Plants That Start With S

Sago Palm prefers bright indirect light at 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. Use a PAR meter or app if you need to confirm the level.

• Placement: set it 5 ft / 1.5 m from a south, west, or east-facing window.
• Keep the leaves from having a direct view of the sky. A sheer curtain can filter unavoidable sun.
• Too much light: sudden, strong exposure may bleach or burn the fronds.
• Too little light: new leaves may become weak, sparse, or stretched toward the window.

Satin Pothos grows best in bright indirect light at 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. A PAR meter or app can confirm whether the site is bright enough.

• Placement: keep it 5 ft / 1.5 m from a south, west, or east-facing window.
• Avoid a direct view of the sky. Add a sheer curtain if sun reaches the foliage.
• Too much light: strong direct rays can bleach the silver pattern and scorch leaves.
• Too little light: growth slows, gaps lengthen between leaves, and variegation may become less distinct.

Scarlet Star prefers bright indirect light at 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. A PAR meter or app can help check the site.

• Placement: keep it 5 ft / 1.5 m from a south, west, or east-facing window.
• The leaves should not have a direct view of the sky. Filter unavoidable sunlight through a sheer curtain.
• Too much light: foliage and colorful bracts can fade or scorch.
• Too little light: growth slows, the rosette weakens, and future color may be poor.

Silver Torch requires bright direct light at 250 to 1000 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. Provide 6+ hours of direct sunlight each day.

• Placement: keep it within 2 ft / 60 cm of a south or southwest-facing window.
• Give the cactus an unobstructed view of the sky. A PAR meter or app can verify light levels.
• Too much light: a sudden move into harsh sun may scorch the columns.
• Too little light: stems may become thin or stretched. Grow lights can support it during shorter winter days.

Bright, indirect light in the 50 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD range supports healthy Snake Plant growth, though it can tolerate low light.

• Placement: set it 5 to 8 ft / 1.5 to 2.5 m from a north, south, west or east-facing window. Position it without a direct view of the sky.
• Too much light: direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. If exposure is unavoidable, filter it through a sheer curtain.
• Too little light: the plant may survive, but growth slows and variegated colors can fade.
• A PAR meter or PAR meter app can measure photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).

Spanish Moss prefers bright indirect light at 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. A PAR meter or app can check the available intensity.

• Placement: hang it about 5 ft / 1.5 m from a south, west, or east-facing window.
• Avoid a direct view of the sky. Use a sheer curtain when direct sunlight cannot be avoided.
• Too much light: exposed strands may bleach, dry, or scorch.
• Too little light: growth becomes sparse and moisture evaporates too slowly, increasing the risk of decline.

Spider Plant prefers bright indirect light but tolerates low light, within 50 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. A PAR meter or app can confirm the level.

• Placement: keep it 5 to 8 ft / 1.5 to 2.5 m from a north, south, west, or east-facing window.
• Avoid an open view of the sky. Use a sheer curtain if direct sun reaches the leaves.
• Too much light: foliage may bleach or develop scorched patches.
• Too little light: growth slows, variegation weakens, and fewer flowers or spiderettes may appear.

Spotted Air Plant needs bright indirect light at 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. A PAR meter or app can help measure the site.

• Placement: display it 5 ft / 1.5 m from a south, west, or east-facing window.
• Do not give the rosette a direct view of the sky. Filter unavoidable sunlight with a sheer curtain.
• Too much light: leaf tips can bleach, dry, or scorch.
• Too little light: growth slows, flowering may decline, and the plant can remain wet for too long after soaking.

Staghorn Fern grows best in bright indirect light at 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. A PAR meter or app can be used to verify the level.

• Placement: keep it 5 ft / 1.5 m from a south, west, or east-facing window.
• Do not provide a direct view of the sky. Filter unavoidable sunlight with a sheer curtain.
• Too much light: exposed fronds may bleach, dry, or develop scorched areas.
• Too little light: fertile fronds grow weakly, and a wet plant dries too slowly after soaking.

Strawberry Begonia prefers bright indirect light at 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. Use a PAR meter or app if you need to measure the site.

• Placement: set it 5 ft / 1.5 m from a south, west, or east-facing window.
• Prevent a direct view of the sky. A sheer curtain can soften unavoidable direct sunlight.
• Too much light: hairy leaves may bleach, scorch, or develop dry patches.
• Too little light: stems stretch, silver markings fade, and summer flowering may become sparse.

String of Bananas needs bright indirect light at 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. A PAR meter or app can help confirm this range.

• Placement: keep it 5 ft / 1.5 m from a south, west, or east-facing window.
• Avoid giving the leaves a direct view of the sky. Filter unavoidable sun through a sheer curtain.
• Too much light: strong direct rays may bleach or scorch the fleshy leaves.
• Too little light: stems become sparse and stretched, with larger gaps between banana-shaped leaves.

String of Buttons prefers bright indirect light but tolerates low light, within 50 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. A PAR meter or app can measure the available level.

• Placement: keep it 5 to 8 ft / 1.5 to 2.5 m from a north, south, west, or east-facing window.
• Avoid an open view of the sky. Filter unavoidable direct sun with a sheer curtain.
• Too much light: sudden strong exposure may scorch or bleach the leaves.
• Too little light: stems stretch, spacing widens, and the compact button-like pattern becomes loose.

String of Dolphins requires bright direct light at 250 to 1000 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD. Provide 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day.

• Placement: set it within 2 ft / 60 cm of a south or southwest-facing window.
• Give the plant an unobstructed view of the sky. A PAR meter or app can verify the intensity.
• Too much light: sudden exposure to harsh sun can scorch the fleshy leaves.
• Too little light: stems stretch and the dolphin-shaped leaves may grow less distinct. Grow lights can help during shorter winter days.

String of Hearts grows best in bright, indirect light measuring 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Enough light helps maintain compact leaves and strong trailing growth.

• Place it 5 ft / 1.5m from a south, west or east-facing window.
• Choose a position without a direct view of the sky. If sun reaches the foliage, soften it with a sheer curtain.
• Weak light may cause sparse growth and wider gaps between leaves.
• A PAR meter or PAR meter app can measure photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).

String of Pearls prefers bright, indirect light at 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Consistent light helps the stems stay full rather than bare near the pot.

• Set the plant 5 ft / 1.5m from a south, west or east-facing window.
• The foliage should not have a direct view of the sky. Filter unavoidable direct sunlight with a sheer curtain.
• Strong direct sun may scorch the beads, while dim conditions can produce thin, stretched growth.
• Check photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) with a PAR meter or PAR meter app.

Give String of Tears bright, indirect light in the 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ range. Good exposure supports dense leaves along the trailing stems.

• Position the pot 5 ft / 1.5m from a south, west or east-facing window.
• Use a place where the plant lacks a direct view of the sky. Hang a sheer curtain if direct sunlight cannot be avoided.
• Harsh sun can mark or scorch the leaves. Insufficient light may make the stems thin and widely spaced.
• Measure photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) with a PAR meter or PAR meter app.

Swedish Ivy performs best in bright, indirect light of 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Steady filtered light helps keep the trailing growth full.

• Keep the plant about 5 ft / 1.5m from a south, west or east-facing window.
• Select a spot without a direct view of the sky. Use a sheer curtain when sunlight would otherwise strike the leaves.
• Excess direct sun may scorch the glossy foliage. Too little light can weaken growth and reduce flowering.
• A PAR meter or PAR meter app can read photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).

Swiss Cheese Plant prefers bright, indirect light between 150 and 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Strong filtered exposure supports larger leaves and mature fenestrations.

• Place it 5 ft / 1.5m from a south, west or east-facing window.
• Choose a location where the foliage has no direct view of the sky. Filter unavoidable sun with a sheer curtain.
• Direct sunlight may scorch broad leaves. Low light can slow growth and produce smaller, less divided foliage.
• Use a PAR meter or PAR meter app to measure photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).

Swiss Cheese Vine grows well under bright, indirect light measuring 150 to 250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Balanced light keeps its vine leafy and supports attractive fenestrations.

• Set the pot 5 ft / 1.5m from a south, west or east-facing window.
• Avoid a position with a direct view of the sky. Soften unavoidable direct sun with a sheer curtain.
• Intense sun can scorch the thin leaves, while weak light may create long bare spaces along the vine.
• A PAR meter or PAR meter app can check photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).