Environments
From this page, you will have access to all our individual definitions and guides for each environments.
Before exploring all the opportunities your home environment allows, it is important to understand lighting. Are you aware of the different light levels? Can you tell which kind of light you have in your home?
| Light Levels | Description |
|---|---|
| Direct Light | Straight line of sun rays between the sun and plant. (Most windowsills) |
| Bright Indirect Light | Indirect: Sunlight is diffused or filtered before reaching the plant. Bright: Receives direct sunlight for no more than five hours a day, |
| Medium Indirect Light | Indirect: Sunlight is diffused or filtered before reaching the plant. Medium: Broad range, less than 4 feet from a window. |
| Low Light | Very small amount of light, such as blocked windows, located high up on the wall etc. |
Relying on natural light to help you grow your plants requires you to beware what kind of light input your home provides.
Recall that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West and travels from one end to the other throughout the day. Follow along each step detailed below to discover exactly what kind of light your home accesses.
First, you should determine which direction your windows face.
- North-Facing provides consistent, soft light throughout the day. Never direct sunlight.
- Low to moderate indirect light
- South-Facing provides the maximum sunlight possible throughout the day.
- High indirect light.
- East-Facing provides bright morning light and cools down in the afternoon
- Medium bright indirect light
- West-Facing provides strong afternoon and evening sunlight.
- Medium bright indirect light.
You should consider what obstructs natural light in or outside your home. Are there any outside obstructions such as a building or trees obstructing the light? Are there any inside obstructions such as furniture or decor obstructing the incoming light?
It is also important to consider window size, as it determines the amount of light that can be dispersed inwards. Note that window sizes are determined based on their width x height, in inches.
| Window Type | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizontal Sliding Windows | 36” x 24” | 60” x 48” | 84” x 60” |
| Awning Windows | 18” x 18” | 36” x 36” | 72” x 72” |
Seasons impact the suns direction and angles, therefore they influence plant growth.
- Spring & Summer: Plants growing seasons, greatest amount of daylight hours of the year.
- Fall & Winter: Plant growth slows down or even ceases. ***Plants require less water.***
Source
The Sill. (2025). Plant Care 101: Light. https://www.thesill.com/pages/topics/light
Lake Washington Windows. (2024, November 4). East vs West, North vs South Facing Windows: Why Direction Matters. https://lakewashingtonwindows.com/east-west-north-south-facing-windows/
Lake Washington Windows. (2022, April 26). Standard Replacement Window Size Charts. https://lakewashingtonwindows.com/standard-window-size-charts/