The problem
Lots of houseplants fail because they aren’t getting enough light. But what does “bright, indirect light” really mean in practice? Light meters and apps promise to turn guesswork into numbers, but are they useful, or just kit for professionals and plant nerds?
The hack
Light meters measure the amount of light hitting a spot. Some are dedicated devices; others are phone apps that use the camera sensor. Instead of guessing whether a corner is bright enough, you measure it and then find the right plant for that spot with more confidence.
The method
Hold the meter at leaf height where your plants actually sit and take readings at different times of day. Try by the window, the middle of the room and those “problem” corners where everything sulks. Do the same in winter, when the light drops. Patterns will quickly appear: the dramatic fall-off as you step away from a window, and just how low the numbers are in the centre of most rooms.
The test
I tested a decent meter and a phone app. The app could spot the extremes – very dark v very bright – but gave jumpy results in between. The meter was steady and confirmed that my “bright” home is actually quite dim, and no amount of fertiliser will fix that.
The verdict
You don’t need a light meter to keep houseplants alive, but it can be a very useful teacher. Use it for a while to understand the light in your home, then let your newly trained eye take over.
