Symptoms of Improper Lighting

Improper lighting can be either not enough (inadequate) light or too much (excessive) light. If plants are placed too far away from a light source or don’t get enough hours of lighting, they can suffer from inadequate lighting symptoms. If plants are placed too near a light source, get too many hours of light, or are the wrong plant to be placed in direct sunlight, they can suffer from excessive lighting symptoms.  In either case, plants will not thrive.

These are common symptoms of inadequate lighting:

• Leggy, spindly, weak plant that may suddenly drop its leaves. 
• Slowed growth.
• The lower leaves turn a lighter green, and the plant does not flower. 
• Plants tend to lean towards the light source.

Plants can suffer from sunburn! These are common symptoms of excessive light:

• Dry patches on leaves.
• If the site gets hot enough, buds and flowers may drop off and the entire plant may wilt.