Most people forget this one thing about indoor light – and their plants suffer for it

April 22, 2025

The One Indoor Lighting Mistake That’s Secretly Sabotaging Your Houseplants

I’ll never forget the day I brought home my first fiddle leaf fig. I nestled it lovingly into a ceramic pot beside my lounge room window and grinned like I’d just scored a baby unicorn. It looked perfect — Instagram-worthy, really. But two weeks later? Crinkled leaves. Drooping stem. That confident “plant mum” glow? Gutted. 😩

That’s when I learned one of the biggest hidden truths about indoor gardening: most people completely misunderstand how light works indoors — and it’s hurting their plant babies.

Natural light through windows isn't as strong as you think

Here’s the thing — just because a room looks bright to your human eyes doesn’t mean it’s getting enough light for a plant. Our eyes are amazing at adjusting. What feels sunny inside might be a dim cavern from your plant's point of view.

Let’s break it down. Outdoors, even on a cloudy day, plants soak up 10x more light than they’d ever get through a window. So placing a plant three metres from the glass? It might as well be in a cupboard. Especially if your window faces south (hello, indirect light only).

The indoor lighting myth we’ve all fallen for

Here’s where most beginner gardeners — including me, once upon a fiddle leaf — get tripped up. We assume that if we can read a book comfortably in a room during the day, it's bright enough for plants. Sadly, nope. Plants need light not just to survive but to thrive. Grow. Bloom. Look lush, not leggy.

If your plant looks stretched out, faded, or behaves like it's ghosting you for no reason — it might be crying out for more light.

Signs your indoor plants are light-deprived

Let me share a few clues I wish I’d noticed sooner. If your plant is showing any of these symptoms, light may be the missing piece of the puzzle:

New leaves are tiny or pale
Long, stretchy stems reaching in one direction
Soil stays wet for ages (because it’s too dark to dry out)
No new growth for weeks (or months!)
Leaves dropping off faster than your confidence

Sound familiar? Yep, I’ve been there too.

Simple ways to boost the light your plants get

Now for the good news — fixing this is so much easier than I thought. These five tricks totally transformed my sad saggy collection into happy, photogenic greenies:

Move them closer to the window — like, right up against it if you can. The closer they are, the more they get.
Clean the windows — sounds obvious, but dusty panes block more light than you’d think.
Rotate the plant regularly — so all sides grow evenly and no one's left lurking in the shadows.
Add a grow light — especially helpful in winter or for rooms with tiny windows. LEDs can work wonders.
Choose low-light loving plants — snake plants, pothos, and peace lilies are gentle on beginners and don’t mind a darker corner.

Choosing the right plant for your light situation

It’s tempting to grab the prettiest plant that pops up on Pinterest (looking at you, monsteras 🌱), but not all houseplants are created equal. Some need full, bright sun all day. Others can chill in dappled light and still strut their stuff.

Your best bet? Come visit us at Strathalbyn H Hardware’s Garden Centre and chat with me. Bring a photo of your room — I’ll help match you with plants that genuinely suit your space (and your lifestyle!). Whether you’re a sun-soaked balcony kind of girl or a soft-lit loungeroom nester, we’ll sort you out.

Real talk: Your plant isn’t fussy — it’s just misunderstood

It’s easy to label a plant as “fussy” when really it just has basic needs that aren’t being met. Light isn’t a bonus — it’s life. Like putting a goldfish in fizzy water and wondering why it’s not swimming. So before you toss out another droopy houseplant, ask yourself: is it actually a goner, or just hungry for light?

Indoor gardening isn’t rocket science — it’s just learning the language of your plants. Light is their love language. And once you figure that out? You’ll go from plant killer to proud indoor jungle queen faster than a pothos grows a new leaf.

Final thoughts from your local plant-obsessed hardware gal

Every thriving garden begins with the right care — and that includes treating light as more than just a vibe. If you've been struggling with sickly plants and can't figure out why, this could be the breakthrough you needed.

Need help finding the right plant for your room? Or a foolproof grow light that won’t cost the earth? Come down to the store — I’ll be the one in the apron covered in potting mix, probably talking to the ferns.

We’ve got the plants, the pots, and the know-how — all you need to bring is your curiosity. Let’s get your indoor garden living its best, brightest life.

See you soon 🌿

Cheers,

Candeece