Indoor plants: 7 tips for optimizing light in winter

Although houseplants don't suffer from seasonal depression, low light levels in winter do affect their development. Their growth slows down, their stems wither and their leaves become smaller and duller. Fortunately, you can combat the lack of sunlight. Here are seven simple tips to optimize light levels in your home and bring more light to your plants.

To give your houseplants maximum light, move them closer to the window. The light will be more intense at the source!

If your window faces north, east or even west, direct sunlight in winter presents no danger to plants that require sun or half-shade exposure. When your bay window faces south, avoid placing delicate foliage varieties or shade-loving plants right in front of it.

Do you have more windows than plants? There are ways of optimizing space and placing as many plants as possible in front of your windows. Hang hanging varieties such as scindapsus pictus, misery and disocactus anguliger to exploit the height of the room. Plant shelves are also available on the market, allowing you to arrange your houseplants on several levels.

Plants naturally grow towards the light. In nature, they receive the sun equally. Branches, stems and leaves develop evenly, and the plant retains a symmetrical appearance.

Indoors, light is not evenly distributed. Stems and blades facing the window get more sun than those at the back or against a wall. The plant tends to lean towards the light source, and its development is more pronounced where the light is strongest. This is often seen on chinese coin plant. The trunk bends and the new leaves all appear on the same side. Where the light is lower, the plant is atrophied.

To ensure that your plant maintains a harmonious habit and develops evenly, turn it a quarter turn every week. This will balance out the amount of light. Stems that were against the wall are now facing the light and can flourish.

To get beautiful houseplants, even in winter, you're going to have to do a bit of housework and clean your windows. We don't always realize it, but our windows are covered with a fine film of pollution ordust that prevents light from entering our homes.

In summer, when the light is strong, this doesn't really matter. But in winter, when the sun is scarce, it can quickly become a problem. Behind dirty windows, plants receive even less light. This affects their development. Foliage turns yellow and growth slows down. The plant hardly produces any new leaves. Those that do appear are stunted and misshapen.

When you wash your windows, you let in as much light as possible. The effect is immediate for your plants (and your morale). Remember to repeat the operation severaltimes during the winter. Dirt comes back quickly, in town and country!

Dust also collects on foliage. Not only does it give your interior a haunted house look, it also prevents your plants from receiving and processing light. The photosynthesis process is made possible by receptors on the leaves. When these are obstructed, they can no longer fulfill their role, and the plant slows down its growth. It also produces less oxygen.

If, outdoors, wind and rain clean the limbs, indoors, you'll have to do it yourself. But you mustn't do it any old way. You need to be gentle and adapt your technique to the plant.

When your plant can be moved, the quickest way is to give it a good shower, using lukewarm water. Run the jet (not too hard) over both sides of the leaves and you're done.

After a few years, some plants, such as monstera deliciosa or ficus elastica 'Tineke, become too large to handle. In this case, wipe both sides of the leaf with a soft, clean, slightly damp cloth.

For begonias, saintpaulia and other plants with hair-covered foliage, you'll need to do a dry cleaning. Take a brush suited to the size of the leaves and run it gently over the limbs to remove the dust.

Whatever your technique, don't apply any polish, beer or other substance recommended on the Internet to make the foliage shine. It will do your plant more harm than good. And reserve cleaning with black soap for plants that have been attacked by pests.

You'll need to repeat the operation regularly. To make sure you don't forget, download the Monstera app. We'll send you a reminder when it's time to clean up. You'll also find information and advice on the best technique for dusting your plant in our maintenance guide.

Mirrors are often used in decoration. By reflecting natural light, they give the illusion that a room is bigger or brighter than it really is. This trick also benefits your plants. It increases light levels.

You don't have to follow the example of the researchers at the University of Guam and place lots of mirrors at the foot of your plant. One is enough to bring more sunshine to your indoor jungle. You can place a mirror facing your bay window and change the angle to redirect the light towards another space, where your plants are located. You can also place your Yucca gigantea in front of the mirror, so that it benefits from a double dose of sunlight.

Like windows and plants, mirrors eventually gather dust! Clean them to keep them looking their best.

Willing to do anything to keep your plants happy? Why not paint your walls white? Like mirrors, light colors reflect light, increasing the brightness of the room and allowing your plants to enjoy more sunlight. Conversely, dark paint absorbs light. This makes it harder for plants to capture the light they need.

Don't want to swap your art deco wallpaper for a white wall? Your landlord won't let you paint his mahogany panelling beige? The effect of color applies to walls and objects alike. With ecru curtains, light-colored bed linen and pastel carpets, your interior will reflect more light. And your plants will grow better!

One last tip to improve the brightness of your home: invest in a grow lamp. These accessories reproduce natural light. Thanks to them, your plants will no longer know the difference between a sunny July day and a misty November morning.

There are many different types of grow lights. Not all models reflect the same rays of the light spectrum. You need to choose your artificial lighting according to your plants and their needs. For example, blue light promotes leaf development, while red light boosts flowering.

When choosing your grow light, opt for LEDs. These bulbs don't give off heat and don't raise the temperature. They can therefore be placed above your plants without the risk of drying out or burning their foliage

Finally, we recommend a horticultural lamp with a timer. This will enable you to adjust the length of time your plants are exposed to the light, the intensity of the light and save energy!