However I found at least one academic paper that seems to suggest this theory doesn’t stand up when tested.Īnother theory I found was that the red colouration actually stops light reaching the ground beneath plants, meaning that they can stop other plants that might offer competition from germinating and crowding them out: and there seems to be some evidence for this one. One is that the anthocyanins in the lower levels of a leaf (the red pigment) help to bounce light back up to the chlorophyll-filled cells above, thus maximising the available light for plants that generally live in low light conditions. The honest answer is that no one is completely sure. Lara wanted to know why some houseplant leaves - Begonias and Calatheas for instance - have red undersides.
If you windows are high, move plants up so they can catch more light, using hangers or high shelves. That said, sometimes plants that prefer brighter light will adapt to lower light and become settled in a spot - they may not grow a lot, but won’t deteriorate. Try buying two identical plants and keeping them in different light conditions and see which one thrives - you can always swap them around every so often! Other signs that plants aren’t happy in the shade include leaning towards the light and growing spindly, and sometimes yellowing leaves also show up. Remember plants will slow down growth rates in lower light, so drop your watering accordingly. Plants that are suffering from too little light will often rot because they are given the same water as plants in brighter light. Then take a look at what’s blocking your light from coming in - that may mean removing awnings, cutting back trees and shrubs, and maybe even persuading your neighbours to paint their house white!Īlthough dark walls are popular right now, pale (ideally white) walls are best to bounce around whatever light you do have. First, figure out what light you do have - finding out which way your windows face is a great starting point.
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