Choosing the right plant for your light

The number one reason a plant struggles isn't watering, it's light. Before you fall in love with a plant, spend a day noticing what the room actually gives you.

Low light

Rooms with small windows or north-facing exposures. Snake plants, ZZ plants, and pothos will not just survive here, they'll look good doing it.

Medium light

Bright-ish most of the day but no direct sun on the leaves. This is where most of our plants are happiest: philodendrons, calatheas, and peace lilies.

Bright light

A south-facing window or a spot that gets direct sun for hours. Bird of paradise, fiddle leaf figs, and jade plants drink this up. Move them gradually, leaves sunburn just like we do.

• Hold your hand over the spot at midday. A sharp shadow means bright light, a soft one means medium, barely any shadow means low.
• Rotate plants a quarter-turn each week so they grow evenly.
• Dust the leaves monthly; dirty leaves can't take in light.

Not sure what you have? Bring a photo of the room to the nursery and we'll match you with the right plant.