☀️ Understanding High Light ☀️
AKA Bright or Direct Light

If you missed it, in my last two newsletters, I explained 1) bright, indirect light and 2) low light for houseplants. Today, let's discuss high light. Also called bright light or direct light.

What is High Light?
A high light area is one where the sun's rays directly hit the plant's leaves for a good part of the day. Think of where the cat wants to lie down and snooze. Or think of it this way: if the plant had eyes, it could see the sun out the window.

Where is High Light?
The brightest spot in a home will be in an unobstructed, south-facing window, which receives several hours if direct sun. West-facing windows are next brightest, and get direct sun for a few hours in the afternoon. And while east-facing windows get direct sun in the morning, that sun is gentler so usually not considered high light. So not only the brightness of the light, but also the duration of light will influence how much light the plant receives.

Season Matters
The season also affects how much light your plants get. In winter, the sun is lower in the sky, and the intensity of light is lower than in the summer. This means plants that may not typically like being in a south- or west-facing window may be very happy in one of those spots in winter.

Plants for High Light
For your high light spots, the best plants are sun-loving plants like cacti, succulents, birds of paradise, ponytail palms, hoyas, and citrus. Many other plants can adapt to and thrive in high light, like fiddle leaf figs and other types of ficus.

Acclimating Plants to High Light
If you have a plant not typically associated with high light environments, but want to see if yours will do well in a high light spot, start with the plants a few feet away from the window. Every week, move the plant a foot or two closer to the window until you have the plant where you want it. This slowly acclimates the plant to the higher light levels, making it less likely that the plant's leaves will get scorched.

During winter, since the sun is lower in the sky and therefore weaker, it's the perfect time to move plants to a brighter window and let the sun's slowly increasing brightness naturally acclimate the plants to higher light.

Again, here's that so-very-useful diagram from Tonkadale showing the light available from an unobstructed south- or west-facing window, showing bright light being where the sun's rays are hitting the floor.

 

Terrarium Workshop

I've got the terrarium bug! I've gone from being pretty ambivalent about terrariums to being kind of obsessed. Come to the next workshop and share in my enthusiasm for making these mini landscapes!

Sunday, February 23, 2025
9:30am-11:30am 

Create a miniature woodland landscape enclosed in glass! Using moss, ferns, stones, and other natural elements, you'll design a lush terrarium inspired by the forest. We provide all the materials and step-by-step instruction—you leave with your own living woodland scene and the knowledge to make and care for terrariums at home!

Save your spot

 

Choose from mosses, plants, stones, and figurines to make the terrarium your own! 🍄

Get a sneak peek of workshops I'm planning for spring here! Up next will be an urban chickenkeeping class (with chicken coop tour!) and repotting class.

 

Community Spotlight

CHICAGO TOOL LIBRARY

In the past few newsletters, I've been highlighting community groups that share our values of community and sustainability. The Chicago Tool Library is another organization working toward these goals. They provide access to thousands of tools—from drills to sewing machines—to help people repair, create, and build without having to buy new. It’s an amazing resource for DIY-ers, renters, and anyone looking to borrow instead of buy.

From their website:
"We are a forward-thinking organization hoping to help our city reshape its relationship to ownership, consumption, and creativity." I can get behind that!

4015 West Carroll St. (near Pulaski and Lake St.), Chicago, IL 60624

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Valentine’s Day is this Friday! I've loaded up with pink plants, strings of hearts, and sweetheart plants (Hoya kerrii), but if gifting a plant isn’t your thing, we’ve got plenty of other thoughtful options.

From scented candles that set the mood for cozy evenings to jigsaw puzzles perfect for quality time, plus journals and cards designed to deepen connections—there’s something here for everyone. Just need a V-Day card? I got you. Whether you’re celebrating a partner, a friend, or yourself, you'll find a gift that makes hearts warm and moments meaningful. 💕

Hope to see you soon!

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