Light and Houseplants
Indoor Plants Flowers
Good light for your indoor house plants is as important for your house plant's health as is proper watering for indoor house plants. You have some control over elements of your tropical houseplants care, including adequate light, proper temperatures, relative humidity and, to some extent, air quality. Keep in mind that watering for your house plants is directly related to light, temperature and other environmental conditions.
Light for Indoor Plants Flowers
It would be wonderful to be able to keep and maintain your indoor tropical plants in a well lit greenhouse where you have control over the light your potted plants receive. It is easy to provide the correct light in a greenhouse for optimal growth. Most of us do not have this option and have to make use of artificial light or make the best of our homes natural light.
Good light is essential for a plant's health. Photosynthesis cannot take place without a certain amount of light. Lower light means slower growth, less water and a reduced need for nutrients. When placed in a situation where the light is less than optimal, your indoor plants will not thrive, becoming thinner over time.
If you have large windows, skylights or a sunroom, it will be much easier to keep your house plants in a good light situation. However, when keeping tropical plants inside your home, it is often not possible to give them the optimal light that they need. If a compromise must be made, most plants will adapt to lower light situations though they will not be as full, lush and healthy in the long term with reduced light levels.
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There are three elements to consider regarding the light that your houseplants receive. These are the light quality, the duration of the light and the intensity of the light. Without the proper amount of light, indoor houseplants can not thrive and grow.
Indoor Houseplants
Light Quality
Light quality refers to the light waves coming from the light source. The sun will provide the full spectrum of light waves that plants require and for that reason is preferable to artificial light sources. Artificial light can be used and the most often used substitute for natural light is fluorescent lighting or special full spectrum lights.
Indoor Houseplants
Light Duration
The duration of light is just as it sounds, the number of hours of light a plant receives per day. The day length, or photo period, regulates photosynthesis and other plant functions. Generally, the hours of light per day, or light duration, should be somewhere between 8 to 16 hours for most indoor houseplants.
Indoor Houseplants
Light Intensity
The light intensity is its brightness and is often measured in foot-candles. If you have a light meter you can measure this and if not, it may be helpful to know that the average indoor light intensity can vary from 15-500 foot-candles. Most house plants are going to do okay somewhere between 75 and 250 foot-candles. Flowering house plants are generally going to need to be at the higher end of that range.
Home Garden Plants Flowers
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Variegated Peace Lily
Variegated Peace Lily is a beautiful plant with glossy, green leaves and tall white flowers or spathes. The leaves have white variegation. Great for your home or as a gift plant.
Live House Plants
Costa Farms Live House Plants (6 Pack), Easy Grow Houseplants, Potted in Indoor Garden Plant Pots, Grower's Choice Clean Air Purifier Planter Set
Fruit Fly Gnat Traps
36 Pack Sticky Traps for Plants - Trap for Fungus Gnat, Fruit Fly Traps for Mosquito and Bug Indoor & Outdoor, Pest Insect Catcher Killer
Placing your indoor plants as close to a natural source of light as possible without exposing them to hot, direct sunlight is preferable. If necessary, you can group them together near a window, under a skylight or in a sunroom out of any direct hot sunlight.
Many office buildings have fluorescent lighting only and most tropical indoor plants can be maintained under artificial light for quite some time. There are other types of artificial light and the cost of those types of light sources has become quite affordable. Natural light from the sun is a great way to help insure that your houseplants are healthy and thriving but supplement with artificial light if needed.
Indoor plants vary in the amount of light they require. Plants that grow more slowly tend to tolerate lower levels of light. The more light a plant receives, the faster it grows and water and nutrient usage increase accordingly. While most house plants do quite well without any direct sun, placing them close to a good, natural or artificial light source will be quite beneficial for them. More about house plants and flowers below.
If you need some help with the general care of your indoor plants and flowers, read about basic houseplant care. You can also email questions or requests for help identifying your mysterious indoor plant!
Plants & Flowers
Buy Browse Bonsai Trees Plants
A bonsai tree or plant for indoors or outdoors makes a great gift for any gardener. Treat that special person, or yourself, to a beautiful bonsai. May earn commission.
Best Spring Flowers Home Garden
Wonder what types of flowers to plant in Spring? Here are some ideas for flowering plants for your garden, yard, patio, or deck.
151 Flowers Pictures & Care
List of 151 most common flower types in the U.S. with pictures and information on how much sun your flower will need.
Easy House Plants
Sansevieria Plant
Sansevieria plant does not need much care. A great indoor plant for anyone. Will do best in very bright light, even some morning sun. More on Sansevieria care.
Peace Lily Plant
Peace Lily is an easy houseplant to grow but will wilt quickly if let to dry too much. Will produce white spathes if light is adequate. Peace Lily plant has white flowers.
Pothos Plant
Pothos is a popular house plant and will trail over the edge of the pot or climb a trellis or pole. Medium to bright light is best. Easy care house plant.
Aglaonema Plants
Aglaonema house plants are great for the home or office. Can be used as a table plant or floor plant, depending on the size. Easy to grow indoors.
Bromeliad Plant
Bromeliad plants make the list, Guzmania and Aechmea bromeliads in particular. Use bromeliad for a spot where you want to add some lasting color.
Hoya Houseplant
Hoya is a vining type of plant. Great for use as a table or shelf plant or display as a hanging plant. All green or variegated, fragrant flowers.
Home Gardening
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How to grow cantaloupe and honeydew melons. Planting, care, watering, light and more for great tasting melons right from your garden.
How To Grow Blueberries in Your Home Garden
How to grow blueberries. Grow your own blueberries for a delicious harvest from your own backyard garden, year after year.
How To Grow Blackberries in Pots or Beds
How to have a bountiful harvest of delicious blackberries. Planting, care, watering, light, and more for growing blackberries in beds or containers.
How To Grow Strawberries
How to grow strawberries. Choosing, planting, care, watering, light and more for the strawberry plants in your home garden.
Cold Weather Plants
Home & Garden
Cold weather plants. Evergreen, semi-tropical plants, and colorful succulents, take a look at these suggestions to find the right exterior plant for cold weather for your home garden.
Home Gardening
Tomatoes
One of the plants home gardeners often grow is tomatoes. Learn about choosing, planting, care, watering, light and more for the tomatoes in your home garden.
Bromeliad House Plants
Aechmea
Aechmea fasciata bromeliad plant. The Aechmea fasciata and primera are the Aechmea bromeliads most often used as house plant. Pink flower.
Neoregelia
Neoregelia bromeliads are often used for the different colored foliage. Usually shorter than other bromeliads with much less obvious flowers.
Guzmania
Guzmania bromeliad plants. The foliage is much the same but flower color can be nearly white, yellow, orange, red, purple and more.
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Home and Garden
Houseplant Care Question?
Questions about your indoor house plants or plant care problems? You can send a house plant question, free of charge, no sign ups, registration or log in required!
Before you send a houseplant care question, please be sure to read this information on watering your indoor house plants, how to help keep your your indoor house plants root system healthy and lighting for your indoor house plants and flowers. These are most important for the health of your house plants and this is some of the information I will refer you to if you send an indoor house plant or flower care question.
You can post comments, find answers to plant care questions, or share some of your own plant wisdom on our plant care Facebook Page, Twitter page or visit my plant care blog. You can also find plant pictures, gardening ideas, and more at our plant and flower Pinterest page.
Thanks for visiting and come back soon as houseplant care information, pictures and more are being added all of the time. I hope that your indoor tropical house plants and all of your plants and flowers are happy, green and growing because that is why I started this indoor house plant and flower care website, PlantAndFlowerInfo.com.
Common House Plants Flowers Care Guide
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Other Plant Flower Links
Best Indoor Plants ⚘ Indoor House Plants Pictures Names ⚘ Water Indoor Plants ⚘ Lighting Indoor Plants ⚘ Bonsai Plants ⚘ Common House Plants ⚘ Indoor Palm Plant Care ⚘ Orchids ⚘ Pets & Plants ⚘ Buy Tropical Orchids Orchid Care ⚘ Plant Flower Gifts ⚘ Buy Plants Flowers ⚘ House Plant Guide ⚘ How To Books ⚘ Flowers Plants Poster Prints ⚘ Orchid Art & Posters ⚘ Gardening Calendars ⚘ Greenhouse Books-Gardening