How Light Actually Works Indoors

21 Aug

One of the biggest myths I see floating around the plant world - and one I wholeheartedly believed at the start - is that some plants “do well in low light.”

We all want it to be true, right? That you can pop a Peace Lily in a dark corner and it’ll magically thrive. Or that snake plants love a dim hallway.

But here’s what I’ve learned: low light is not no light. And it’s rarely enough.

Even “low-light tolerant” plants are just survivors - not thrivers. They’ll stretch, stall, and slowly decline if the light isn’t right. And sometimes, we mistake their slow death for a sign of hardiness.

When I started paying attention to the way light moves through my home, everything shifted. I began sitting in rooms at different times of day, noticing where the sun hit at 9am, 12pm, 4pm. I started holding my hand up to the light to see how strong the shadows were (sharper shadow = brighter light).

Suddenly, I wasn’t just placing plants for aesthetic. I was matching them to conditions they could genuinely thrive in.

One thing that made a big difference for me - learning to move my plants with the seasons.
As light shifts in winter - becoming lower, weaker, or landing in different places - spots that worked beautifully in summer can suddenly become too dim. Don’t be afraid to relocate your plants to brighter positions during the colder months. A small move can make a big difference in how well they cope when it’s cold.

In slowing down to observe light, I found myself slowing down in other areas of life too. Watching light became a daily ritual performed in quiet observation. It made me more present. More attuned to the conditions in my space. More in tune with my plants’ needs.

Now, before I bring any new plant home, I ask: