As the amount and intensity of sunlight available to your plants decreases each day we must be aware of the effects of low light on plants. Lack of sufficient light will cause growth to slow down and the plants to become more spindly and paler in color. Variegated plants will start to lose their variegation and turn green in color. A side effect which may occur is over watering. As a plant slows down or stops growing it needs less water, and we must compensate for this reduction in need by reducing the frequency of watering.

If the above mentioned symptoms begin to show up on your plants, you may want to move them to a location with more light. If this is not possible, be careful not to over water or over fertilize your plants.

When selecting a plant for your home remember that some plants require more light than others. Flowering plants usually require sunlight or bright light for a good part of the day. Even though foliage plants will thrive with less light, they should be placed in a spot where the light is bright enough to permit reading. Fluorescent or artificial lighting works well with compact low growing plants such as African Violets.

If you need a plant which will grow under low light conditions you might consider trying one of the plants in the Chinese Evergreen group. These include the Chinese Evergreen, the Variegated Chinese Evergreen and the Pewter Plant. They prefer a moist organic soil and normal home temperatures.

A group of plants which will survive at a medium low light intensity include: the Philodendrons, Dieffenbachias, Scheffleras, Ficus, Ferns and Sansieverias. A medium low light intensity is equivalent to being in front of a north window (summer) or east window in the winter.

The Philodendrons, whether vining or climbing are very easy to grow. They prefer an organic soil kept moist but not wet and normal home temperatures. The Dieffenbachia, Schefflera and Ficus, which can all grow into large house plants, should be grown in regular well drained potting and allowed to dry out fairly well between watering. Over watering can result in root rot. The ferns require a high humidity with soil kept moist but not wet and cool home temperatures. The Sansieveria or Sword Plants are very easy to grow but won't tolerate low temperatures or excessive moisture.

This page was last updated April 2003

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