The various foot candle and lux measurements are as follows:
| Light Level | Measurement |
| Direct sunlight outdoors | 40,000-130,000 lux; 4,000+ foot candles |
| Direct sunlight indoors | 20,000-50,000 lux; 2,000-5,000 foot cand ... |
| Bright, indirect light | 10,000-20,000 lux; 1,000-2,000 foot cand ... |
| Low light | 2,500-10,000 lux; 250-1,000 foot candles |
What is bright direct light for plants?
Bright direct light is light that shines directly onto your houseplants. South and west-facing windows will get the largest amount of bright direct light. Usually, plants that need bright direct light will need at least five to six hours of sunlight if not more.
Do Plants need direct or indirect light?
Plants that are marked low light or partial shade or full shade will do well in indirect light. If your plant requires indirect light, you will need to shield them from the harshest rays of the sun. You can do this by putting them from a few inches to a few feet from a window.
What is medium light for plants?
Medium-light is light that you get in a bright room but that is not direct. Medium-light is the level of light plants receive when placed somewhat away from a window. 250 to 1000 foot – candles is considered to be medium light. Plants growing well in medium-light:
Why is light needed for plants?
Light is needed for plants to conduct a chemical process that turns it into sugars using light, water and carbon dioxide. The right light level for plants is so important as too much light might hurt your plant as much as too little.
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What is considered direct light for indoor plants?
If the sun's rays directly hit the plant – such as through a south-facing window – this is considered direct sunlight. If the sun is bright but the rays don't directly hit the plant, this is considered indirect light.
What counts as indirect light for plants?
Indirect light is when something is obstructing the sun's path – such as a window shade, tree branches, or anything else that sits between the plant and the sun. Bright indirect light can also include when the plant is placed in an area that is not directly facing a window.
Are grow lights considered direct light?
Grow lights can sometimes be better than sunlight, even if you have outdoor space too! Some plants prefer indirect or shaded light and wither under full direct sunlight. If you don't have any shaded outdoor space, your plants won't do well outside. Similarly, some plants prefer full, direct light.
What is direct vs indirect sunlight?
Direct sunlight reaches the Earth's surface when there is no cloud cover between the sun and the Earth, while cloud cover causes indirect sunlight to reach the surface. In gardening, sunlight falling directly on the plant is direct sunlight, while indirect sunlight refers to shaded areas.
How do you give plants indirect light?
Indirect sunlight occurs when something in the path of light from the sun diffuses or filters the sunlight before it hits your plants. Examples include sheer curtains, a piece of furniture, a tree outside your window, or even another indoor plant placed in front to protect the lower-light plant.
Is shade considered indirect sunlight?
FULL SHADE: Shade all day. Under Full Shade conditions, plants do not receive any direct exposure to the sun. Under such growing conditions, plants receive only reflected, indirect light. DENSE SHADE: (Also called "Deep Shade", and "Heavy Shade") No direct sunlight all day with very little reflected, indirect light.
Do LED grow lights count as direct sunlight?
It is UV light from the sun that burns plants. Grow lights wouldn't be considered "direct sunlight."
Can any LED light be used as a grow light?
So, can you use any led lights to grow plants? Technically, yes you can use any LED lights to grow plant, but that doesn't ensure your plants will grow healthy or efficiently, as regular LED lights will not contain enough color or light spectrum which plants need to Photosynthesis.
Is a plant light direct or indirect light?
The amount of light needed for a plant to thrive varies based on the type of plant. Many outdoor plants require direct sunlight, while others need partial sun or full shade. For most houseplants, bright, indirect light is optimal. Always check your specific plant's lighting requirements.
Can plants photosynthesize with artificial light?
Yes, photosynthesis can occur in artificial light, provided the plant receives the correct wavelength of the light spectrum. Photosynthesis is the natural process by which plants assimilate atmospheric carbon dioxide to produce sugar in presence of sunlight with the help of chlorophyll.
Do indoor plants need direct sunlight?
Many plants prefer direct sunlight, but this may be hard to get inside a house. Placing a plant in a window might offer enough light, but some houseplants will need supplementing from a grow light (see Lighting Indoor Houseplants).
Is sunlight through a window good for plants?
Can plants photosynthesize through glass? Yes, your indoor plants can photosynthesize even if their light sources passes through a glass windowpane. In fact, your plants aren't particularly discerning about what light source they use, provided the light is sufficient for photosynthesis.
What is indirect light?
If so, this is direct sunlight. Indirect light is when the sun’s rays are reflected off something else first before hitting the plant. An area of i ndirect sunlight will be brightly lit, but there won’t be direct contact with the sun’s rays.
How to control the amount of sunlight a plant receives?
You can control the amount of direct or indirect sunlight your house plants receive by placing them in a window facing the appropriate direction. Understanding the location of windows in your house is the best way to know where a plant should live for optimal growth.
How much sunlight do houseplants need?
Most houseplants thrive with at least four to six hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day. Some sun-loving plants – like succulents and cacti – can handle direct sunlight, while other types require only low levels of light.
How much sunlight does a plant get in a west facing window?
Plants in Western windows receive about four to six hours of bright, direct sunlight each day. The light is considered indirect during the morning and early afternoon hours.
When is direct sunlight in a window?
Direct sunlight in west-facing windows begins in the mid-afternoon and lasts until the sun sets in the evening. The intense afternoon sun raises the temperature in west-facing windows, so plants that scorch easily may need to be placed a few feet away from the glass.
Which window receives the least amount of sunlight?
North-facing windows receive the least amount of light, so keep an eye on plants grown here to make sure they’re getting enough sun. Plants that require direct or bright sunlight should never be grown in north-facing windows . There won’t be enough light for them to thrive.
Can plants in southern windows get direct sun?
South-facing windows can become quite hot, however, so plants that can’t tolerate full or direct sun can scorch or burn during the summer months.
How to protect plants from the sun?
Plants that are marked low light or partial shade or full shade will do well in indirect light. If your plant requires indirect light , you will need to shield them from the harshest rays of the sun. You can do this by putting them from a few inches to a few feet from a window. To filter out more light, you can hang up a sheer curtain.
Do plants need sunlight?
As you can see, there is no right or wrong answer as to which light your plant needs; direct or indirect. It all depends on the plant and where you place it. Every plant needs sunlight for photosynthesis. Even if they are indoor plants if you have some way of taking them outdoors during the day this would be great. Just make sure that it is not too cold outside because they cannot handle extremely cold temperatures.
Direct vs. Indirect Sunlight
It is very easy to determine direct and indirect sunlight outdoors. You simply look where your lawn is sunny versus where your lawn is shaded.
What Type of Plants Need Direct Sunlight?
Some varieties of houseplants that need at least four hours of direct sunlight include:
What Type of Plants Need Indirect Sunlight?
Most other houseplants need varying levels of indirect sunlight. However, remember that indirect sunlight can have varying levels of intensity.
How To Tell If Your Plants Are Getting Too Much Light
There are a few signs that indicate your plant is getting too much light. A great indicator is how quickly the plant and soil dry out.
Are Grow Lights Direct or Indirect Light?
The grow lights used by most hobby plant growers are considered indirect light.
Is Indirect Light the Same as Filtered Light?
Filtered light is achieved when something interferes with the direct sun rays. For houseplants, this is usually a sheer curtain. By filtering the direct light, indirect light is achieved.
Is Indirect Sunlight Enough for Indoor Plants?
Each plant will have different lighting requirements, but for most houseplants, indirect sunlight is plenty of light.
What is indirect light for plants?
What is bright indirect light for plants? Bright Indirect light is when the sun’s rays don’t travel directly from the sun to your plant but, instead, bounce off something first. Plants in bright, indirect light will cast blurry, indistinct shadows.
How to tell if a plant is in direct sunlight?
Shadow Technique: A handy way to tell whether your plant is sitting in direct or indirect sunlight is with the shadow technique which allows you to gauge the type of sunlight based on the appearance of the shadow cast by the plant. A sharply defined shadow with no blurry edges indicates direct light.
How many candles are needed for indirect lighting?
Plants in bright, indirect light will cast blurry, indistinct shadows. Bright indirect light is approximately 800-2000 foot candles. To learn more about the different types of lighting for plants and how you can properly achieve bright, indirect light in your home, read on. It is not always easy to know whether your plant is receiving ...
What is the best way to measure the amount of light a plant is receiving?
If you want a more accurate reading on the amount of light your plant is receiving, the best thing to do is use a light meter, which we will explore next. Light Meter: A light meter is a tool that measures the intensity of the light that is currently shining with a unit of measurement called foot-candles.
How to tell if a plant is getting too much light?
Too Much Light: One of the main symptoms of a plant receiving too much light is the leaves becoming burnt. This looks like brown spots and scorched leaves. If your plant is being burned, be sure to move it into an area of lower light immediately.
Why is the area still light?
The area is still light because the sun reflects off or is refracted through other objects in the environment before hitting the plant directly. For example, light that shines through a curtain or a plant that is sitting on a shaded porch is in indirect light.
How does distance affect light?
The distance from the window also influences the intensity of the light with the intensity lowering the further away from the window the plant is placed. Other factors influence light that are less within your control including the seasons, time of day, and weather patterns that obstruct the sun.
What does it mean when a plant is in indirect light?
Plants in bright, indirect light will project blurred, unclear shadows (Also known as soft shadows). You can also place your hand close to your plant, and if you get a faint shadow, then the plant is getting bright indirect light. If you get a hard shadow, your plant is getting direct sunlight.
When does indirect light occur?
Indirect light occurs when sunlight passes through a medium like leaves of a tree, window, or reflects from another surface before reaching a plant.
How many lux does a bright office have?
Usually, a bright office has roughly 400 lux of illumination. Also, bright indirect light is about 800-2000 foot candles and differs based on the position of the plant. Factors aspects like the time of day, outdoors or indoors, and which way the meter is facing can also affect the readings you’ll get.
How much sunlight do plants need?
Even though sunlight is essential to all plants, they don’t all need over 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Each plant species’ light requirements are different.
What plants need low light?
Plants with a preference for this type of low light are parlor palm, bird’s nest fern, arrowhead vine, and dumb cane. South-facing windows: Sunlight from south-facing windows is hot and bright for many houseplants, with the exemption of succulents and cacti like tiger aloe, kalanchoe, or jade plant.
What is the difference between light intensity and light duration?
Yet, there is a difference between light intensity and light duration. Light duration is the hours a plant is exposed to light daily. In contrast, the light intensity is the capacity of light per unit area , commonly measured in foot candles or Lux, and each of these affects a plant differently.
Why do plants look dull?
Plants exposed to extreme light may show dull leaves, brown ends, or patches. Insufficient light regularly causes the plant to look long and thin as it stretches towards the closes source of sunlight. To make sure your plants receive enough sunlight, rotate the pots and vases frequently.
Direct vs. Indirect Light Indoors
Importance of Direction
- You can control the amount of direct or indirect sunlight your house plants receive by placing them in a window facing the appropriate direction. Understanding the location of windows in your house is the best way to know where a plant should live for optimal growth.
Filtering Direct Light Through Windows
- Can you turn direct sunlight through a window into indirect sunlight? Yes! If necessary, it is possible to filter direct light and turn it into more indirect lightfor your plants. If all you have available is a south-facing window, for example, but you want to grow moderate- or low-light plants, try these tips: 1. Place a sheer curtain over the window.Use a curtain that allows the sun t…
Related Questions
- Do plants need direct sunlight or just light?Again, it depends on the variety. Most houseplants thrive with at least four to six hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day. Some sun-loving plants – like succulents and cacti – can handle direct sunlight, while other types require only low levels of light. How do you know if your plants aren’t getti...