It can be difficult to find out how much light all your different plants in the living room need in order to thrive and grow beautiful and healthy. Some types of plants need more light than others, and sometimes the same plant can have different light needs. How much light the individual plant needs depends on its position in its life cycle and of course also on the plant's species.
As a rule of thumb, most plants grow best with between 10 and 15 hours of light every day, but the number of hours depends on how bright the light is. Brightness can be measured in µmol, and normally a plant must have at least 150 µmol to be able to photosynthesize effectively. In comparison, the sun provides only approximately 75 µmol in the winter, and around 1600 µmol in the summer.
As mentioned before, the number of light hours depends on the light intensity. If a plant receives 300 µmol for 2 hours, this is approximately the same as 600 µmol for 1 hour, although too much light can be harmful in a few cases. In this way, a higher amount of µmol, i.e. a higher light intensity, can shorten the daily time period in which the plant needs light.
How much light should plants have in a greenhouse?
A greenhouse can be used for many things. It is warm and bright in the summer, and many plants can thrive and grow big and healthy in it, as long as they are given water and fertilizer - and the growing season for some plants can last well into autumn with only ordinary daylight from the sun.
With a few exceptions, it is usually 1-year-old plants that are kept in the greenhouse. To get as much as possible out of your very light-demanding plants, such as chili, cucumber, pepper and tomato, it is an advantage to use powerful grow light.
When we hit the dark times in autumn - there will no longer be enough light from the sun for your plants to thrive, here a grow lights so benefit extremely much.
If you choose to use grow lights in the greenhouse, be aware that greenhouses often have a lot of water - from watering, condensation and perhaps an open window that wasn't closed before it started raining.
Checklist:
- Waterproof plant light/growth lamp
- Powerful variant, suitable for outdoor use
Read more about the use of grow lights and how much light plants should have in a greenhouse here.
How much light do plants need in an orangery or conservatory?
An orangery is usually both insulated and heated, making it an ideal place for plants that cannot tolerate frost.
Here you can overwinter more delicate species in a safe, cosy environment, even when temperatures drop outside. And with the right lighting, it's not just a sheltered winter retreat - you can grow plants and vegetables all year round, whatever the season. In other words, the orangery functions as both a greenhouse and a year-round oasis.
Unlike greenhouses, we often have perennial plants and trees in the orangery, such as citrus and olives for wintering, but with the right light, moisture and warm conditions, some of your orangery can be transformed into a place where you can grow different crops all year round, you can try experimenting with micro green at one end of the orangery, while the other end is for the overwintering evergreen plants that do not have such a great need for heat in the protected orangery.
When choosing plant lights for the orangery, you must remember:
- Familiarizing yourself with the light needs of individual plants - how much light should plants have?
- Thinking about where the light is placed - is there, for example, chance of it getting wet?
Read more about how you can find the perfect grow light lamp for you and your plants' needs
How much light do plants need in a dark room, grow tent and basement?
With the right conditions in terms of light, heat and water, it's possible to grow everything from microgreens to cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots - it's just a matter of meeting the plant's needs, and in a completely dark room, you're in control of the entire process in terms of grow light, moisture, fertiliser and temperature.
Remember list for dark rooms and grot tents:
- Grow lights – how powerful and how long each day?
- Good watering routine – automatic control is best
- Fertilizer adapted to the plant you grow, use liquid fertilizer
- Temperature control - choose a system that automatically starts ventilation when it gets too hot.
How much light should plants have in the living room?
Lighting conditions in the home often vary more than you realise - even in the same room. Perhaps your living room has a south-facing windowsill that is bathed in sunlight, while another corner is almost always in shade. These differences in light have a big impact on how your plants thrive.
If your houseplants seem dull or stop growing, it may well be because they lack light. But it doesn't have to mean goodbye to green delights - quite the opposite. With the right plant light, you can not only make your current plants thrive, but also innovate: How about replacing some of the classic decorative plants with edible, sustainable alternatives?
Imagine fragrant herbs, microgreens or small tomato plants as a living part of your décor - not just as decoration, but as an active part of your kitchen. Best of all, with modern, energy-efficient grow lights, you can create optimal conditions all year round - even in the dark winter months when natural light is scarce.
With the right setup, your home doesn't just become greener - it also becomes more vibrant, healthier and far more sustainable.
Here is a list of things to think about:
- Is your plant getting enough light?
- Be careful with heat from e.g. radiators, heat can quickly dry out the soil and kill the plant.
- Is it time for fertiliser or a new pot and fresh soil?
With plant lights, you can control how much light your plants get
As the sun in winter does not contribute a large amount of µmol, it can be difficult to maintain plants during this period. This is where grow/plant lights come to the rescue. With plant lights, also known as grow lights and grow lights, you can control that your plants get the right amount of light. There are countless types of plant lights, and if you are unsure which one is right for you and your needs, please contact us here. You can also read more about the many benefits of choosing LED plant lights here.
How powerful a grow light should I choose?
Light is essential for plant growth, and especially during the winter months, the amount of natural sunlight can be too low to fulfil plant needs. Here is a LED growth light an efficient solution that ensures your plants get the light they need - all year round.
But how bright should the grow light be? It depends on the needs of the plant and is measured in µmol/m²/swhich indicates the amount of photosynthetically active light the plant receives.
The table below gives an overview of how many µmol different types of plants need.
Want to know how much light specific plants - like tomatoes, ferns or cut flowers - require?
click here and get a detailed overview.
With the right light, you create the best conditions for healthy growth - no matter the season or location.
So how much light should plants have? You can see this in the table below:
| 0 – 250 µmol/m-²/s-¹ | Gives no growth |
| 250 – 500 µmol/m-²/s-¹ | Gives little growth |
| 500 – 750 µmol/m-²/s-¹ | Gives moderate growth |
| 750 – 1000 µmol/m-²/s-¹ | Gives high growth |
| 1000 – 2000 µmol/m-²/s-¹ | Gives the highest growth, but requires CO2 addition. |
Be aware that this applies far from all plant types, see here how much light plants should have.
