Okay, so I’ve been messing around with my pothos plants lately, trying to get the lighting just right. I’m no expert, but I figured I’d share what I’ve learned so far, ’cause, you know, why not?
My Pothos Lighting Journey
I started with a couple of pothos – a golden and a marble queen. They were in my living room, which I thought was pretty bright, but they just weren’t thriving. The golden was looking kinda dull, and the marble queen’s variegation was fading. Not cool.
So, I did some digging – mostly just googling and watching YouTube videos. I quickly learned that “bright indirect light” is the sweet spot for pothos. My living room, while bright to me, apparently wasn’t bright enough for these guys. Direct sunlight is a big no-no, though. It’ll scorch their leaves. Think “dappled shade” like they’d get under a tree in the jungle.
Experiment Time!
First, I tried moving them closer to a window, but not directly in the sunbeam. I put up a sheer curtain to filter the light a bit. That seemed to help some, but the marble queen was still struggling.
Then, I decided to get a little more scientific (or, as scientific as I get, anyway). I used a light meter app on my phone. Turns out, my “bright” living room was only getting around 200-300 foot-candles in the spot where the pothos were. From what I read, they ideally want closer to 1000-2000 foot-candles for good growth and variegation, but to be honest that seems super high. So,I try to stick to about 500 foot-candles.
Supplemental Lighting
I’ve also experimented with grow lights. I didn’t want anything fancy, so I just grabbed a basic LED grow light bulb and put it in a regular lamp.
Here’s what I did:
- Bulb Choice: I went with a full-spectrum LED bulb. It was pretty cheap, and it seemed to cover all the bases.
- Placement: I positioned the lamp so the light was shining on the plants from above, about 12-18 inches away. I didn’t want to burn them, so I started further away and gradually moved it closer.
- Timing: I started with the light on for about 8 hours a day, mimicking a natural day/night cycle. I’ve since bumped it up to 10-12 hours, and the plants seem to be responding well.
The Results (So Far)
It’s been a few weeks, and I’m definitely seeing a difference! The golden pothos is looking much more vibrant, and the marble queen’s variegation is starting to come back. They’re both putting out new leaves, which is always a good sign.
I’m still learning, and it’s definitely a process of trial and error. But, for now, I’m pretty happy with how my pothos are doing. The combination of natural light and the supplemental LED seems to be working wonders.
I’m no plant guru, but hopefully, my little experiment helps someone else out there. Just remember to observe your plants, make small adjustments, and don’t be afraid to experiment!
