Hey everyone, I'm curious if any of you in the northern hemisphere have houseplants thriving without the use of grow lights. I rely on these lights since my apartment in southern Alberta doesn't get enough sunlight—I've only got windows on one side, and my living room has a covered balcony, limiting natural light even more. Is it possible to have a good setup for plants to receive ample sunlight without using grow lights in colder places like Canada?
5 Answers
I don’t use grow lights at all. Just find some great south-facing windows to maximize sunlight for your plants!
I live just below the Arctic Circle and have plenty of plants without grow lights! I keep them all in a room with big south-facing windows—also got a west-facing one that helps in the summer.
I’m also in Canada and manage without grow lights! I just keep a shelf by my sunniest window and place all my plants there. Works pretty well for me!
I'm from Michigan and keep my plants in east and north windows. My few light-loving plants that need more sun are in my kids' rooms with south or west light. Winter can be rough, but at least they don’t totally die off. I even had to cut back a huge monstera to give it more space!
I live in the Alps and I'm lucky to have huge east and south-facing windows, so no grow lights for me! I'm considering them for my light-hungry plants though—maybe disguise them as regular house lights?
That's a clever idea! Sometimes you have to get creative to ensure your plants get the light they need.
Totally agree! I can't get enough light for my cacti and succulents either, so it definitely affects the plants I choose.