Beginners often pick a plant they love, then hunt for somewhere to put it. It usually works better the other way round: look at the spot first, then choose a plant that suits it.
The reason is that light is the hardest thing to change indoors. You can adjust watering in a day, but the brightness near a particular window is mostly fixed. Extension guides describe success with indoor plants as depending largely on matching plants to the light you actually have.
Other conditions matter as well: temperature, humidity and air movement. A spot beside an air-conditioner vent, a hot window that gets afternoon sun or a dim corridor each suit different plants. So before buying, stand in the spot and note how bright it is, whether direct sun reaches it and for how long, and whether it gets blasts of hot or cold air.
Unit 2 shows you how to judge light properly. Until then, keep in mind that a spot where an object casts little or no shadow on a bright day is low light, and only the most tolerant plants will manage there.
Key points
- Choose the spot first, then the plant.
- Light is the hardest condition to change indoors.
- Also note temperature swings and drafts from vents or doors.
Try this
Pick one spot where you would like a plant. Around midday, note whether direct sun reaches it and whether an air vent or door is nearby.
Check yourself
Read more in the reference
Sources
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