Light · Field notes

Read your window before choosing a plant

A useful plant collection starts with the room you actually have.

Watch the same window in the morning, around midday and late in the afternoon. Note where direct sunlight lands and where the room stays bright without a sunbeam. Buildings, trees and curtains can change the light more than a compass direction suggests.

Make a simple sketch of the room. Mark the bright shelf, the shaded corner and the places you can reach comfortably with a watering can. Match each plant to a location before buying it. A plant that needs frequent attention is easier to care for when you see it every day.

Care requirements vary by species and growing conditions. Use these notes as a starting point for observation.