How strong is my light? Find out with a Shadow Test!
Did You Know:
The number one reason herbs and vegetables fail to grow indoors is because they don't get enough sunshine?
Plain and simple - light is an essential component to successful plant growth. As you start up your Back to the Roots Garden-in-a-Can, Garden-in-a-Jar, or Self-Watering Planter, you'll need to figure out where in your home your plants will get the best direct natural sunshine. Sun-loving herbs usually need about 6-8 hours of direct light per day, while vegetables will thrive with 8 or more.
Unfortunately, short of purchasing a light meter, determining exactly how much light your plants will receive can be difficult. Fortunately, there's a low-tech way of measuring your light intensity with what we call a 'Shadow Test'! Follow the simple process below, or reach out to our Community Happiness Guru Emily with additional questions.
-
Around mid-day, place your hand ~1ft above where your plant will sit and spread your fingers wide.
-
Look at the shadow cast by your hand. A well-defined shadow like in the picture below means your light is strong and you should feel confident in growing your herbs or vegetables!
Fuzzier and fainter shadows like the picture below mean your window might not be the best for optimal growth. Don't worry, though! You can still grow delicious herbs and vegetables in your window, but you will want to supplement your natural light with a grow light, which you can find right here on our website!
And that's it! The couple of minutes it takes to perform this test can get your indoor garden on its way to success. Happy Growing!
