How Much Light Do You Actually Have?

Light is the number one thing that decides whether a plant thrives or just survives. Here’s an easy way to read your space.

Try the shadow test

On a sunny day, hold your hand about a foot above the spot where your plant will live.

• Crisp, sharp shadow: bright light. Great for succulents, cacti, and fiddle leaf figs.
• Soft shadow with fuzzy edges: medium light. Most tropical plants, like monsteras and philodendrons, love this.
• Barely there shadow: low light. Try a snake plant, ZZ plant, or pothos.

A few quick tips

• South and west windows usually get the most light. North windows get the least.
• Light drops off fast. A plant five feet from a window gets a lot less than one right next to it.
• Sheer curtains are great for softening harsh afternoon sun.

Not sure what you’ve got? That’s literally what our plantscaping evaluations are for. We’ll check your light and match you with plants that will love it there.