Because nursery light is usually stronger than home light, it helps to step a new plant down gradually rather than putting it straight into its final, dimmer spot.
Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests starting a new plant in one of the brightest places in your home and then moving it, in stages, to its permanent position over roughly four to eight weeks. The bigger the difference between the two spots, the longer the transition should take. This gives the plant time to build leaves suited to your light instead of shedding them all at once.
"Bright" here means bright light, not harsh midday sun on a plant that was grown under shade cloth. A sudden jump into strong direct sun can scorch leaves, so the same idea of gradual change applies in the other direction too, for example when moving a plant out onto a sunny balcony.
If your quarantine spot is also bright, you can combine the two steps.
Key points
- Move new plants from bright to dimmer spots in stages.
- Allow about four to eight weeks for a big change in light.
- Increase direct sun gradually too, to avoid scorch.
Try this
Look at where you plan to keep your newest plant for good, and pick a brighter halfway spot for its first few weeks.
Check yourself
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Sources
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