If you love plants like me, your home is likely filled with greenery. And while houseplants can thrive in a variety of indoor conditions, even those “low light” houseplants need some light.

Most homes don’t get the ideal lighting needed to keep plants happy, especially during those darker winter months. So, how do you make sure your plants are getting the light they crave? Here are a few tips to help you find the brightest part of your home and maximize the sunlight you get.

This might seem like an obvious tip, but it’s worth mentioning – place your plants as close to windows as possible. However, there’s a catch: not all windows are created equal when it comes to the amount of sunlight they let in.

For the highest light exposure, you’ll want to find south-facing windows. Keep in mind that the light your plants receive indoors will be less intense than what they'd get outdoors.

Plants that require full sunlight – like my Bird of Paradise and Silver Bismarck palms – typically require around 6 hours of direct sunlight when growing outdoors. While it’s challenging to replicate those conditions indoors, I keep my house cool, so they aren’t actively growing. They require less light in cool conditions & are subtropical so they can handle lower temperatures. During the warmer months, I move my full-sun plants outside to get the sunlight they need.

However, before doing this, it’s important to gradually acclimate them to direct sunlight to avoid sunburn. Start by keeping them in a shaded area for a few weeks before gradually introducing them to the full sun.

Different plants have different light preferences. Many indoor houseplants do better in lower light conditions. Plants like African violets and orchids thrive in north-facing windows, which don’t receive direct sunlight but still get plenty of bright, indirect light. These plants can bloom beautifully with the subtle, diffused light from a north-facing window, especially during the winter months when we need a little extra color in our homes.

Plants grow toward the light, so make sure to give them a spin every few weeks and let the plant facing away from the window spends some time facing the window.

I rotate my plants every time I water them, so I don’t forget.

With a little thought and some strategic plant placement, you can create the perfect environment for your houseplants – even in a home that doesn’t get a lot of natural light. Happy gardening!