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Plant Watering Blog
Field notes, watering science, and the slow art of self-watering terracotta.
Busy Lizzie Light Requirements: A Gardener's Guide to Light and Shade
Busy Lizzie light requirements explained: this beloved bedding plant (impatiens) wants bright shade and gentle morning light, tolerates deep shade poorly, and burns in hot sun. A complete guide to...
Ficus Elastica Light Requirements: A Grower's Guide to Bright, Indirect Light
Ficus elastica light requirements explained by a grower: bright, indirect light is ideal, medium light is tolerated, and gentle direct sun works once acclimated. Complete guide to Ficus elastica light...
Impatiens Light Requirements: A Guide to Shade, Sun, and Everything Between
Impatiens light requirements explained: classic Impatiens walleriana thrives in bright shade and dappled light, tolerates morning sun, and scorches in harsh afternoon sun. A complete guide to impatiens light needs,...
Zinnia Light Requirements: A Guide to How Much Sun They Need
Zinnia light requirements explained: Zinnia elegans needs full sun, 6+ hours of direct sunlight, for abundant blooms and to fight powdery mildew. A complete guide to how much sun a...
Marigold Light Requirements: A Gardener's Guide to Sun and Placement
Marigold light requirements explained: Tagetes marigolds are full-sun plants that need 6+ hours of direct sun for the best blooms. A complete guide to how much sun a marigold needs,...
Zanzibar Gem Light Requirements: A Complete Guide to Low-Light Growing
Zanzibar Gem light requirements explained: Zamioculcas zamiifolia tolerates deep shade but grows best in bright indirect light, and direct sun scorches. A complete guide to Zanzibar Gem light needs and...
Rubber Plant Light Requirements: A Complete Guide to Its Light Needs
Rubber plant light requirements explained: Ficus elastica thrives in bright, indirect light, tolerates medium light, and takes gentle direct sun once acclimated. A full guide to rubber plant light needs,...
ZZ Plant Light Requirements: A Guide from Low Light to Bright Indirect
ZZ plant light requirements explained: Zamioculcas zamiifolia tolerates low light but grows best in bright indirect light, and direct sun scorches. A complete guide to ZZ plant light needs and...
Carnation Light Requirements: A Grower's Guide to Sunlight and Placement
Carnation light requirements explained: Dianthus caryophyllus wants full sun with at least 4-6 hours of direct light for strong stems and abundant blooms. Too little light gives weak, floppy, sparse...
Begonia Light Requirements: A Guide to Sun and Shade
Begonia light requirements explained: tuberous begonias want bright, dappled light or part shade, morning sun is fine, hot afternoon direct sun scorches, and deep shade gives few blooms and leggy...
Fuchsia Light Requirements: A Guide to Light and Shade for Better Blooms
Fuchsia light requirements explained: fuchsias thrive in bright, indirect light and partial shade with gentle morning sun, bloom poorly in deep shade, and wilt in hot afternoon sun. A complete...
Poinsettia Light Requirements: A Guide to Light — and Darkness — for Red Bracts
Poinsettia light requirements explained: bright light (6+ hours near a sunny window) holds the red bracts, and as a short-day plant it needs about 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness nightly...
Coleus Light Requirements: A Guide to Sun, Shade, and Color
Coleus light requirements explained: bright light drives vivid leaf color, sun-tolerant cultivars take some direct sun, too little light dulls the color and causes legginess. A complete coleus light guide.
Rex Begonia Light Requirements: A Guide to Light for Bold Foliage
Rex begonia light requirements explained: bright, indirect light brings out the metallic, silver foliage color, no direct sun (it scorches), tolerates medium light. A complete guide to Begonia rex light...
Angel Wings Light Requirements: How Much Light Does a Angel Wings Need?
Angel Wings light requirements: how much light a angel wings needs, natural vs indoor light, low-light tolerance, grow lights, and how light affects watering.
Caladium Light Requirements: A Guide to Light for the Best Leaf Color
Caladium light requirements explained: bright indirect light to part shade brings out the best leaf color, some newer types tolerate more sun, deep shade dulls color, harsh direct sun scorches...
Dumb Cane Light Requirements: A Complete Guide to Its Light Needs
Dumb cane light requirements explained: this dieffenbachia thrives in bright, indirect to medium light, tolerates lower light, and needs no direct sun, which scorches and bleaches its leaves. A full...
Dieffenbachia Light Requirements: A Guide to the Right Light and Placement
Dieffenbachia light requirements explained: it thrives in bright, indirect to medium light, tolerates lower light, and needs no direct sun, which scorches and bleaches the leaves. A full guide to...
Zebra Plant Light Requirements: A Complete Guide to Getting the Light Right
Zebra plant light requirements explained: Aphelandra squarrosa thrives in bright indirect light, blooms only with enough light, and scorches in direct sun. A complete guide to zebra plant light needs,...
Airplane Plant Light Requirements: How Much Light Does a Airplane Plant Need?
Airplane Plant light requirements: how much light a airplane plant needs, low-light tolerance, grow lights, and how light affects watering.
Spider Plant Light Requirements: A Grower's Guide to the Right Light
Spider plant light requirements explained: thrives in bright indirect light, tolerates medium and low light, scorches in direct sun. A grower's guide to spider plant light needs, variegation, and placement.
Prayer Plant Light Requirements: How Much Light Does a Prayer Plant Need?
Prayer Plant light requirements: how much light a prayer plant needs, natural vs indoor light, low-light tolerance, grow lights, and how light affects watering.
Calathea Light Requirements: A Practical Guide to Low-Light Care
Calathea light requirements explained: this shade-loving prayer plant wants medium, indirect light, tolerates lower light, and must be kept out of direct sun. A practical guide to calathea light needs...
Philodendron Light Requirements: A Complete Guide to Getting the Light Right
Philodendron light requirements explained: most philodendrons thrive in bright indirect light, tolerate medium and low light, and dislike direct sun. A complete guide to philodendron light needs and placement.