The right light for indoor plants.
The right place for a indoor plants is where it will receive neither too much
nor too little light. Use one of these easy techniques to determine the best
place for your indoor plants to grow:
For an exact reading of light levels, use a light-intensity meter. Set the
meter to read natural light or artificial light (for fluorescent or grow lights).
Then, place the sensor in the spot you would like to set the plant, and point
it toward the light source. You will get a reading in foot-candles, the amount
of light cast by one candle at a distance of 1 foot. A reading of 350 to 500
foot-candles is good for plants that require strong light; 200 to 350 is good
for medium-light plants; and 100 to 200 is for plants that can survive under
low light.
For a low-tech method, use your hand and a gray photographer’s square:
Hold your hand 6 inches away from the square, and observe the shadow it casts.
A bright shadow on the square means the light is strong, a soft shadow indicates
low to medium light, and no shadow means there’s very little to no light
and the spot is not good for plants.
Whichever method you use, check the available light during the middle of a
sunny day, when you are likely to have the strongest light. And be sure that
the spot you choose gets at least 5 hours of light a day; the duration of
light is just as important as its intensity.