A houseplant light requirements guide shows the exact foot-candle ranges and DLI values for 100+ common species — so you can match plants to your actual light conditions and window directions instead of guessing.
How to Use the Plant Light Requirements Guide
Light is the most underestimated variable in houseplant care. Most people know their plants need "indirect light," but few know what that actually means in measurable terms. This guide gives you specific foot-candle ranges for 100+ houseplants so you can make evidence-based placement decisions.
Understanding Foot-Candles
A foot-candle (fc) measures light intensity — specifically, the amount of light hitting one square foot from one candle at one foot away. For plants, typical ranges are: under 100 fc for true low-light plants, 100-400 fc for medium-light plants, and 400-1000+ fc for high-light plants. A typical office is 50-100 fc. A bright south window midday can reach 800-1200 fc or more.
What is DLI and Why It Matters
DLI (Daily Light Integral) measures the total light a plant receives over the course of a day — combining intensity and duration. It's expressed in mol/m2/day. A plant in 200 fc for 12 hours gets more total light than one in 500 fc for 3 hours. DLI is a more accurate way to evaluate whether your space meets a plant's needs throughout the day rather than just at peak brightness.
Window Direction Recommendations
The guide recommends window direction based on ideal foot-candle ranges. Plants needing under 100 fc ideal can survive in north-facing windows with low direct sun. Plants needing 100-300 fc do best in east or west windows with morning or afternoon sun. Plants needing 300+ fc ideal need a south-facing window for maximum light throughout the day. These recommendations apply to the northern hemisphere — flip north/south for southern hemisphere.
Searching and Filtering
Type any plant name in the search box to filter results. Use the light level filter to browse only low-light, medium-light, or high-light plants — useful when you already know your room's light conditions and want to find plants that will thrive there. Each plant card shows the minimum foot-candles (what it can survive on) and ideal foot-candles (what it actually thrives on) with a visual intensity bar.
For a detailed walkthrough, see our guide: Best Low-Light Houseplants.
FAQ
Is this tool free?
Yes, completely free with no signup or account required. Search all 100+ plants instantly.
Is my data safe?
Yes, all lookups run locally in your browser. No data is sent to any server.
What is a foot-candle and how do I measure it?
A foot-candle (fc) is a unit of light intensity equal to the illumination from one candle at one foot distance. You can measure foot-candles with a smartphone light meter app (like Lux Meter) — divide lux readings by 10.76 to get foot-candles. Many new iPhones and Android phones can measure ambient light.
What does DLI mean for plants?
DLI (Daily Light Integral) measures the total amount of light a plant receives over a full day, in mol/m2/day. It accounts for both light intensity and duration. Most tropical houseplants thrive at 5-15 DLI. High-light plants like succulents need 15-30 DLI. A north window typically provides 1-3 DLI, south window 5-20 DLI.
Which window direction gives the most light?
In the northern hemisphere: south > west > east > north in terms of light intensity. South-facing windows provide the most direct light (500-1000+ fc at peak). East and west windows provide moderate indirect light (100-500 fc). North windows provide the lowest light (25-100 fc). These numbers drop significantly if trees or buildings obstruct the view.
Can I use a grow light instead of natural light?
Yes. Full-spectrum LED grow lights can supplement or replace natural light. Position LED panels 12-18 inches above foliage for medium-light plants, 6-12 inches for high-light plants. Run for 12-16 hours/day. Look for lights with a PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) rating of 200-400 µmol/m2/s for most tropical plants.
What happens if a plant gets too much light?
Too much direct sun causes scorched, bleached, or crispy leaf edges — especially on tropical plants adapted to filtered forest light. Signs include faded color, papery brown patches, and dried leaf tips. Move plants a few feet from south-facing windows or filter light with a sheer curtain.