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Last Updated:February 5, 2024

What Is Bright Indirect Light For Plants?

featured-bright indirect light

There aren’t many things that confuse plant parents as much as the notion of bright indirect light. One of the reasons is that although it might be easy to define bright indirect light in general terms, when it comes to its practical use, many variables need to be taken into account.

The questions I usually get from indoor gardening lovers range from what exactly bright indirect light is to how it differs from direct light. Read on to find out what are the proper lighting conditions for your indoor garden. Learn everything about bright indirect light and its importance for your plants and indoor garden.

Direct light is when the sun is shining directly onto the leaves of a plant. If you’re in the position of a plant, the plant can see the sun from it’s location.

Example of direct light: the sun is shining on the fiddle leaf fig plant

What Is Indirect Light?

Indirect light is any light that is not direct, that is, whenever the sun isn’t shining directly onto the leaves of a plant, this is indirect light.

What Is the Difference Between Direct Sun (Direct Sunlight) and Direct Light?

There is no difference between direct sun and direct light. Direct sun, direct sunlight. direct light and bright direct light are all synonyms. These synonyms are used when the sun is shining directly onto the leaves of a plant.

What Is Indirect Sunlight?

Indirect sunlight has the same meaning as indirect light, however indirect sunlight is a bit of a misleading term. The word “sunlight” can be the cause of confusion as the word “sunlight” alone refers to direct sun. It’s more clear to use the term indirect light instead of the term indirect sunlight.

What Is Bright Indirect Light?

Bright indirect light is indirect light over 3,000 lux (300 foot candles).

What Does Bright Indirect Light Mean?

Bright indirect light means indirect light (light where the sun isn’t shining directly on the plant’s leaves) of intensity over 3,000 lux (300 fc). Most house plants need bright indirect light to grow well and be happy and healthy. But if you give them stronger bright indirect light (over 10,000 lux or 15,000 lux = over 1,000 or 1,5000 foot candles), this will increase photosynthesis, speed up their growth and most plants will be happier and healthier.

How to Measure Bright Indirect Light?

There are two ways to measure bright indirect light. Bright indirect light can be measured with:

  • a light meter or
  • a light meter app.

How to Measure Light with a Light Meter

Measuring light with a light meter on my beautiful houseplant

The best way to measure natural light is with a light meter. Light meters are inexpensive tools that cost between $20-30. They are very user-friendly. You just need to position them above a plant and point them towards the window/light source. The meter will show the amount of light your plant is getting at that particular moment.

For most plants the goal is to have bright indirect light (light over 3,000 lux), but the more indirect light you can provide the better. If you can provide 10,000-15,000 lux your plant will grow even faster and be much happier. The amount of light in your home will depend on the time of day. A light meter will show different light levels at different times of day.

How to Measure Light with a Light Meter App

Comparing light measurements from Photone and light meter

I would always choose light meters over apps. Why? The reason is simple. These apps are imprecise because they aren’t calibrated for different mobile phone types. And to calibrate them, you need to use a light meter. This makes the apps entirely redundant (and futile).

However, there is always an exception to the rule. There is an app that I do recommend, and it is called Photone. What sets it apart from other apps is that it is already calibrated for different mobile phone types. In my experience, it shows the correct measures 9 out of 10 times.

Can I See a Bright Indirect Light Example?

Here is a bright indirect light example in a home:

Bright Indirect Light: the plants are in front of a bright window with unobstructed view of the sky, but the sun is not shining directly on the leaves of houseplants

What is also important to mention is that, without a light meter you can only estimate the amount of indirect light your plant is getting. Our pupils dilate in low light, so a place that seems super bright for us might not be that bright for our plant. The only way to know for sure is to use a light meter. But what if you don’t have one yet?

If I Don’t Have a Light Meter, How Can I Make Sure My Plant is Getting Bright Indirect Light?

If you don’t have a light meter, the best way to make sure your plant gets bright indirect light is by placing the plant in front of the brightest window with an unobstructed view of the sky. I really mean in front of it. Not a few feet away, not to the side of it, not tucked away in the corner of your room. In addition, blinds should be fully lifted, and curtains open. Ideally, plants should be in a spot with an unobstructed view of the sky. What do I mean by that? There shouldn’t be any large trees, awnings, or buildings blocking the view of the sky. If you want your plants to thrive, bright indirect light is the key. And you should have it by following all the previously mentioned advice. But once again, without a light meter, you can’t tell for certain how much light your plant gets.

What Is Medium Indirect Light?

Medium indirect light means indirect light (light where the sun isn’t shining directly on the plant’s leaves) between 750 lux (75 foot candles) and 3,000 lux (300 foot candles).

What Does Full-Sun Mean?

Full-sun means that your plant is exposed to direct sun for most of the day. It will depend a lot on your plant type, but this type of overexposure can damage or even kill your plant. As a general rule of thumb, keeping your plant in direct sun in the early morning or late afternoon is okay, for 1-2 hours.

What Is Filtered Light?

Filtered light is pretty much a synonym for indirect light. Filtered light means that your plant is getting direct sun, but it is shielded from sun rays by a sheer curtain. The curtain acts like a buffer that softens the sun’s ray and prevents your plant from being sunburnt.

Is Light Through a Window Considered Direct Sunlight?

Yes, light through a window is considered direct sunlight. If the sun directly falls on your plant’s leaves (even through a window), that is direct sunlight. The intensity of direct sun through a window is lower compared to direct sun outdoors. But it is still considered direct sunlight. Note that too much exposure even through a window can cause sunburns.

If there is a white curtain on the window in front of your plant, it is no longer direct sunlight but indirect, filtered light.

How to Tell If Your Indoor Plant Is Getting Enough Light?

There are two ways to tell if your indoor plant is getting enough light:

  1. By measuring the intensity of light with a light meter and comparing it to the values in the table I am sharing with you at the end of this article and
  2. by observing the growth of the plant

When it comes to measuring light for plants, the values I provided in the table are based on different resources such are agricultural extensions and books, adjusted based on my personal observations in the last 10 years of working with houseplants.

These aren’t strict requirements but rather recommendations. The values represent the minimal amount of light that low-light tolerant, medium-light tolerant, or bright light plants will be able to survive and thrive.

If we speak about observing the plant’s growth, a few indicators can tell if your plant is getting enough light. If your plant puts out new growth, leaves have their expected size, and are healthy, it usually means your plant is getting enough light. If internodes (spaces between leaved/nodes) are of the same size and are not increasing, this is usually a sign your plant is getting sufficient light. However, if the stems are long and spindly and internodes are get bigger, that isn’t a good sign. It implies that your plant isn’t getting enough light.

Sometimes, small leaves can indicate insufficient light, but I would like to point out that you shouldn’t base your opinion on this factor. There could be multiple reasons for leaves being small. So don’t immediately jump to the conclusion that it is the lack of light.

How Does Houseplant Placement/Location Affect the Level of Light It Gets?

The placement/location of your houseplant considerably affects the level of light it will get. Light intensity drops significantly with distance. The further your plant is from the window, the less light it gets. In other words, light intensity decreases exponentially with distance. Putting your plant 3 feet away from a window, instead of near a window, will greatly reduce the amount of light your plant gets. What also plays a role is the unobstructed view of the sky. The larger the unobstructed view of the sky a plant has, the more light it’s getting.

And it isn’t only the placement of the plant that affects the light intensity. It is also the window position.

South Facing Window

A south facing window will provide the most light for indoor plants if you live in the northern hemisphere. It will also provide the biggest amount of direct sunlight, especially in winter months when the sun is lower in the sky.

West Facing Window

The second best would be west facing windows, they get somewhat less indirect light, and less hours of direct sunlight, later in the afternoon.

East Facing Window

They are followed by the east facing windows. East facing windows get a somewhat lower amount of indirect light for plants, and a shorter amount of direct sunlight as well, early in the morning.

North Facing Window

The worst option for indoor plants are the north facing windows, as they get the least amount of indirect light, and no direct sun.

If you live in the Southern hemisphere, the situation is reversed. The north facing windows get the most light, followed by west facing windows, then east facing windows, whereas the south facing windows get the least amount of light.

A diagram of bright indirect light, medium light, low light and direct sunlight

A diagram of bright indirect light, medium light, low light and direct sunlight

How to Provide Bright Indirect Light for Your Plants?

To provide bright indirect light for your plants, place your plant on the window ledge or in front of the brightest window. If you can’t put it right in front of the window, put it as near as possible. The closer to the window, the better (each foot away from a window makes a big difference). If you do have more than one window to choose from, choose the southern one (in the northern hemisphere), or the northern one (in the southern hemisphere). The window where you put your plant should have a clear, unobstructed view of the sky, with no trees, buildings or awnings blocking the view.

What Can You Do If You Can’t Provide Bright Indirect Light for Your Plants?

If you can’t provide your plants bright indirect light, consider getting grow lights or getting plants that are low light tolerant. Of course, in an optimal situation, you’ll be living in a flat with large windows, a clear view of the sky, and windows facing just the right direction. Unfortunately, this is often not possible. But fortunately, the rescue comes in the form of artificial lights (grow lights). If you choose a good, tested artificial light, you can achieve the equivalent of bright indirect light. Even direct sunlight.

There are some important things you need to take into account when using a grow light:

  • Choosing a good grow light, the one which produces sufficient intensity. Usually, people tend to buy very weak ones that only work at very close distances, 2-4 inches away.
  • Setting it up properly: remember that the light intensity drops with distance. Keep this in mind when positioning your grow light.
  • Adjusting the duration, that is, how long the light will be on. I keep my lights on from 8-16 hours per day. The duration depends on whether you are just supplementing natural light or replacing it.

If you want to know more about this topic, check out my post on the best and affordable LED grow lights for your houseplants.

How Much Light Does My Plant Need?

To determine how much light your plant needs, check out the values in the table below.

The amount of light listed in the minimal amount column is the bare minimum that the plant needs in order to look ok.

The optimal amount is the minimum you should be aiming for. But the more light you can provide the better. Low light tolerant and medium indirect light plants will love receiving bright indirect light!

Commercial light levels are the levels used by nurseries in commercial production of houseplants. I added them as a demonstration of just how high light levels are being used in commercial production. Since we can’t provide even close to those amounts of light at home, we shouldn’t expect our plants to look as great or grow as fast as plants in nurseries.

Can A Plant Have Too Much Indirect Light?

No, a plant cannot have too much indirect light. The more indirect ligh you can provide to a plant, the better off the plant will be. More light equals more photosynthesis equals faster, bigger growth and a healthier plant.

Can A Plant Have Too Much Direct Light?

Yes, a plant can have too much direct light. Too much direct light (direct sunlight) can cause bleaching of the leaves and sunburns and can stress a plant. This is why the table below lists direct sun tolerance for each plant.

Direct and Indirect Light Requirements By Plant

CATEGORY PLANT NAME MINIMAL AMOUNT OF LIGHT OPTIMAL AMOUNT OF LIGHT DIRECT SUN TOLERANCE COMMERCIAL LIGHT LEVELS
low light tolerant Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen) 50 Lux (5 FC) 750+ lux (75+ FC) 1-2 hours 1000-2400 FC
low light tolerant Aloe 500 lux (50 FC) 40,000+ lux (4,000+ FC) 8 hours
medium light Air plants 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 1-2 hours 3000-7000 FC
medium light African Violets 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 2-3 hours 1000-1200 FC
medium light Alocasia 1,000 lux (100 FC) 3,000+ lux (300+ FC) 3-4 hours 2000-5000 FC
medium light Anthurium (several species) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 1-2 hours 1500-2000 FC
low light tolerant Aspidistra (Cast-Iron Plant) 50 Lux (5 FC) 750+ lux (75+ FC) 1-2 hours 2000-5000 FC
medium light Areca Palm 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 1-2 hours 5000-6000 FC
medium light Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 3-4 hours 1500-3000 FC
medium light Begonia 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 1-2 hours 2000-2500 FC
full sun Bird of paradise (Strelitzia) 10,000 lux (1,000 FC) 40,000+ lux (4,000+ FC) 8 hours
medium light Calathea 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 1-2 hours 1000-2000 FC
full sun Cactus 10,000 lux (1,000 FC) 40,000+ lux (4,000+ FC) 8 hours 5000 FC
medium light Ceropegia Woodii 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 3-4 hours
medium light Cordyline 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 3-4 hours 3000 FC
bright light Croton 3,000 Lux (300 FC) 5,000+ lux (500+ FC) 3-4 hours 3000-5000 FC
medium light Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 3-4 hours 1500-3000 FC
low light tolerant Dracaena (corn plant, dragon tree, dragon plant) 50 Lux (5 FC) 750+ lux (75+ FC) 1-2 hours 2000-3000 FC
medium light English Ivy (Hedera Helix) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 2-3 hours 1500-2500 FC
medium light Hoya (several species) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 3-4 hours 1500-2000 FC
medium light Ferns (Boston fern, maidenhair fern, Bird’s nest fern) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 1-2 hours 15003000 FC
full sun Ficus (Ficus Elastica, rubber tree; Ficus Lyrata, fiddle leaf fig; Ficus Benjamina) 5,000 lux (500 FC) 40,000+ lux (4,000+ FC) 8 hours 2000-6000 FC
medium light Fittonia (Nerve plant) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 1-2 hours 1500-2500 FC
full sun Jade Plant (Crassula ovata, other Crassulas) 3,000 Lux (300 FC) 5,000+ lux (500+ FC) 8 hours 5000-6000 FC
medium light Maranta (prayer plant) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 2-3 hours 1000-2500 FC
low light tolerant Marimo Moss Ball 50 lux (5 FC) 750+ lux (75+ FC) 0 hours
medium light Monstera deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 2-3 hours 1000-2500 FC
bright light Norfolk Island Pine 3,000 Lux (300 FC) 5,000+ lux (500+ FC) 2-3 hours 5000-6000 FC
medium light Parlour palm (Chamaedorea Elegans) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 1-2 hours 1500-3000 FC
low light tolerant Peace Lily (Spatiphyllum) 50 Lux (5 FC) 750+ lux (75+ FC) 1-2 hours 1500-2500 FC
medium light Peperomia (multiple species incl. String of turtles (Peperomia Prostrata), Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia Argyreia)), Peperomia Verticillata 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 2-3 hours 1500-3500 FC
medium light Phalaenopsis (Moth orchid) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 2-3 hours 1000-1500 FC
low light tolerant Philodendron vines (Heartleaf philodendron, philodendron Brasil…) 50 Lux (5 FC) 750+ lux (75+ FC) 1-2 hours 1500-3000 FC
medium light Philodendron (Pink Princess, Prince of Orange, Red Congo, Moonlight, Burle Marx…) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 2-3 hours 1500-2500 FC
medium light Pilea (Pilea peperomioides, Chinese money plant) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 3-4 hours 1000-2000 FC
full sun Pineapple (Ananas Comosus) 10,000 lux (1,000 FC) 40,000+ lux (4,000+ FC) 8 hours
medium light Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 2-3 hours 3000-3500 FC
low light tolerant Pothos (Golden pothos, devil’s ivy, Epipremnum Aureum; Scindapsus Pictus) 50 Lux (5 FC) 2,000+ lux (200+ FC) 3-4 hours 3000-5000 FC
medium light Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma 750 lux (75 FC) 3,000+ lux (300+ FC) 2-3 hours
medium light Schefflera (Umbrella tree, Schefflera Arboricola, Schefflera Actinophylla, dwarf schefflera) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 2-3 hours 5000-7000 FC
bright light Schlumbergera/Rhipsalidopsis (Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, Easter cactus) 3,000 Lux (300 FC) 5,000+ lux (500+ FC) 3-4 hours 1500-3000 FC
medium light Senecio Rowleyanus (String of Pearls), String of Dolphins (Senecio Peregrinus) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 1-2 hours
low light tolerant Snake plant (Sansevieria, Mother-in-law’s tongue) 50 Lux (5 FC) 40,000+ lux (4,000+ FC) 8+ hours 1000-6000 FC
medium light Spider Plant (Chlorophytum) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 3-4 hours 1000-2500 FC
medium light Staghorn Fern (Platycerium) 1,000 lux (100 FC) 2,500+ lux (250+ FC) 3-4 hours 1000-2000 FC
medium light Stromanthe Sanguinea 750 lux (75 FC) 3,000+ lux (300+ FC) 1-2 hours
full sun Succulents (Echeveria,Euphorbia, Haworthia, Sedum, Agave, Kalanchoe…) 10,000 lux (1,000 FC) 40,000+ lux (4,000+ FC) 8 hours 5000 FC
bright indirect light Tradescantia Albiflora (incl. Nanouk) 3,000 lux (300 FC) 5,000+ lux (500+ FC) 1-2 hours
full sun Venus Flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula) 10,000 lux (1,000 FC) 40,000+ lux (4,000+ FC) 8 hours
full sun Yucca 10,000 lux (1,000 FC) 40,000+ lux (4,000+ FC) 8 hours 6000-7000 FC
low light tolerant ZZ plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia) 50 Lux (5 FC) 750+ lux (75+ FC) 3-4 hours 1000-2000 FC

Wrapping It Up

The main reason I decided to write this blog was to shed more light on lighting conditions (no pun intended), on the topic many plant parents, even gardening experts, find confusing. Another wish of mine was to show that you don’t need perfect natural light to grow healthy plants. You can come a long way with grow lights and regularly measuring the light intensity.

Light is one of the most crucial factors for plants. They thrive when they get sufficient light. The right amount boosts photosynthesis. As a result, plants grow faster, are happier and healthier and care of houseplants is easier. By providing your plant with sufficient light, you help it remain healthy, strong, and live longer.

Yours Truly,

Mr.Houseplant-signature-tr

20 Comments

  1. Jean October 23, 2022 at 2:08 pm - Reply

    I just bought my first Calathea plant and I noticed little white spots are beginning to form on the leaves. Also, what kind of fertilizer should I use and since one is not suppose to feed them in the winter, should I wait now for spring to fertilize?

    • MrHouseplant October 24, 2022 at 5:52 am - Reply

      The idea of not fertilizing during winter comes from the general idea that houseplants go dormant in winter. However, that depends on the species, the amount of light in your home and other factors.

      If your plant is actively growing (putting out new leaves) during winter, it’s ok to fertilize. I suggest Dyna Gro Foliage Pro, as it has all 16 micro and macro nutrients that plants need: https://www.mrhouseplant.com/recommends/dyna-gro-2/

      As for the white spots, I’m afraid I can’t tell you much without seeing photos and knowing the exact calathea species you have :)

  2. Laurie Campbell October 24, 2022 at 9:26 am - Reply

    I’m thrilled to have found you! I’ve learned so much already. I hope that your experience will help me to up my game. I have excellent relationships with plants that thrive on neglect. Jade, Christmas cactus, philodendron… my orchids get more attention & have done well for years now. I do have some specific questions but need to look up a couple things first (plant names…). For now I just wanted to acknowledge your skill and share my delight. Thank you!

    • MrHouseplant October 24, 2022 at 4:52 pm - Reply

      Hi Laurie, thank you so much, I’m really glad you find the content helpful! :)

  3. bernadette November 10, 2022 at 2:45 am - Reply

    Hi, I loved your article, thanks for naming all those plants and their lux needs. I am trying to figure [as a newbie] the light needs of my succulents from a 12 inch distance as they are on shelves. Do I divide the lux by 3 to get the lumens per foot. As I understand it [1 x lux = 1 x lumen per metre sq] so 12″ away in lumens is 3x stronger?

    • MrHouseplant November 16, 2022 at 5:52 am - Reply

      Hi Bernadette, thank you, I’m really glad you liked it, it took a lot of work :) Are you trying to determine the strength of natural light or the strength of a grow light for your succulents? Either way, you don’t need lumens.

      If you’re looking at natural light, measure the amount of lux falling on the leaves with a light meter. If you’re looking at a grow light, measure the amount of PAR (photosythetic active radiation) that the plant is receiving on the leaves, with a PAR meter. Those are the only values are that relevant. Lumens present the amount of light emitted by a light source. But how much of that light reaches your plant from a distance of 12″ will be very different for each artificial light. I hope this helps. Btw, there is an excellent free light meter app that turns into a PAR meter for a few USD (PAR meters usually cost 500+ USD)

  4. Sowmya March 15, 2023 at 8:14 am - Reply

    This page, and your entire site is very helpful. Thank you for all the work and for making it freely available.

  5. Cindy March 25, 2023 at 3:58 am - Reply

    I have just ordered my second plant. I love them

  6. Anthony April 23, 2023 at 7:16 am - Reply

    This page was so helpful and reassured me that adding more light from my grow light isn’t bad. I do have a question. Is it okay if I place multiple plants near my grow light that is placed into the soil of one of my plants?

    • MrHouseplant April 26, 2023 at 3:10 am - Reply

      Hi Anthony, actually, even though you cannot provide too much indirect light to a plant, you can provide too much light from a grow light. That’s because some grow lights are very strong and emulate direct sunlight :) And some tropical plants cannot tolerate a lot of direct sunlight.

      Can you share the name of the grow light that you are using, so I can help with the distance from the plant and duration? I hope you are not using a halo grow light, as they are very weak. I wrote a review of halo grow lights here.

  7. NC Salunke May 14, 2023 at 5:10 pm - Reply

    You given examples of indoor plant. Please inform minimum light requirement of flowering balcony potted plants.

    • MrHouseplant May 15, 2023 at 6:00 am - Reply

      Thank you, that is an excellent suggestions. I will add it to my to do list :)

  8. Bobina June 5, 2023 at 8:44 am - Reply

    This is such a great resource!
    My questions about bugs (gonna dig through your site next). They attack all my pothos which are scattered around other plants in different places. I end up having to completely wash the plants and roots and put them in water until I’m confident they are gone. The sticky traps do nothing it seems. So far I haven’t had any other plant species impacted however this season I’ve added a fair bit of newbies in quarantine and I’m worried.

    Is there anything else I can do to help prevent an attack?!?

    Is there anything

    • MrHouseplant June 24, 2023 at 4:10 am - Reply

      Hi Bobina, the first thing I need to be able to help you is to identify which pests you are dealing with – fungus gnats, mealy bugs, something else? Can you DM me photos on Instagram?

  9. No More Stringy Succulents June 10, 2023 at 6:53 pm - Reply

    OMG. This is fabulous. I recently realized my plants haven’t been getting enough light, so invested in a light meter and some more powerful grow lights and I’ve been looking for a concise conversion between all the different descriptions of light (“bright indirect”, “medium light”, “full sun”) and how many lux or FCs that meant… and here it is. My plants and I thank you so much.

  10. Barbara June 11, 2023 at 11:30 pm - Reply

    I’ve just purchased a grow light for my raphidophora tetrasperma, and I’m trying to figure out if the red, blue, or both would be best to provide bright indirect. Any tips would be so appreciated! Thank yoy!

    • MrHouseplant June 13, 2023 at 6:19 pm - Reply

      Hi Barbara, whether your grow light can provide the equivalent of bright indirect light will depend on how the grow light is made and whether it provides sufficient brightness. The color temperature (red, blue, purple, yellow) itself isn’t important. The color determines the effect the light will have on the plant. Blue light or white (since it contains blue) is better for vegetative growth, red light (or purple or yellow, since they contain red) is better for flowering. But that doesn’t tell you if the light can provide the equivalent of bright indirect light at all. The only way to know that is by using a PAR meter or by sending me the name of the grow light, to see if I have already tested it. You could also use Photone app https://www.mrhouseplant.com/recommends/photone/ which for 5-10 USD provides a functionality of a 500 USD PAR meter. Hope this helps 🙂

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