North Facing

NORTH-FACING PLANTS

North-facing windows generally provide the lowest and most consistent natural light throughout the day. They can work well for plants with lower light requirements, but plants that need moderate or high light may require supplemental lighting to maintain strong, healthy growth.

Keep plants with higher light needs closer to the window, while plants that tolerate lower light may be able to sit farther into the room. Trees, awnings, neighboring buildings, window screens, window size and seasonal changes can reduce the amount of light even further, so distance from the window should be used as a starting point rather than a guarantee of light intensity.

Use foot-candles to determine how much light is actually reaching the leaves. Foot-candles measure the amount of usable light reaching the plant, which is especially helpful in a north-facing space where small changes in distance or outside obstructions can make a significant difference.

If natural light is not enough, a 5000K–6500K grow light can supplement or replace window light. Kelvin describes the color of the light, not its strength. Use the plant’s recommended foot-candle range to determine grow-light placement rather than relying on one universal distance from the fixture.

SHOP PLANTS THAT MATCH YOUR LIGHT

The plants below are selected for growing conditions commonly found near north-facing windows. Use each plant’s description to compare its preferred light level with the conditions in your home.