Our homes are incredibly dark.

It’s important to state this right away. It is easy to believe, on a sunny day, that our house is so brightly lit. However, even on the brightest day, a home is still dark compared to the outdoors.

We are very misled by interior designers on television and social media to believe that plants can grow where they cannot.

Interior designers love to place gorgeous plants in the middle of rooms, in dark corners, and at the center of kitchen islands.

But the reality is that plants are placed in those positions during the staging process to produce temporary pictures or videos. There is no way a live plant could survive there long-term without supplemental lighting.

We don’t know that as viewers, though.

Many believe that placing plants where they look nice is okay. I’m sorry to say it rarely works out.

What is ample sunlight for your houseplant?

If you want your plant to stay happy and healthy, it typically needs to be within a couple of feet of a window. (Unless the window is very large or the plant is receiving supplemental grow light).

There are exceptions to every rule in houseplant care and every other hobby, but generally speaking, nearly all common houseplants will be happy if you put them right in front of a window.

How to choose a window:

1. Is the window facing north?
   North-facing windows receive no direct sunlight throughout the day and, as a result, have the hardest time supporting plant life. If at all possible, choose a different window.
   • If you aren’t sure what direction the window is facing, use the compass app on your phone, installed by default
2. Is the window covered by trees, a building directly next door, an overhang, or a porch?
   • If so, these obstructions are likely to greatly reduce the amount of light coming through your window. If at all possible, choose a different window.
3. Is the window extremely drafty, particularly in the bitter cold?
   • If so, you may want to choose a warmer window or pull your plant back just a bit to avoid getting too much draft and cold.
4. Is the window right in front of a vent that is consistently blowing cold and/or hot air?
   • You may want to use something to redirect the air away from your plant. Hot and cold drafts can take a toll on plants.

Okay, hopefully you’ve found a window that seems like a good enough fit for your new plant.

Let’s keep learning and move on to talk a little bit more about light and watering, so you know when your plant needs water and how to give it that water.

Happy growing!

Click here to continue to Part 3: How to water your new plant (and feel good about it).

Want more in the Start Here Series? Check these out:

• You Can Learn How to Grow Houseplants. Start Here, #1
• How to easily ensure your houseplant will get enough sunlight. Start Here, #2
• How to water your new plant (and feel good about it). Start Here, #3
• Fertilizing a houseplant seems complicated, but it’s not. I’ll prove it. Start Here, #4
• Do you need to repot your houseplant? And if so, what then? Start Here, #5 (Available on or after 3/27)
• What about pests? What does a beginner need to know? Start Here, #6 (Coming Soon)