How to Tell if Your Houseplant is Getting Too Much or Not Enough Light

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Today, I’m going to answer a common question: Is my houseplant getting too much light or not enough light?

As I talk about in many of my videos, especially the ones on lighting, lighting is critical to plant growth. Without proper lighting, houseplants won’t thrive and can even experience yellowing leaves and leaf loss. If the plant flowers or fruits, it often won’t do so if it’s not getting the right amount of light.

How much light plants require depends on the type of plant. In general, if the plant flowers and fruits, it will require brighter light, but that isn’t always the case. There are some plants, like African violets and peace lilies, that do flower but need medium light, not bright light. So you can’t always count on that as your guide—it’s better to know the plants and their specific needs.

If your plant seems to be having trouble thriving, it could be getting too little or too much light. So I’m going to give you the signs of too little light and the signs of too much light. This will help you determine if lighting is the problem, and if so, whether it’s too much or too little.

Signs of Too Little Light:

1. Stretching and Reaching for Light: The plant exhibits leggy, rangy growth and may start tipping one way. If it starts to lose leaves and becomes more rangy and elongated, moving toward a specific area, these are signs of too little light. The plant is trying to get to the light.

2. Sparse Growth with Long Distances Between Leaf Sets: This can occur on plants like pothos. You might notice well-spaced-out leaves along the stem, but if problems arise, such as with a philodendron, you start losing leaves along the way, resulting in long, bare stems.

3. Lower Foliage Loss: This can occur on more upright growers like crotons. Leaves form on the top, but they start dropping from the bottom. Plants without one main stem often do this because the available light can only sustain the upper leaves, causing the plant to shed the lower ones.

4. Overall Loss of Vitality: The plant may appear pale and dull, and there won’t be any flowers. It just doesn’t look all that good, which can definitely be a sign of too little light.

5. Pest and Disease Problems: These problems occur when a plant isn’t getting sufficient light because the plant is weakened. Pests and diseases tend to attack plants that aren’t getting enough light, as these plants are in a weakened state and more susceptible to attack.

Signs of Too Much Light:

1. Scorched Leaves: Leaves that are browned or bleached, especially on the window side of the plant, are a common sign. Scorched leaves often occur in the middle of the leaf. If you’re seeing spots that are browned and darken over time, especially on the window side of the plant, it’s very likely a sign of too much light.

2. Overall Yellowing and Thickening of New Growth: If you notice new growth that is yellowing and thickening, this is another sign of too much light.

3. Excessively Compact and Stunted Growth: The plant just seems to sit there, not growing much. It looks small and stunted, not doing much at all. Surprisingly, instead of growing vigorously due to the light, the plant will shut down somewhat and become more stunted with too much light because it’s not in the correct growing conditions.

4. Foliage Curling Downward: If you see your plant’s foliage curling downward, this is another sign of too much light.

5. Wilting Despite Adequate Moisture: Even though there’s enough moisture in the soil, the leaves might wilt because they are trying to cycle water very quickly due to the excessive light. The leaves just can’t keep up, leading to wilting or curling downward.

6. Lighter than Normal Leaves: Yellowing leaves can also be a sign of too much light.

If your plant is getting too much light, you should move it away from the light into dimmer conditions. Conversely, if your plant is getting too little light, move it into a brighter location or use full-spectrum lighting. This gives you a good overview of what to look for in terms of lighting to see if your plant is having too much or too little light.

Keep in mind that some of these symptoms, such as yellowing leaves, foliage curling downward, and leaf loss, can also be signs of incorrect watering—either not enough or too much. Too much watering can lead to root rot. However, if you’ve determined that it doesn’t have to do with watering and you’re pretty sure it has to do with lighting, these various symptoms of too little or too much light will definitely help you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is my houseplant getting too much light or not enough light?

Determining whether your houseplant is getting too much or too little light is crucial for its health. The amount of light a plant requires depends on the type of plant, and incorrect lighting can lead to various issues.

What are the signs of too little light for my houseplant?

• Stretching and Reaching for Light: The plant exhibits leggy, rangy growth and may start tipping one way, with elongated stems moving toward a light source.
• Sparse Growth with Long Distances Between Leaf Sets: This occurs when leaves are spaced out along the stem, and some leaves may drop off, resulting in long bare stems.
• Lower Foliage Loss: Upright plants may start losing lower leaves because the light can only sustain the upper leaves.
• Overall Loss of Vitality: The plant may appear pale and dull, with a lack of flowers, indicating insufficient light.
• Pest and Disease Problems: Plants weakened by insufficient light are more susceptible to pests and diseases.

What are the signs of too much light for my houseplant?

• Scorched Leaves: Leaves that are browned or bleached, especially on the window side, often indicate too much light.
• Overall Yellowing and Thickening of New Growth: New growth may become yellow and thick due to excessive light.
• Excessively Compact and Stunted Growth: The plant may stop growing and appear stunted because of too much light.
• Foliage Curling Downward: Leaves may curl downward as a reaction to too much light.
• Wilting Despite Adequate Moisture: Even if the soil is moist, the leaves may wilt because they cannot cycle water fast enough in excessive light.
• Lighter than Normal Leaves: Yellowing leaves can also be a sign of too much light.

What should I do if my houseplant is getting too much light?

If your plant is getting too much light, move it away from the light source into dimmer conditions.

What should I do if my houseplant is getting too little light?

If your plant is getting too little light, move it to a brighter location or use full-spectrum lighting to improve its light conditions.

Can incorrect watering cause similar symptoms to incorrect lighting?

Yes, symptoms like yellowing leaves, foliage curling downward, and leaf loss can also be caused by incorrect watering. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so it’s essential to determine whether the issue is related to watering or lighting.

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