Plant care guide
Philodendron Light Requirements: How Much Light, Where
Updated
How much light does a Philodendron need?
Philodendrons want bright, indirect or curtain-filtered light. They survive in low light, but UF/IFAS reports that 150 foot-candles (about 1,600 lux) or more is needed to keep leaf color and size, while 75 foot-candles (about 800 lux) is the tolerance floor. Direct sun burns the leaves.
What to do first
Place the plant near an east window or a few steps back from a south or west window, out of direct sun. Measure the spot with a light meter app; if it reads under about 1,600 lux, move it closer to the window or add a grow light.
Philodendrons are sold as low-light plants, and they do survive in dim rooms. Surviving is not the same as growing well. The University of Florida’s philodendron guidelines put numbers on it:
- Tolerance floor: about 800 lux (75 foot-candles). Most philodendrons will tolerate this.
- To keep leaf color and size: about 1,600 lux (150 foot-candles) or more.
Clemson Extension says most philodendrons prefer indirect or curtain-filtered sunlight but tolerate low light. Heartleaf philodendron tolerates very low light (Clemson HGIC 1509).
Light Needs by Type
| Philodendron | What the extension sources say |
|---|---|
| Heartleaf (P. hederaceum) | Prefers medium light, tolerates low light; can survive long periods in extremely low light (NC State) |
| Tree or split-leaf (P. bipinnatifidum, ‘Selloum’) | Prefers high light but tolerates low light. Low light and overwatering make leaves smaller, with fewer or no lobes (NC State) |
| Blushing (P. erubescens, incl. ‘Pink Princess’, ‘Prince of Orange’) | Partial shade; avoid direct sunlight (NC State) |
Variegated and colored cultivars follow the general rule for variegated foliage: in too little light they can revert to solid green, as University of Minnesota Extension notes.
What the Numbers Mean at Home
University of Minnesota Extension groups indoor light into three bands (UMN: lighting for indoor plants):
- Low light, about 540–2,700 lux (50–250 foot-candles): a north window or a fairly dark corner. Philodendron and pothos appear on its low-light plant list.
- Medium light, about 2,700–10,800 lux (250–1,000 foot-candles): an east window, or near a west window but out of direct light.
- High light, above about 10,800 lux (1,000 foot-candles): south or southwest windows.
UF’s 1,600 lux target sits inside the low-light band, but at its brighter end. The edge of a north window may reach it; a dark corner usually will not. A free light meter app on a phone gives a rough lux reading. Measure at leaf height at midday, on a bright and a dull day.
Signs of Too Little Light
- Long, stretched petioles and an open, sparse plant (UF)
- Long gaps between leaves along the stem, and stems leaning toward the window (UMN)
- New leaves smaller than older ones; on tree philodendron, fewer lobes (NC State)
- Pale growth, and older leaves dropping (UMN)
- Variegated leaves turning solid green (UMN)
Clemson also links yellowing lower leaves and dying growing tips to too little light or overwatering. Plants in dim light use less water, so cut back watering when light is low.
Signs of Too Much Light
UF lists sunburn as burned patches in the centers and tips of leaves. High light combined with heat gives bronzed leaf edges. Light that is too strong can also fade or bleach leaf color. UMN describes scorched and bleached leaves from excess light.
If you see these, move the plant back from the glass or filter the window with a sheer curtain.
Placement and Grow Lights
- Start at an east window or a few steps back from a south or west window, out of the direct sun patch.
- Measure, then adjust. Aim for at least about 1,600 lux at the leaves.
- Add a grow light if no window spot reaches that. UMN notes supplemental lighting can make up for a lack of natural sunlight.
- Rotate the pot every few weeks so growth stays even.
- Move gradually. A plant shifted from a dim corner into strong light can scorch. Increase light in steps.
For related symptoms, see our philodendron yellow leaves guide and the philodendron hub.
Related guides
Other philodendron problems we cover: nutrient deficiency, new leaf stuck in its sheath, toxicity to cats, dogs and people, brown leaf tips, fungal leaf spot.
References
- UF/IFAS Extension: Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of Interiorscape Philodendron (ENH893)
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Philodendron hederaceum
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Philodendron bipinnatifidum
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Philodendron erubescens
- Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC 1509: Philodendron
- University of Minnesota Extension: Lighting for Indoor Plants and Starting Seeds
How this guide was put together: UF/IFAS Extension, NC State Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension and University of Minnesota Extension guidance.