posted
I always thought that "indirect light" was sunlight coming through the North window, as opposed to directly outside in the sunlight during the summer. I really am not sure and if I am wrong than maybe that is the problem I have been having with my Jade plant. Not enough light during the winter months. stormystargazer
Posts: 2 | Registered: Oct 2002
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Will Creed
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posted
StormySG - Jades do best in your sunniest window. They love direct sunlight and will tolerate bright indirect light.
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posted
Good question, and one that has bothered quite a few people, as I am asked this every couple of weeks on my show.
1 Indirect Light: A better discription would be "second hand" light. A brightly lit area where light that has come into the room, but not directly in a path from the sun. Bounced of a wall for instance.
2. Low Light: Light from a southern facing window, or a ways away from any reflected light.
3.Diffused Light: Light that has been filtered by some source. Blinds or tree branches for example Low light or shade: A area where you would want to turn on a light to read.
4. No light, (as in what Christmas Cactus needs to flower): Means absolutly total darkness for what ever specified amount of time. Light from a street light down the block could be enough light to keep certain plants from blooming. Perhaps tucked away in a closet, or under a black painted box.
5. Full or direct Light: An area that can cast a shadow for more the 3 hours a day, the rest of the day being in at least indirect light.
6.Partial shade: An area that recieves less then 3 hours of morning or evening light (No noon day direct sun) Most plants the require partial shade will do well in difused or filtered light as well.
posted
I always thought indirect light was a spot where the plant gets direct light. I guess I was wrong. I have an alfalfa fern that says it needs indirect light and it seems to be doing better when it gets a little bit of bright sunlight. So do you think I should move it?
Posts: 7 | From: Henderson, NV | Registered: Oct 2002
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Will Creed
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posted
Thanks for your interesting replies. As I suspected there are lots of different ideas about what "indirect light" means. I think that it is this confusion that leads many people to place their plants in the wrong location, in terms of light. That, in turn, leads to other plant problems.
For those of you who are interested, I have written a short article on light for indoor plants. It includes comprehensive descriptions of direct light, indirect light, low light, et. al. that I hope takes some of the confusion out of these terms.
Contact me at wcreed@horticulturalhelp.com if you would like me to email you a copy.
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