Your houseplant may seem fine and you’ve finally worked out the right watering schedule, but upon closer look, there could be subtle signs your plant is giving you to let you know it’s not getting enough light. Sunlight is food for plants, and if the light is too weak or too dim, then the plant will not flourish like it could. Here at Charlotte’s top florist, The Blossom Shop we’ve assembled a simple guide for you to consult to make sure your plant is getting plenty of light and what to do if it’s not. Surprisingly, moving your plant as close to a bright window as possible may not be the best solution.

Tell-Tale Sign Your Plant Requires More Sun

Leggy

A plant with long, skinny stems and a scarce amount of leaves is referred to as “leggy” and is a clear sign of insufficient light. The stems are reaching for more light as they grow tall and thin with wide spaces between adjacent leaves. This results in a skinny, leggy-looking plant instead of lush and full.

Small Leaves

In an effort to conserve energy when a plant is not getting enough light, it will grow significantly smaller leaves.  If you compare new growth to leaves that were grown when the plant was healthy and see a significant size difference, then move your plant to a better lit area.

Leaning

Plants will do what they need to for survival and reaching towards the sun to get enough food is one of them. However, this causes the plant to lean and look lopsided or one-sided. To ensure the entire plant gets plenty of sun, place it in an area with better all-around light and give it a quarter-turn every time you water it.

Abnormal Leaf Color

Leaves are supposed to be rich green color, but if there is not enough light, they will turn pale green, yellow, and then eventually drop off. For plants with variegated leaves, instead of being colorful, they will revert to an all green color in order to absorb enough sunlight as possible. Changes in leaf color are a sure sign of inadequate light and more is needed for them to be as colorful as possible.

Slowed or No Growth

New plant growth should be evident, especially during the spring and summer months. If your plant appears to be growing very slowly or not at all, place it in a sunnier spot.  As light is food for plants, plenty of light equals plenty of robust and lush growth.

Getting the Light Right

If you recognize any of the above signs in your plants, then they are not getting enough light. To discover the best lighting for your plants may require moving them around to different areas of your home and observing the results.

If you don’t have the floor space to get your plants proper lighting, then try elevating them with a hanging planter. Or, purchase a grow light and keep them where they are. Grow lights will make sure your plants get plenty of light no matter where they are located in your home.