Correct placement is essential for variegated indoor plants to maintain their vibrant colours and healthy growth. With limited chlorophyll, they require specific light conditions for proper development and to avoid leaf scorch. These plants originate from shaded forest areas, so direct sun can harm the leaves, while insufficient light can reduce the variegation. The basic requirement is bright, indirect light. Placing the plants in a north- or south-facing window is preferable as it provides gentle brightness, while if east- or west-facing placement is unavoidable, care should be taken to ensure the plants are not exposed to direct sunlight.
Basic guidelines:
- Distance: Position the plant close enough to a window to receive indirect light, but protected from direct sun exposure.
- Rotation: Turn the plants weekly for uniform growth and consistent colouration.
- Supplementary Lighting: In darker areas, use full-spectrum LED lights for 12-14 hours a day.
- Humidity Support: During the summer months, daily misting of the leaves with water is recommended to maintain 50-60% humidity, preventing stress.
- Room temperature: The temperature range for optimal growth is 19 to 27°C. Temperatures from 15 to 18°C reduce the plant's growth rate, while below 14°C can cause cold damage to the plant. Correspondingly, temperatures above 28°C combined with low humidity below 50% can cause brown spots on the variegated leaves of some plants (e.g. Monstera Thai Constellation or Philodendron White Princess).
