Page 274 - 278 in California Master Gardener Handbook. Gay, R., and Pittenger, D. 2002. Pittenger, editor.

University of
California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Publication 3338. Oakland, CA. Copyright 2009 - The
Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Table 11.1
LIGHT AND WATER GUIDELINES FOR SELECTED FOLIAGE AND FLOWERING PLANTS
Light requirements*
Scientific name

Common name

Abutilon spp.
Acalypha hispida (A. wilkesiana)
Achimenes spp.
Adiantum cuneatum
Aechmea fasciata
Aeschynanthus pulcher
Agave americana
Aglaonema modestum
(A. commutatum, A. simplex)
Aglaonema 3 pseudo-bracteatum
Aglaonema roebelenii
Aloe variegata
Alternanthera bettzickiana
Ananas comosus
Anthurium andreanum
Aphelandra squarrosa
Araucaria heterophylla (A. excelsa)
Ardisia crispa
Asparagus plumosus (A. setaceus)
Asparagus sprengeri
(A. densiflora Sprenger)
Aspidistra elatior
Asplenium nidus
Aucuba japonica
Beaucarnea recurvata
Begonia rex
Begonia Rieger
Begonia semperflorens
Beloperone guttata
Billbergia zebrina
Bougainvillea glabra
Browallia speciosa
Caladium spp.
Calathea makoyana
Calceolaria herbeahybrida
Campanula isophylla
Capsicum annuum
Carissa grandiflora
Cattleya hybrids
Chamaedorea elegans
(Neanthe bella)
Chamaedorea erumpens
Chamaerops humilis
Chlorophytum comosum
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Cissus antarctica
Cissus discolor

flowering maple
chenille plant
magic flower
maidenhair fern
bromeliad
lipstick plant
century plant
Chinese evergreen

274

Chapter 11

golden aglaonema
pewter plant
aloe

Low

bamboo palm
European fan palm
spider plant
areca palm
chrysanthemum
kangaroo vine
rex begonia vine

n
n
n
n

High

n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n
n

Very high

Dry

n
n
n

n
n

Moist
n
n
n

n
n

pineapple
anthurium
zebra plant
Norfolk Island pine
coral ardisia
brides bouquet fern
asparagus fern
cast-iron plant
birds nest fern
gold-dust plant
pony tail palm
rex begonia
Rieger begonia
wax begonia
shrimp plant
billbergia
bougainvillea
bush violet
caladium
peacock plant
pocketbook plant
star-of-Bethlehem
Christmas pepper
Natal plum
cattleya orchid
parlor palm

Med

Water requirements

n
n
n

n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

n
n

Wet

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

Light requirements*
Scientific name

Common name

Cissus rhombifolia
Cissus rotundifolia
Citrus mitis
Clerodendrum thomsoniae
Clivia miniata
Clusia rosea
Codiaeum variegatum
Coffea arabica
Coleus blumei
Columnea spp.
Convallaria majalis
Cordyline terminalis
Crassula spp.
Crassula argentea
Crocus spp.
Crossandra infundibuliformis
Cryptanthus spp.
Cyanotis kewensis
Cycas revoluta
Cyclamen spp.
Cymbidium hybrids
Cyperus alternifolius
Cyrtomium falcatum
Dahlia pinnata
Davallia fejeensis
Dichorisandra reginae
Dieffenbachia amoena
Dieffenbachia Exotica
Dionaea muscipula
Dizygotheca elegantissima
Dracaena deremensis
Dracaena deremensis Warneckii
Dracaena fragrans massangeana
Dracaena marginata
Dracaena sanderiiana
Dracaena surculosa (D. godseffiana)
Echeveria spp.
Epiphyllum hybrids
Epipremnum aureum
Episcia spp.
Eranthemum nervosum
Erica gracilis
Eriobotrya japonica
Euphorbia lactea
Euphorbia milii
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Exacum affine
Fatshedera lizei
Fatsia japonica (Aralia japonica)
Ficus benjamina Exotica
Ficus elastica Decora

grape ivy
Arabian wax cissus
calemondin orange
bleeding-heart vine
Kaffir lily
autograph tree
croton
coffee tree
coleus
columnea
lily-of-the-valley
Hawaiian ti plant
succulents
jade plant
crocus
crossandra
dwarf bromeliad
teddy bear vine
king sago palm
cyclamen
cymbidium orchid
umbrella plant
Japanese holly fern
dahlia
rabbits foot fern
queens spiderwort
dumbcane
dumbcane
venus fly trap
false aralia
green dracaena
white-striped dracaena
corn plant
dragon tree
ribbon plant
gold-dust dracaena
hen-and-chicken
orchid cactus
pothos
flame violet
blue sage
heather
Japanese loquat
candelabra cactus
crown-of-thorns
poinsettia
Persian violet, exacum
botanical wonder
Japanese aralia
weeping java fig
rubber plant

Low

Med
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n

n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

High

Water requirements

Very high

n
n
n
n

Dry

Moist

n
n
n

n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n

Wet

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

House Plants

275

Table 11.1 cont.

Light requirements*
Scientific name

Common name

Ficus lyrata
Ficus repens var. pumila
Ficus retusa nitida
Ficus triangularis
Fittonia verschaffeltii
Fuchsia spp.
Gardenia jasminoides
Guzmania lingulata
Gynura aurantiaca
Haemanthus coccineus
Haworthia spp.
Hedera helix
Helxine soleirolii
Hemigraphis exotica
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Hippeastrum vittatum
Howea forsterana
Hoya carnosa
Hyacinthus orientalis
Hydrangea macrophylla
Hypocyrta nummularia
(Alloplectus nummularia)
Hypoestes sanguinolenta
Impatiens spp.
Kalanchoe spp.
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Lantana camara
Lantana montevidensis
Leea coccinea
Ligustrum lucidum
Lilium longiflorum
Maranta leuconeura
Mikania ternata
Mimosa pudica
Monstera spp.

fiddleleaf fig
creeping fig
India laurel
triangleleaf fig
silver nerve plant
fuchsia
gardenia
scarlet star
velvet plant
blood lily
zebra haworthia, wart plant
English ivy
babys tears
waffle plant
Chinese hibiscus
amaryllis
kentia palm
wax plant, Hindu rope plant
hyacinth
hydrangea
goldfish plant

Muscari spp.
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Nautilocalyx lunchii
Neoregelia carolinae tricolor
N. spectabilis
Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis
Nerium oleander
Nicotiana affinis
Oxalis spp.
Pachystachys coccinea
Pandanus veitchii
Paphiopedilum hybrids
Passiflora spp.

276

Chapter 11

polka-dot plant
impatiens
kalanchoe
kalanchoe, panda plant
lantana, yellow sage
trailing lantana
leea
wax-leaf privet
Easter lily
prayer plant
plush vine
sensitive plant
swiss cheese plant,
split-leaf philodendron
grape hyacinth
daffodil
coral plant
tricolor bromeliad
fingernail plant
Boston fern
oleander
flowering tobacco
oxalis
lollipop plant
screw pine
lady-slipper orchid
passion flower

Low
n
n

Med

High

n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n

n
n

n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n
n

Dry

n
n

Very high

n
n

n
n
n

Water requirements

n
n

n
n
n

n
n
n

Moist

Wet

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

Light requirements*
Scientific name

Common name

Pelargonium spp.
Pellionia caperata
Pellionia daveauana
Pellionia glabella Variegata
Pellionia metallica
Pellionia obtusifolia
Pellionia pulchra
Pellionia scandens
Petunia hybrida
Phalaenopsis hybrids
Philodendron domesticum Hastatum
Philodendron micans
Philodendron oxycardium
Philodendron panduriforme
Philodendron selloum
Phoenix roebelenii
Pilea cadierei
Pilea microphylla
Pilea nummulariifolia
Pisonia grandis Tricolor
Pittosporum tobira
Platycerium spp.
Plectranthus australis
Pleomele reflexa
Pleomele thalioides
Podocarpus macrophyllus
Polyscias guilfoylei
Primula malacoides
Primula obconica
Pteris ensiformis
Rhapis excelsa
Rhipsalis spp.
Rhododendron spp.
Rhoeo discolor
Rosa chinensis v. minima
Rosmarinus officinalis
Ruellia makoyana
Saintpaulia spp.
Salvia splendens
Sansevieria trifasciata
Saxifraga sarmentosa

geranium
emerald ripple
n
trailing watermelon vine
variegated wax privet peperomia
metallic peperomia
oval leaf peperomia
satin pellionia
philodendron peperomia
cascade petunia
phalaenopsis orchid
elephant ear philodendron
velvetleaf philodendron
common philodendron
n
fiddleleaf philodendron
selloum philodendron
dwarf date palm
aluminum plant
artillery plant
creeping charley
bird catcher tree
mock orange
staghorn fern
Swedish ivy
green pleomele
lance dracaena
podocarpus
parsley aralia
fairy primrose
German primrose
silver table fern
lady palm
mistletoe cactus
azalea
Moses-in-the-cradle
miniature rose
rosemary
ruellia
African violet
scarlet sage
snake plant
n
strawberry begonia,
strawberry geranium
schefflera

Schefflera actinophylla
(Brassia actinophylla)
Schlumbergera bridgesii
(Zygocactus truncatus)
Sedum morganianum
Selaginella lepidophylla
Senecio cruentus
Senecio macroglossus Variegatum
Senecio mikanioides

Low

Med

n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

Water requirements

Very high

Dry

Moist

n
n

n
n
n

n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n
n

n
n

n
n
n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

n
n

n
n

Wet

Christmas cactus
burros tail
resurrection plant
cineraria
variegated wax ivy
German ivy

High

n
n

n
n
n

House Plants

277

Table 11.1 cont.

Light requirements*
Scientific name

Common name

Senecio rowleyanus
Setcreasea purpurea
Sinningia spp.
Solanum pseudocapsicum
Spathiphyllum Mauna Loa
Strelitzia reginae
Streptocarpus spp.
Strobilanthes dyerianus
Syngonium podophyllum
Tagetes spp.
Thunbergia alata
Thymus vulgaris
Tolmiea menziesii
Tradescantia spp.
Tulipa spp.
Verbena hortensis
Vinca major Variegata
Viola tricolor
Vriesea splendens
Yucca spp.
Zantedeschia spp.
Zebrina spp.
Zinnia elegans

string of pearls
purple heart
gloxinia
Jerusalem cherry
white flag
bird of paradise
Cape primrose
Persian shield
arrowhead vine, nephthytis
marigold
black-eyed susan
thyme
piggyback plant
wandering Jew
tulip
verbena
periwinkle
pansy, Johnny-jump-up
flaming sword
yucca
calla lily
wandering Jew
zinnia

Low

Med

High

n
n
n
n
n

n
n

Water requirements

Very high

n
n

n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

Dry
n
n
n
n

n
n
n

Moist
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n

Wet

n
n
n
n
n

Source: Adapted from Poole and Pittenger 1980, pp. 1619.

Notes:
*Light requirements: Light levels are for maintenance purposes only. They will not permit satisfactory growth. Light requirements are for 8 to 12 hours
each day: low (2550 foot-candles); medium (50100 foot-candles); high (100200 foot-candles); and very high (200400 foot-candles).

which are cool enough to position quite close

to plants. Extra infrared light required by
flowering plants can be supplied by incandescent lights or special horticultural-type
fluorescent lights that produce higher levels
of blue and red.

Water
Overwatering and underwatering account for a
large percentage of house plant losses. One of
the most common question home gardeners
ask is, How often should I water my plants?
There is no simple answer. Differences in
species, water-use rates, potting media, and
environment influence water needs. Two
important rules about proper watering techniques are: Never permit the soil medium to
dry out completely between waterings; and
never allow plants to stand in water for an
extended time. Roots may die in both situa278

Chapter 11

tions. In dry soil, roots can dry out and die.

Conversely, soils that are too wet for too long
encourage the growth of root pathogens and
exclude air (oxygen), which is essential to
keep roots alive. As a general rule, a plant
needs water when the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of
soil is dry in pots less than 6 inches (15 cm) in
diameter and the top 2 inches (5 cm) are dry
in larger pots. Insert your index finger to the
1- or 2-inch (2.5- or 5-cm) depth and feel the
soil to check for moisture. If the soil feels
damp, do not water. Repeat the test until the
soil is barely moist at the 1-inch (2.5-cm) or
2-inch (5-cm) depth.
Always water until a little water runs out of
the bottom of the pot. This technique serves
two purposes. First, it washes all the excess
salts (fertilizer residue) from the soil. Second,
it guarantees that the bottom two-thirds of the
pot, which contains most of the roots, receives