Lighting the tricky yet solvable conundrum
If you live in Arizona, you've probably become an expert at keeping the sun out of your house. We tint our windows, pull the blinds shut before breakfast, install blackout curtains, and spend half the summer muttering, "Don't let the heat in!" Unfortunately, our houseplants didn't get the memo. While we're busy hiding from the sun, they're quietly wondering where all the light went.
The good news is that not every plant wants to sit in a blazing south-facing window. Species like Snake Plants, ZZ Plants, Cast Iron Plants, Chinese Evergreens, and Peace Lilies naturally grow beneath dense forest canopies, making them excellent choices for rooms with filtered or indirect light. They appreciate a bright room without having to battle the Arizona sun that's trying to cook everything outside.
That said, "low light" doesn't mean "no light." A dark hallway or windowless office isn't doing your plants any favors. If your home stays closed up to keep cool—which, let's be honest, most Arizona homes do—moving plants closer to windows, opening the blinds for part of the day, or adding a quality grow light can make a world of difference without sending your electric bill through the roof.
One of the easiest ways to tell if a plant isn't getting enough light is by watching how it grows. Long, stretched stems, smaller leaves, fading colors, or a plant that seems to lean dramatically toward the nearest window are all signs it's searching for more sunshine. Sometimes the solution isn't a new plant—it's simply giving your current one a better seat in the house.
At Sky Island Design Co., we believe every home has the right place for plants—you just have to find it. By understanding how light moves through your space and choosing plants that match your home's conditions, you can create a thriving indoor landscape that works with Arizona living instead of fighting against it. Because while we're all trying to keep the desert heat outside, there's still plenty of room to let a little sunshine in.