Do flowers need direct sun? The plants in the flower family available in air plants world survive primarily by absorbing the water in the air and basking in indirect (and often not always direct) sunlight nearby them. Some houseplants require direct sun and others require indirect, but what exactly indirect sunlight is when the sunlight is reflected off something else first? And how is it possible to design a flower garden that will thrive regardless of the amount of sun it gets?
Well, let’s start with a misconception that many people have about houseplants: that they need to be in direct sunlight. Contrary to popular belief, air plants do NOT need direct sunlight; however, they do require the proper exposure to make them healthy. For instance, some types of houseplant may need to be exposed to an hour or two of sun per week if they are placed outside during the winter or fall, and these would be the ones you should consider using window direct light instead of room temperature or “warm” light from the sun.
Indoor plants, on the other hand, actually benefit from being exposed to full sunlight during the day. In fact, most tropical houseplants enjoy full sunlight for most of the day, unless placed in a glass window which provides shade for them for a short time during the day. Some indoor plants, such as potted plants or rocks do enjoy full sun light during the day as long as they are allowed to stay in an area where they receive morning sunlight. This is usually not recommended for most indoor plants, as the heat from the afternoon sun can make the potting material dry out and burn, making an indoor plant unhealthy.
You’ll find that some houseplants, such as potted plants or rock, will not need any additional sunlight during the day. The reason for this is that these types of plants are typically placed in an area of indirect sunlight will be brightly lit, but there is no direct heat from the sunlight coming directly at them. If you place an indoor plant in direct sunlight, you run the risk of burning or damaging the roots. On the flip side, if you do place your potted plants or houseplants into a room or area of direct sunlight, it is best to place them in a container of water. Waterproof indoor plants will greatly increase the chances of their survival.
Since many houseplants are grown in tanks, it may not be practical to provide them with the proper amount of sunlight. In order to encourage plant growth in open terrariums like those found in homes, you may need to find some type of method of providing plant life with indirect lighting, without exposing your houseplants to full sunlight. One way is to use fluorescent lights or “grow lamps”, which have a wide range of temperature settings and emit light in different wavelengths.
If you have a nice piece of artwork or do a lot of fine art, you may find that it would benefit from being hung in an area of direct sunlight. Flowering plants actually benefit from full sun, as long as the flower gets a good amount of sunlight throughout the day. But if you find that your flowers are not getting enough sun, you can still provide them with indirect lighting by using grow lamps or fluorescent grow lamps. These methods will also help keep your air plant healthy, as it needs varying amounts of sunlight throughout the day.
You’ll also find that some flowering plants don’t do well in the southern states. In these areas, you may have better luck trying to expose them to indirect sunlight. Some common flower varieties that require intensive light are lilies, tulips, gerberas, and hydrangeas. Many of these require full sunlight in order to thrive, while others only require light on the lower third of the day. You’ll have to experiment a bit in order to figure out what your particular flower varieties need, but you should experiment at least once, in order to determine what conditions best suit your plants.
Now, if you find that none of the conditions listed apply to your home or yard, then no harm done, just move along to the next location! Direct sunlight is great for many kinds of plants, so don’t rule it out if you’re considering exposure to the sun for beauty care purposes. Just remember that some plants feed off of indirect sunlight, so don’t assume that they’ll all do well in one spot!