I've been diving into the lighting needs for houseplants and learned that many sources suggest they need at least 1000 lux to thrive. I'm curious about how much this really matters in practice. Right now, my plants are getting about 200-700 lux most days, since I have south-facing windows but it's winter and pretty dark. In summer, they might get enough light, yet they seem to be doing well with new leaves and healthy colors. That said, how crucial is it to meet those light requirements if my plants appear to be thriving?
3 Answers
I'm no pro, but based on what I’ve seen, tropical plants typically do well with around 200-400 foot candles (fc), and they thrive around 600-1000 fc. Using a light meter app really helps! If your leaves are staying healthy and not shrinking, you likely don’t need to stress about it. Just keep an eye on them!
It really depends on what you’re trying to achieve with your plants. If you're just enjoying them, it’s totally fine to let nature do its thing! Sure, if you want them to grow faster or look their best, you might consider getting some grow lights, but it’s all about your personal goals for them.
You kind of already found your answer! If they're growing well and you don’t see any negative signs, you’re probably good to go. Of course, they'll grow bigger and healthier with more light, but if things seem fine now, it’s okay to relax a bit.