine the amount of sunlight the plant needs by using the plant labels, you must place it accordingly and water it properly. Before long, you’ll have a beautiful, healthy plant that will brighten up your days with the same sunlight it absorbs to survive.