If there’s no evidence of significant growth on any of your houseplants in the last few months, then it’s likely not receiving enough light. Just like us, plants need food, air, and water to survive and their food comes to them in the form of light. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants soak up the light of the sun and convert it to sugar which feeds the plants so it can grow and flourish. A lack of growth and other indicators within the plant tell you if it needs more light – as long as you know what to look for. Everett’s top florist, Stadium Flowers wants to help you feed your plants an adequate amount of light so it can thrive. Continue reading to discover the tips and tricks for getting plenty of food to your wonderful plant.

Hints Plants Give You About the Amount of Light They Are Getting

Leggy

Plants with long, skinny stems are referred to as being “leggy” and they represent plant that desperately needs more light. Leggy stems also have wide spaces between adjacent leaves. This space is called the internode and is small in healthy plants. Large internodes indicate signs of a light-starved plant.

Small Leaves

Lack of light means a plant isn’t getting enough energy to grow its leaves to its proper size. In order to conserve what little energy it is getting, a plant will grow smaller leaves. Compare new growth to older growth to determine if there is a stark contrast in size.

Leaning

A lopsided or leaning plant is a sure sign that the entire plant is not getting adequate sunlight. Plants will grow and stretch to received adequate light which could result in a 1-sided plant. To avoid, give your plant a quarter turn every time you water it to ensure the entire plant is getting good lighting.

Abnormal Leaf Color

Pale green or yellow leaves that begin to drop off are symptoms of poor lighting. Without proper lighting, chlorophyll, which gives a leaf its green color, can’t carry out the photosynthesis process which keeps leaves green and healthy. Also, if your plant has variegated coloring, in an effort to absorb as much light as possible, the colored leaves will revert to all green.

Slowed Growth

During the spring and summer plants should show a significant amount of growth. If yours does not, then it could signal inadequate lighting. No new growth of stunted growth are signs that a plant is not receiving enough energy from light to grow lush and big.

Getting the Light Right

As it is possible for a plant to receive too much light also, resulting in scorched tips or “burnt” patches on the leaves, getting the lighting right for a plant may be tricky. Only sun-worshipping plants should be in direct lighting for 6 or more hours a day. These would be cacti, succulents, and palm plants. Otherwise, indirect bright light works best for most other plants. Just realize that every foot away from a window that a plant is moved to is exponentially decreased light for the plant. You may not see it, but the plant will.

Try out different sunny places in your home and if you’re unable to move your plant to a better lit spot, then get a grow light, which will allow you to place your plant anywhere. Grow lights will ensure your plant gets enough light to remain healthy and happy.