Tool

Light Guide: where to place your plant

Match a window to the right plants. Northern-hemisphere directions.

Window / spotLight levelPlants that fit
North window, or 6+ ft from any windowLowSnake Plant, ZZ Plant, Parlor Palm, Chinese Evergreen, Cast Iron Plant
East window, or a few feet back from south/westMediumPothos, Peace Lily, Calathea, Heartleaf Philodendron, Moth Orchid, Spider Plant, Prayer Plant, Boston Fern, Peperomia, Dracaena, Money Tree, English Ivy, Christmas Cactus, Haworthia, Kentia Palm, Dieffenbachia, Arrowhead Plant, Nerve Plant, Maidenhair Fern, Bird's Nest Fern
Right by an east window, or behind a sheer curtain facing south/westBright indirectMonstera, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Philodendron Birkin, String of Pearls, Rubber Plant, Hoya (Wax Plant), Areca Palm, Chinese Money Plant, Begonia, African Violet, Alocasia, Anthurium, Air Plant, Monstera Adansonii, Bromeliad, Norfolk Island Pine, Majesty Palm, Polka Dot Plant, Staghorn Fern, Tradescantia (Wandering Dude), String of Hearts, Umbrella Plant, Weeping Fig
Unobstructed south or west windowBright + some sunBird of Paradise, Aloe Vera, Jade Plant, Ponytail Palm, Olive Tree, Croton, Indoor Bonsai Tree, Echeveria, Lemon Tree, Lavender, Rosemary, Kalanchoe, Yucca Cane, Venus Flytrap, Gardenia

Quick test

At midday, hold your hand a foot above the spot. A sharp shadow means bright light; a soft, fuzzy shadow means medium; barely any shadow means low light.

Sources

  1. University of Minnesota Extension: Lighting for indoor plants