Does the sunlight direction matter for your houseplant?
Sunlight is something all plants need in some way or another. Some plants love a southern-facing window. But what does that mean? In this plant care guides, we're going to look at whether it matters if you're placing your plants in a southern-facing window rather than the other directions.
Have you ever thought about what type of sunlight your houseplants like best? Sunlight is something all plants need in some way or another. Some plants don't need as much sunlight or can survive in low-light places. But all plants need at least some sunlight to grow and stay healthy.
Sunlight gives your plant the much needed energy to grow big and strong. Some plants even use this energy to turn sunlight into purified air.
If you've followed a plant care guide before, you might have seen comments about placing a plant in "a west-facing window".
If you're just starting out, this might be confusing and you might wonder if it really matters what direction your window is facing.
Why does it matter if you place a plant in a north or west-facing window?
In this plant care guide, we're going to look at whether it matters what type of sunlight exposure your plant gets and what the difference is between the four directions.
These are all topics we're going to cover in this guide, including the 4 different types of light from each direction:
Let's learn a little more about sunlight!
A quick note about sunlight directions
Before we begin it's good to keep one thing in mind: while north, south, east, and west is the same everywhere, the types of light you get in north- and south-facing windows is different in the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere.
In the whichever direction points to the equator gives you the most light. So for the USA, this would be a south-facing window, but for Australia, this is the north-facing window.
I live in the northern hemisphere, so a south-facing window gives me the most sunlight. So if you read a plant care guide and the author mentions placing a plant in a south-facing window and they're from the USA, make sure to adjust this if you live in the southern hemisphere.
In this plant care guide, I'll make sure to mention both the northern and southern hemisphere to make it easier to apply to your houseplants.
Let's get started with a north-facing window!
North-facing windows
In the introduction, I've mentioned that the north-facing window in the northern hemisphere is the reverse for the southern hemisphere. If you're in the southern hemisphere, the south-facing window will have similar light.
Northern hemisphere
The north-facing window on the northern hemisphere is a window that generally doesn't get much sunlight. The sun is almost always shining from the south, so your north-facing window won't get a lot of direct sunlight. This light is perfect for plants that like low-light spots or prefer indirect sunlight.
Some examples of these types of plants are: a spider plant, a ZZ plant, or a Peace Lily.
Southern hemisphere
On the southern hemisphere, the north-facing window will get a lot of sunlight, as the sun shines from the north. This creates the perfect place for those types of plants that love the sun for the longest part of the day. This type of light is similar to a south-facing window on the northern hemisphere.
Some plants that do really well in this type of sunlight are Alocasias, Crotons, Succulents, and Cacti.
One note on the north-facing window for the southern hemisphere is that it gets a lot more shade in the summer than in the winter.
In the summer, the sun is high in the sky, shining almost straight down. This will be great for those sun-loving plants in your windowsill, but might not give the rest of the room the light you expect to it. For this, you might want to have a look at a west-facing window.
East-facing windows
The east-facing window is the same in the northern and southern hemisphere. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
So what does this mean for your plants?
It means that you'll get some sunlight in the morning, when the sun is at its weakest. It will give your plants just a few hours of (weak) sunlight. This type of light is similar to the northern-facing windows, but is a little more intense in the mornings.
This would be a great place for a few low-light plants that have variegation on their leaves. The variegation makes it so the plants need more light to get the same energy from the sun. The variegated parts of the leaves can't absorb the sun as well, only the green parts can.
Great plants for this type of light would be the same type of plants that like the northern-facing windows in the northern hemisphere and the southern-facing windows in the southern hemisphere.
South-facing windows
The light coming through south-facing windows in the northern hemisphere is similar to the sunlight coming through the north-facing windows in the southern hemisphere.
Northern hemisphere
The light coming through the southern-facing window is strong light that will be there for the biggest part of the day. Plants that need a lot of sunlight to be happy, like succulents and cacti, love a place close to this window.
Because the light is coming through this window for most of the day, any room with a window like this can be used for plants of all kinds of sunlight exposure needs. If you have a plant that needs a little less light, you can move it further away from the window, where it doesn't get as much light.
This isn't something you can do in a room with a north of east facing window. The light further away from the windows in these rooms is just not strong enough for most plants. The light coming through a southern-facing window in the northern hemisphere is perfect for any room where you want a variety of houseplants.
Southern hemisphere
The south-facing windows on the southern hemisphere are similar to the north-facing windows on the northern hemisphere: they only have very limited sunlight exposure. This unfortunately limits the types of plants you can put in this room or near the windows.
Low-light plants do well in a space like this, however. You should put most plants that need a little bit more light near a window or consider moving them to a room with more sunlight exposure.
West-facing windows
A western-facing window is the same in the northern and southern hemispheres. During the morning, a western facing window doesn't get any sunlight, but gets sunlight from the early afternoon all the way to sunset.
This makes it a great place for plants that need a lot of sunlight and especially strong sunlight. Making it great for most tropical plants, like Monsteras and Alocasias. It's also good for those plants that you can place right up to the window and that need all the sunlight they can get, like cacti and succulents.
In a lot of plant care guides, you'll read more about western facing windows than northern or southern facing windows, because the light is much more consistent throughout the day.
In the summer and winter, you'll still get a lot more sunlight through those west-facing windows than your south-facing windows.
Also in the summer, when the sun is high in the sky, you'll get more shade than sunlight through your south and north-facing windows.
The west-facing windows, however, still get sunlight in afternoons and evenings.
Now that we've looked at the 4 directions sunlight comes from, let's have a look at how light changes throughout the day.
Light changes throughout the day
Sunlight is very important for your plant's health and that means that it's a good idea to get a little more familiar with how the intensity of the sunlight shifts throughout the day. This can give you a clue about which plant will do well in which room.
This section won't really go into direct or indirect sunlight, so for extra information on that, have a look at What is the difference between direct, indirect, and low-light sunlight for plants?
Light direction (north, south, east, or west) and time of day go hand-in-hand, so let's look at how these two things work together to create the perfect living environment for your plants.
Morning sunlight
Morning light is like a nice wake-up call. It's quite bright but not harsh and warm. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so you'll get this soft light through your east-facing windows in the morning.
East-facing windows are the best spot for plants that thrive in gentle, indirect light. So let's combine those two factors to find the perfect plants for a spot like this: Delicate plants like ferns, prayer plants, or peace lilies.
These plants love soaking up the morning sun without worrying about scorching later in the day. In the morning, they'll get all the bright, but soft sunlight and as soon as the sun becomes harsher and warmer, your east-facing window won't get that type of light any more. Pretty convenient if you ask me!
Afternoon Sunlight
In the early afternoon, the sun becomes stronger and warmer. South-facing windows (or north-facing in the southern hemisphere) get consistent, bright light all day, which is great for most tropical plants! In the afternoon, your west-facing windows will slowly start to get more (warm) sunlight as the day goes on.
Especially in the late afternoon, your west-facing window is going to get the brightest and hottest sunlight it'll get that day. This makes it a perfect spot for sun-loving plants like succulents, cacti, or fiddle leaf figs. Just keep an eye out for sunburn (yes, plants get it too!). Browning tips or faded leaves mean it's time to move them slightly away from the glass, because they're getting too much sunlight.
If you're looking for more tips on spotting sunlight issues, have a look at What are signs of too much sunlight on plants?.
Evening Sunlight
In the late afternoon and evening, the sun is getting ready to set in the west. You'll get the last sunlight from the west and this sunlight is quite weak, but warm. It's perfect for plants that don't like the intense afternoon sunlight.
Another benefit of the sun setting at this time is that the (softer) light shines further into your living rooms, because it's much lower in the sky. This helps to provide plants, that are a little further away from windows, with some extra sunlight.
This sunlight, in a west-facing window/room, is perfect for plants like pothos, philodendrons, or sansevierias that like bright indirect light but won't complain if things get a little shady later.
Pro tip: Notice how one window can offer different light "personalities" throughout the day? A west-facing window, for example, have mild morning light, hot afternoon sunlight, and soft yet warm evening sunlight. You can use thin curtains to give your plants the type of sunlight they need all day long.
Seasonal changes
The sunlight doesn't just change throughout the day, but also throughout the year. In the summer, you have bright light all day, and in the winter it's quite dark. So what does this mean for your plant's spot?
Spring and summer
In the Northern Hemisphere, spring and summer sun is the strongest in south- and west-facing windows. These spots get intense, direct light, which is perfect for succulents or cacti. But don't forget east-facing windows! They'll still deliver that gentle morning glow for your peace lilies or ferns. Over in the Southern Hemisphere, flip the script: north- and west-facing windows get that nice, warm sunlight.
During this time of year, with the hot sun, make sure to regularly check your plants for signs of it getting too much sunlight and move it away from windows if necessary.
Fall and winter
When the days get shorter in the fall and winter, you'll notice that the rooms in your house are much darker than in the spring and summer. To help your plants get enough sunlight, move them closer to south-facing windows (or north-facing windows in the southern hemisphere). This sunlight is too harsh for most plants during the summer, but is perfect for them during the winter.
If you're looking for more information on this topic, have a look at: The first step to take with your plants in the winter.
Conclusion
In the introduction, we've asked ourselves whether the direction of sunlight matters for our houseplants. In this guide, we've learned that the different directions of sunlight give a different type of sunlight exposure. These different types of light help you to create the perfect sunlight exposure for your houseplants, and can boost your plant's growth and health.
We also learned that incorporating the right light conditions into your indoor gardening routine is essential for nurturing healthy, vibrant plants. By understanding the differences between direct and indirect sunlight, recognizing the signs of too much or too little light, and utilizing artificial light sources when natural sunlight falls short, you can create an ideal environment for your green friends. Considering how reflective surfaces—like walls, floors, and ceilings—affect light can enhance brightness and support your plants' growth. With these tips in hand, you can confidently adjust your plant care strategies, ensuring that your indoor garden thrives no matter the season or lighting situation.
Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.
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