You may think you’ve found the perfect, well-lit spot for your new houseplant, but if it’s not growing like you thought it would, chances are it’s not getting enough light. There are noticeable marks and other signs plants demonstrate which let you know it needs more, or less, light. If you think you’ve got the watering schedule down, then Birmingham’s best florist, Norton’s Florist wants you to check for any of the below indications your plant gives your regarding its light source.
The Clues Your Plants Have Poor Lighting
Leggy
Leggy is used to describe plants whose stems have gotten tall, skinny, and scarce. So much so that they look more like legs then a lush, thriving plants and it represents insufficient lighting. Another symptom of leggy plants is large spaces between adjacent plants that contribute to the lean and leggy look.
Smaller Leaves
If you see the new growth of your plant has smaller than normal leaves, then your plant is not acquiring sufficient energy to grow them to full size. Compare new growth to older leaves to see if there is a dramatic difference.
Leaning
Plants will turn their leaves, branches, and stems toward the light when they are not getting enough all around. This will be obvious in their shape which will cause them to lean or become lopsided. Before it gets too late to fix, move your plant to an area with more light and give it a quarter turn every time you water so all the leaves receive equal amounts of light.
Abnormal Leaf Color
Chlorophyll is what provides plants with their green color and allows the process of photosynthesis to occur. When a plant does not get enough sunlight, it stops producing chlorophyll which causes the leaves to become pale green, yellow, and then fall off. With variegated plants, the leaves will become all green losing their lovely colors in an effort to absorb as much as it can.
No New Growth
It is expected for plants to have slow growth during winter months, but if your plant is showing no signs of growth or very little growth during the spring and summer months, then inadequate light could be a factor. Ample light is what gives plants the energy to thrive and flourish.
Getting the Light Right
Context is everything — there may be other issues causing some of the above signs, so you may need to perform a little trial and error to discover the best lighting conditions for your plants.
If you are unable to get your plant to a spot with adequate lighting, then pick up a grow light. This will provide your plant with plenty of light no matter where it’s located.
