Question: Is natural light enough for houseplants? My son has volunteered to take his classroom plants home during spring vacation. The window in our kitchen faces southwest. Is this enough light for a young jade plant, an aloe, and an older geranium?
Answer: You and your son's classmates are lucky to have such a responsible person in your midst. What you'll really want to do is to mimic the conditions in the classroom. If the plants have been on a windowsill, which direction did it face? Your son could make a little map of the plants in the classroom before he brings them home.
The amount of light plants receive on the windowsill depends on the direction the window faces, whether the sun is blocked by trees or a building, your roof overhang, the season of the year, and the number of cloudy days. It's spring vacation, so the days are getting longer and the sun is getting hotter; let's assume there are only a few leafless trees, minimal overhang, and mostly sunny days. In your case, the southwestern orientation will mean direct sun for at least 8 hours per day. On a sill, the light will come from one direction, so rotate the plants every few days. Even in April, the sun is strong enough to quickly dry out the soil; make sure you check the soil, keep the plants watered, and maintain an indoor temperature of 65 to 75 degrees F. In general, the plants will do better if they have somewhat too little, rather than too much, direct light.
While your son is tending these plants, your family could investigate the movement of the plants toward the sun. This movement toward light is called phototropism. Do the plants make any noticeable movement in the week they spend on your windowsill? Are there outside examples of this reach to the light?
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