Every plant has its own set of demands for lighting. Some plants want low light, others want medium-light, and some plants are best for high light.
All plants have a natural growth cycle, and this cycle is directly affected by the amount of sunlight being provided to a plant.
To provide your plant with proper lighting all year round, you can use artificial lighting, but it will not be as sufficient as natural sunlight.
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High Light Houseplants
For the majority of the day, high light house plants need strong indirect or direct sunlight. Many high light houseplants come from South Africa and Australia, where there they are constantly provided with bright direct sunlight. You can achieve vibrant plants by providing the high light demanding plants with proper sunlight.
10 Plants That Grow Well Under High Light
1. Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera)
One of the easiest plants to grow is the Aloe Vera plant, as this is a low maintenance plant that requires less water and direct sunlight. The sap of Aloe Vera can be used as first aid because it can provide relief from pain caused by minor cuts or burns.
The Aloe Vera plant is easy to propagate, as you simply need to repot the pups. This plant is also capable of surviving under filtered sunlight, which means even if your plant is not kept under direct sunlight, it will still flourish.
2. Crassula Argentea (Jade Plant)
The Jade plant is a common sight in many places as it can easily be grown in many different environments. This plant has sturdy stems and fleshy leaves that are capable of withstanding the heat provided by direct sunlight.
Jade plants do not have high demands as they simply need to be kept under direct sunlight for at least four hours a day. You can provide it with direct sunlight by placing it near a south-facing window.
This plant is oftentimes confused for a cactus because of its succulent leaves and resistance to drought, but it is not a part of the cactus family. The Jade plant can live for decades because of its slow growth, which is why it is one of the top choices for houseplant owners.
3. Cycas Revoluta (Sago Palm)
The Sago Palm plant is considered to be the most stunning decoration plant. This plant is a slow-growing cycad, which produces no flowers and rarely sheds any leaves.
Because of its low maintenance, many like to keep it in their bedrooms close to a window. This plant thrives under filtered sunlight but can also survive for a few hours under direct sunlight.
4. Euphorbia Trigona (African Milk Bush)
The African Milk Bush plant is known for its unusual look. This plant is not a cactus, but it is a succulent that grows sharp thorns, which makes it difficult to be repotted.
However, the African Milk Bush is a low maintenance plant that thrives under direct sunlight and also bright indirect sunlight. This plant cannot survive under temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10-degree Celsius).
5. Sansevieria Ttrifasciata (Snake Plant)
The Snake plant is known as the “impossible-to-kill” plant as it is one of the lowest maintenance plants around the world. This plant is considered to be the ideal gift for new houseplant enthusiasts or for individuals that cannot give much attention to their plants.
The Snake Plant is capable of surviving under bright indirect sunlight but tends to thrive under direct sunlight. This plant also has stunning white flowers that occasionally bloom and have a beautiful scent to them.
6. Codiaeum Variegatum (Croton)
The Croton plant has stunning foliage and flowers present on it. This plant does not need to be watered often, even though it loves to be kept under direct sunlight.
The Croton plant may be low maintenance, but it still has demands regarding its surrounding temperature. Always keep your plant in temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius), as anything below this can kill it.
7. Cyperus Papyrus (Papyrus)
The Papyrus plant is an aquatic flowering plant that thrives under direct sunlight. This plant can be kept anywhere in your garden as direct sunlight does not damage the plant in any way.
However, as much as the Papyrus plant loves to be bathing in sunlight, it does require a lot of watering since it grows well when its soil is moist throughout the day.
8. Beaucarnea Recurvata (Ponytail Palm)
This plant has a stunningly unique appearance because of its swollen trunk and frizzy foliage. The Ponytail Palm plant is a fun addition to the indoor plant collection as it can bring an aesthetic that no other plant can.
The Ponytail Palm plant thrives under direct sunlight, so keeping it close to the south window will help it stay healthy. However, if your south window is already occupied, then keep it in an area where it is provided with partial sunlight as it can even grow well in those conditions.
9. Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis (Hibiscus)
The Hibiscus plant is a tropical plant that is often kept indoors due to its stunning large flowers. The plant must be kept under direct sunlight in order for the blooms to grow large and vibrant.
The plants surrounding must always have high humidity levels for them to thrive under bright direct sunlight. Providing it with indirect sunlight can cause fewer flowers to bloom, or they may not bloom at all.
10. Schefflera Arboricola (Dwarf Umbrella)
The Dwarf Umbrella plant is a famous bush that originates from Taiwan and Hainan. This stunning plant has a miniature tree look, with ever-green broad leaves.
If the plant is provided with direct sunlight throughout the year, then it will grow red flowers that turn into rounded orange, and maroon drupes, which eventually turn black as they mature. The majority of the time, this plant does not bloom indoors due to the lack of sunlight provided to it.
The 5 Effects That Lack of Lighting Can Have on Plants
Chlorophyll
A plant needs chlorophyll in order for it to remain healthy. If a plant does not get sufficient sunlight, then it will not produce chlorophyll, which causes them to turn pale green, yellow, or white.
Leggy Stems
Lack of sunlight can cause the stems of your plant to become leggy, which means that the stems become long and thin. This happens because the stem is trying to reach a proper light source.
Long Spaces
Not receiving enough sunlight causes a plant to grow long spaces on the stems. This happens between the leaf nodes, which is the point where the leaf grows out from on a stem.
Leaf Loss
Plants that do not receive enough sunlight end up losing leaves.
Lack of Flower Buds
If your plant is not being provided with sufficient sunlight, then it will end up not producing flower buds.
Frequently Asked Questions About High Light Plants
How do you provide plants with sufficient sunlight?
South-facing windows are the best options for providing high light plants with sunlight. If you do not have south-facing windows, then placing your plant close to any window that gets enough sunlight will be your next best option. You can place it outdoors for a few hours a day and then bring it back indoors.
How can you imitate sunlight for plant growth?
You can hang or place a light source close to your plant pots, as this is the best way to mimic natural sunlight. Placing the artificial lights right above the plant can help your plant grow even better.
Does every leaf need to be provided with the same amount of sunlight?
When you place a plant under a light source, some of its leaves become sun leaves while the other become shade leaves, and this allows a plant to thrive in different levels of sunlight.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.