# Understanding Plant Light Requirements Light is the most important factor in plant health, yet it's the most commonly misunderstood. Let's clear things up. ## Types of Light ### Direct Sunlight - Unobstructed rays hitting the plant - South and west-facing windows in New Zealand - Best for: succulents, cacti, citrus, herbs - Caution: Can burn tropical plants ### Bright Indirect Light - Near a window but not in direct sun - Behind a sheer curtain - Best for: monstera, fiddle leaf fig, calathea - The sweet spot for most houseplants ### Medium Light - A few metres from a window - North-facing windows - Best for: pothos, dracaena, Chinese evergreen - Still enough for many common plants ### Low Light - Far from windows, hallways, bathrooms - Best for: ZZ plant, snake plant, cast iron plant - Few plants truly thrive here – most just survive ## How to Assess Your Light 1. **The shadow test:** Place your hand between the light source and a white surface - Sharp, defined shadow = bright light - Soft, faint shadow = medium light - No shadow = low light 2. **The newspaper test:** Can you comfortably read a newspaper? That's enough light for most plants. ## Signs of Wrong Light ### Too Much Light - Bleached or faded leaves - Brown, crispy patches - Soil dries extremely quickly - Wilting despite adequate water ### Too Little Light - Leggy, stretched growth toward light - Small, pale new leaves - Slow or no growth - Dropping lower leaves - Variegated plants losing their patterns ## NZ-Specific Considerations In New Zealand (Southern Hemisphere): - **North-facing windows** get the most light - **South-facing windows** get the least direct light - The UV index is higher here, so even indirect light can be intense - During winter, consider supplementing with grow lights Remember: you can always add more light with grow lights, but you can't easily reduce natural light (other than moving the plant).