Understanding Sunlight

Not all plants need the same amount of lighting, but all plants require some kind of natural (or natural-simulating) light! We have provided a key to help you understand different terms you’ll hear in reference to lighting. If you have purchased a Kokedama with us, use the plant care guide that was attached to your plant in order to understand the light requirements for your specific plant.

☀️ Little- No Light: Look for areas or rooms in your home that have no windows, or have windows that are being blocked from the outside, either by a tree or a building.

☀️☀️ Low Light: For low light, you’ll want to look for areas in your living space that are either near an East or North facing window, or are in the dark corners of bright rooms. Don’t forget, low light does not mean no light!

☀️☀️☀️Medium-Low Light: Medium-low light refers to anywhere in your home that receives neither direct sunlight nor little-no sunlight.

☀️☀️☀️☀️ Medium Light: You can typically find this light in the center of a room that contains either a North or East facing window, providing light. Ideally, plants in these medium-light spaces will receive a few hours of direct light each day.

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ Medium-High Light: Medium-high light refers to anywhere in your home that receives either direct or indirect light, or is in close vicinity to bright light, whether direct or indirect.

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ Bright Indirect Light (Diffused Light): This light can be found filtered through a South facing window (the brightest window in your home!), or even directly to the side of any South facing window. Diffused light can mean it is filtered through frosted glass or a thin, sheer curtain. Plants in these spaces should enjoy about 6 hours of light a day.

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ Bright Light (Direct Sun): You can find bright, direct sunlight at windows in your home that are South facing, meaning they receive the most sunlight out of any other window in your living space. These are the brightest areas in your home! Plants in these spaces should enjoy about 6 hours of light a day.

Sunlight and Windows

**Note that these light conditions only apply to countries in the North-West Hemisphere**

Why should I put my plants in a South facing window? South facing windows have the benefit of being in sunlight (either direct or indirect) all day! Plants in South facing windows receive about 4 hours of direct sunlight day, making them a fantastic spot for your plants that require bright direct light!

— West facing window? West facing windows are ideal for plants that require medium light, as they receive direct sun in the afternoon only, when the sun’s intensity has depleted. Plants in these windows will receive bright, indirect light during the rest of the day!

— East facing window? The perfect plants for an East facing window are ones that require bright indirect light, or even ones that require medium lighting. These windows receive direct (while not the most intense!) sunlight in the early morning, and enjoy bright indirect light throughout the rest of the day.

—North facing window? If you’re looking for a plant to place in your North facing window, keep in mind that these windows receive no direct light! While they do enjoy filtered light throughout the day, this light is very low intensity and therefore can only support plants that require either low light, or little to no light.

Grow Lights

Do you have a plant, but don’t think you can accommodate its’ need for light in your living space? Don’t worry, there are other options! Grow lights are a great option for dark rooms or apartments/ townhomes that don’t receive an adequate amount of sunlight, whether direct or indirect. An increased interest in houseplants has made grow lights more accessible than ever, with wide varieties in regards to light intensity, color, and brightness. We recommend going to your local hardware store, or looking online!