Indirect sunlight happens when something blocks, diffuses, or filters the sun’s rays before they reach your plants. You’ve likely come across the term ‘indirect light’ while researching or buying plants — maybe even in our own care instructions. But what does ‘bright indirect light’ actually mean? Since different plants have different light needs, it’s important to understand the difference between direct and indirect light. In this post, we’ll break it all down so you can make sure your plant gets the right kind of light to thrive.
What is direct light for plants?
Before we can define indirect light, we need to talk about what direct light is. Your plants will get direct light when they are fully exposed to the sun’s rays without any filter — for example, sitting on a windowsill with no curtain or shade. Plants placed on a windowsill facing south, west, or east (with no obstructions) will most likely receive direct sunlight for some part of the day.
What is indirect light for plants
Indirect light is when your plant receives sunlight that’s filtered or partially shaded — for example, through a sheer curtain, or by placing the plant near, but not directly in, the sun’s rays. When it comes to indirect light for plants, there are generally three levels: bright, medium, and low. Let’s break them down:
What does bright indirect light mean?
Bright indirect light can be achieved by placing your plant in a room with lots of natural light — for example, a south-facing room — but making sure the sunlight is filtered, or that the plant sits in a spot where direct rays don’t hit. This could mean placing it in a corner the sun can’t reach, behind furniture, or just far enough from the window where the rays are softer.
But what plants thrive in bright indirect light? Here are our recommendations:
What is medium indirect light for a plant?
A medium light plant will do well in east or west-facing rooms that get direct sunlight only in the morning or late afternoon. Keep in mind that evening sunlight from west-facing windows, though short-lived, can still be very strong. So even near a west-facing window, filtering the afternoon sun or placing the plant where the rays don’t directly reach is a good idea.
For medium indirect light, we would recommend these plants:
What is low indirect sunlight?
Plants that thrive in low indirect light can be placed near north-facing windows, where they’ll never receive direct sun. East-facing rooms can also work for low light plants, since morning light is gentler compared to the stronger rays from west or south-facing windows. You’ll also find low light conditions in rooms with few windows or windows that are often covered by curtains or blinds — like bathrooms or shaded corners.
Good houseplants for low indirect light:
Understanding light changes by season and location
We hope you now have a better understanding of what indirect light is, how to achieve it, and the different levels of it. Also, keep in mind that light conditions change with the seasons and where you live. For example, light intensity drops in the winter months, and if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, north-facing windows will be the brightest spots in your home.
