South Facing

SOUTH-FACING PLANTS

South-facing windows generally provide the strongest and longest-lasting natural light throughout the day. This can make them a good location for plants with moderate to high light requirements and for plants that need more light to maintain compact growth, larger leaves, strong structure, or variegation.

Plants with higher light needs can often grow closer to a south-facing window, while plants that prefer moderate or lower light may need to sit farther back. Trees, awnings, neighboring buildings, window screens, window size and seasonal changes can significantly change the amount of light entering the room. Direct sun and heat near the glass can also become more intense, so watch the plant for signs that its placement needs to be adjusted.

Use foot-candles to determine how much light is actually reaching the leaves rather than relying on distance from the window alone. Foot-candles measure the amount of usable light reaching the plant, allowing you to match the conditions in your home to the preferred light range listed in each plant’s description.

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 south-facing windows. Use each plant’s description to compare its preferred light level with the conditions in your home.