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Philodendron Light Requirements (Optimal Lighting for Growth)

Philodendron Light Requirements (Optimal Lighting for Growth)

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Buying a philodendron for your home could be the perfect choice to make. These plants look beautiful and they add a natural feeling to whatever room you put them in.

Many people think that these plants are very pretty. They also aren’t too hard to care for so long as you know what you’re doing.

Whenever you’re buying a new houseplant, it’s best to learn about the care requirements of the plant. With philodendrons, it’s important to understand the light requirements.

Keep reading to learn about the lighting needs of philodendrons. This will ensure that you’ll have a good experience even if you’re a complete novice when it comes to caring for plants.

Do Philodendrons Need Sunlight?

Yes, plants need sunlight to be able to grow and stay healthy. Without sunlight, the plant wouldn’t get the energy that it needs for photosynthesis.

So you shouldn’t keep philodendrons in environments with no light at all. It’ll negatively impact the health of the plant.

This doesn’t mean that these plants need to be kept in bright sunlight at all times, though. Most philodendrons do great when placed in partial sunlight.

Keep in mind that there are many different types of philodendrons out there. In total, there are more than five hundred species of philodendrons to consider.

That being said, most philodendrons will have similar care requirements. Common philodendrons that can be found at garden centers are most going to want partial sunlight, but it is wise to look up specific information based on the species of the plant that you own.

Do Philodendrons Like Sun?

Philodendrons like the sun, but they shouldn’t be exposed to too much sun. In the wild, philodendrons grow in tropical environments.

You might think that this means that they’ll enjoy as much bright sunlight as possible. This simply isn’t the case.

These plants grow underneath tree canopies. The tree canopies protect the philodendrons from the harshness of the sun.

So the plants certainly do receive their fair share of sunlight, but they’re getting indirect sunlight. It’s filtered through the tree canopies so it isn’t so harsh.

All philodendrons like the sun and will need a certain amount of sunlight to flourish. You just don’t want to bake them in full sunlight or the plants will look a bit worse for wear.

Can Philodendrons Take Full Sun?

Full sunlight is not good for philodendrons. It’s too harsh for these plants and will cause them many problems.

Typically, if you leave philodendrons in full sunlight for too long it’ll cause the leaves to burn. You’ll notice that the leaves will have a scorched appearance.

They will appear to be yellow and sunburnt when left in full sun. This is something that you want to avoid.

Instead, you want to put the philodendron plants in a spot where they can receive bright indirect sunlight. This will protect the plants and keep them in good shape.

What Kind of Light Does a Philodendron Need?

The best type of sunlight for philodendrons is bright indirect sunlight. This is going to do the best job of mimicking the type of sunlight conditions that they experience in the wild.

As mentioned earlier, these tropical plants grow underneath tree canopies. They’re protected from the sunlight in the wild by the trees.

The trees filter the sunlight so it isn’t quite as harsh. You can replicate this in your home by positioning the philodendrons appropriately.

Find a spot in your home where the plants can receive indirect sunlight. You can use sheer curtains and other methods to filter the sunlight and make it appropriate for the plants.

How Much Light Does a Philodendron Need?

Most experts agree that philodendrons do well indoors when they receive four or five hours of sunlight per day. If the plant receives four or five hours of filtered sunlight daily, it’ll stay healthy and grow well.

It’ll be pretty easy to tell if your philodendron isn’t getting enough sunlight. Certain things will start to happen when the plant isn’t getting enough light.

The plant will begin to experience leggy growth issues when it’s kept in a low-light environment. This occurs because the plant grows out in search of light.

When this happens, you’ll notice that the leaves will look smaller than usual. They also won’t be as dense as they should be due to the plant focusing more energy on growing out in search of sunlight.

Inadequate lighting conditions also cause the color of the leaves to fade. You’ll eventually see the leaves turn yellow if you keep the plant in a low-light environment.

It’s also worth noting that you want to make sure that both sides of the plant receive equal amounts of light. There are situations where one side will grow better than the other.

Ideally, you should turn the plant every so often to prevent issues with lopsided growth. It’s easy enough to turn your plant, but you simply have to remember to do it often enough.

The Best Spot to Put Philodendrons Indoors

The best spot to put philodendrons is close to a bright window. You don’t want the plant to be too close, though.

Put it in a spot where it can receive sunlight without having the sun’s rays directly touch the plant. It’s fine to filter the light from the window using various methods if that’s the most convenient thing to do.

You also need to think about where the plant is in relation to vents, windows, and doors. These plants don’t do well when exposed to temperature fluctuations.

Since these are tropical plants, they’re not meant to be exposed to temperatures that are lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Drafty spots in your home could get rather cool and this will harm the plant.

So keep the plant away from drafty doors and windows. Likewise, don’t position it close to heating vents and air conditioning units.

It’s best for the temperature in the house to remain fairly steady. Since most people live in temperature-controlled environments these days, this won’t be hard for most to achieve.

Is Sunlight Necessary for Philodendrons to Bloom?

It will indeed require sunlight to see philodendrons bloom. However, you should know that philodendrons take a long time to bloom normally.

Even if the sunlight conditions are ideal, it’s going to take fifteen years for most philodendrons to start blooming. If your philodendron isn’t blooming, it’s likely that your plant simply isn’t mature enough yet.

Since it takes so long for these plants to bloom, many people don’t even realize that they’re capable of blooming. These plants are most commonly enjoyed for their beautiful foliage rather than the blooms that they produce.

Most philodendrons will never bloom when kept as houseplants. It’s more common for them to bloom in their natural habitats.

Some people keep these plants in greenhouse environments that replicate their natural habitat. This makes it easier for the plants to bloom.

Can Philodendrons Live Without Sunlight?

Philodendrons will die if they don’t have access to any light whatsoever. They won’t die right away, but it won’t be good for the plant to be kept without sunlight.

Technically, the plant can live without sunlight, but it’s going to need an alternative light source. There are people that grow these plants indoors using LED grow lights.

These types of lights are great for growing many types of plants indoors. If you’re living in a home that doesn’t have windows that will work out well for houseplants, you can use LED grow lights instead.

It’s worth noting that philodendrons usually won’t grow as nicely as normal when using LED lighting. Natural sunlight is certainly a better choice.

Will a Philodendron Be Okay in Low Light?

A philodendron that is kept in an office that doesn’t have a lot of light can still be okay. It won’t die so long as it’s getting a few hours of sun each day.

However, it’s not going to be in the best condition. If the plant has no light at all, it could wind up dying.

Low light is a lot different than no light whatsoever. So long as the light does exist, the plant can do well enough to be maintained.

If you want to keep a philodendron in an office, it’s best to ensure that it’ll have a decent amount of light. Make sure that it can be kept near a window if possible.

Otherwise, it might be best to buy some sort of LED light or fluorescent light that can act as a substitute. The plant is going to need a light source or it won’t stay alive.

Final Thoughts

Ensuring that your philodendron gets enough light is important. When you want your houseplant to look its best, putting it in a good spot makes sense.

Choose a location where the philodendron can receive bright indirect sunlight for at least four hours per day. This will give the plant the best shot.

These plants can also be grown indoors using LED grow lights or certain types of fluorescent lights. Natural sunlight is preferable, though.

Do your best to give your plant the right sunlight conditions. If you care for philodendrons well, it’s easy to enjoy them for decades.

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