The Barletta floral plant, with its large green heart-shaped leaves on long slender stems, is truly a sight to behold. Native to the tropical forests of South America, this exotic houseplant adds a touch of nature and elegance to any indoor space However, providing the right amount of light is crucial for the Barletta floral plant to grow lush, healthy foliage and thrive indoors In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how much light the Barletta floral plant needs and provide useful tips on meeting its light requirements in your home.
Before diving into the lighting needs of the Barletta floral plant, let’s first understand a little more about this beautiful houseplant.
The Barletta floral plant belongs to the Araceae family which consists of over 100 genera and about 3700 species. Some popular members of this family include philodendrons, anthuriums, and peace lilies.
Native to the tropical rainforests of Ecuador and Colombia, the Barletta floral plant thrives in warm, humid environments with filtered light. In its natural habitat, these plants grow under the canopy cover of larger trees.
With long slender stems and large, lush green leaves in a heart shape, the Barletta floral plant adds a wonderfully tropical feel to indoor spaces. When mature, it can grow up to 3 feet tall and wide, making it a stunning floor plant.
This plant is also sometimes referred to as the Barletta anthurium, due to its resemblance to the popular tropical Anthurium houseplants. However, botanically it is classified under the Dieffenbachia genus.
Lighting Needs of the Barletta Floral Plant
Now that we know a little about this plant, let’s get into the key questions around lighting that every Barletta owner should understand.
The Barletta Floral Plant Needs Bright, Indirect Light
The most important thing to understand is that the Barletta floral plant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. What does this mean exactly?
Bright indirect light refers to a location where the plant receives ample ambient brightness but is not placed directly under harsh sun rays. A spot near a bright window filtered by sheer curtains is usually perfect.
The Barletta enjoys 4-6 hours of such bright indirect sunlight daily. If your indoor space lacks sufficient natural light, you can supplement with artificial grow lights.
Insufficient light will result in leggy, weak growth and loss of the vibrant green in the foliage. On the other hand, direct hot sunlight can scorch and burn the leaves. So getting the light levels right is key!
Signs Your Plant Is Not Getting Enough Light
How do you know if your Barletta floral plant is not getting enough sunlight? Here are some telltale signs to watch out for:
- Leaves appearing lackluster, dull or faded
- Weak, leggy growth
- Leaf drop
- Slow growth rate
- Leaves turning yellow
- Drooping leaves
If you notice any of these symptoms, first move your plant to a brighter location before trying other measures.
Causes of Insufficient Lighting
There are a few key reasons why your Barletta may not be getting enough light:
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Low ambient light – Your home or office space itself lacks sufficient natural brightness. This can happen in spaces without enough windows or far from any windows.
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Poor positioning – Even in a bright room, your plant may be tucked away in a corner or cabinet without direct light exposure.
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Seasonal light changes – Light levels can vary in different seasons, with winter months providing less sunlight.
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Obstructed light path – Objects like furniture and tall decor pieces can come in the way of light reaching your plant.
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Heavy curtains – Thick non-sheer curtains or blinds can filter out too much sunlight.
Providing Optimal Lighting for Your Barletta
The good news is that meeting the Barletta’s light needs is quite simple with a little care and planning. Here are some tips:
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Place it near an east, west or south facing window for the brightest exposure. North facing windows have the weakest light.
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Ensure at least 4-6 hours of direct but filtered sunlight daily. Move the plant to “follow” the sunlight as needed.
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Use sheer curtains to filter harsh light rather than heavy drapes that block light.
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Rotate the plant every week for even light exposure on all sides.
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Keep light path clear of obstructions and wipe leaves often to maximize light absorption.
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Supplement with broad spectrum grow lights during darker winter months. LED grow bulbs work well.
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Avoid positioning under air vents or drafts which can shock the plant.
With a little observation and adjustments, you can easily provide the right kind of light for your Barletta to flourish.
Ideal Day Length for the Barletta Floral Plant
In addition to light intensity, the required day length is also crucial for the Barletta floral plant.
This tropical plant thrives best with 12-16 hours of bright, indirect light during the active growing period (spring through summer).
As daylight hours shorten in fall and winter, you may need to supplement with grow lights to provide sufficient day length.
Insufficient day length can result in slowed growth, smaller leaves and leggy appearance. Extending light exposure encourages lush, vigorous growth.
Acclimatizing the Barletta Floral Plant
When you first bring home your Barletta or move it to a new spot, it is important to acclimatize it gradually to prevent light-related stress.
Follow these tips:
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Place it in the new location for just 1-2 hours on the first day. Slowly increase the duration over a week.
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Observe for any signs of leaf scorching or sunburn and adjust the location accordingly.
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Begin with early morning or late evening light which is less harsh before leaving it for longer daytime exposure.
Taking it slow allows the plant to adjust to new light conditions safely.
Choosing the Right Pot for Optimal Light Exposure
To ensure your Barletta receives sufficient lighting, the right pot choice also matters.
Opt for lightweight pots in white or light colors which will reflect more light onto the plant. Dark-colored pots absorb light and deprive the lower foliage.
Shallow, wide pots are ideal as they allow ample light exposure for the lower leaves too. Tall, deep pots can create problematic light gradients.
Match pot size to the plant, choosing wider pots as the Barletta grows to maintain optimal light exposure.
Common Questions on Barletta Floral Plant Light Needs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions to further help optimize light provision for your Barletta:
Can the Barletta floral plant tolerate low light?
While the Barletta can tolerate low light conditions, it will not thrive. Insufficient light leads to lackluster growth. For best results, provide at least 4 hours of direct but filtered light near a bright window.
Should I place it in direct outdoor sunlight?
No, direct harsh sunlight will damage the Barletta’s foliage. Always provide bright, indirect illumination, whether indoors or outdoors.
Can I grow it under artificial lights?
Yes, LED or fluorescent grow lights can successfully substitute for natural light. Use broad spectrum bulbs and place 6-12 inches above the plant for 12-16 hours daily.
How do I provide enough light in darker winter months?
Supplement natural light with grow bulbs as daylight hours decrease. Rotate the plant so all sides get exposed. Wipe dust off leaves to maximize light absorption.
With the right lighting techniques, your Barletta floral plant will reward you with abundant lush, vibrant growth even as a houseplant. Pay attention to signs of light deficiencies and make adjustments to ensure your plant gets the illumination it needs to thrive indoors.
Do I really need to measure light?
Light measurements are helpful in setting up a plant growing area but should be used only as a guide. The human eye is a poor judge of light intensity because it automatically adjusts to different light levels. Light meters that measure foot-candles may be used if available. Photographic light meters normally do not read in foot-candles, but some manufacturers supply a conversion table. When available, these may also be used.
Calculating wattage per square foot of growing area is a useful and easy way to estimate light required. When using fluorescent tubes, simply multiply the wattage desired by the square feet of growing area. For example, if you have a 4-square-foot area of low-light plants that need 10 watts, the calculation would be 10 watts × 4 square feet, or 40 watts. With this approach, light measurements are unnecessary unless problems develop.
How much light should plants receive?
The amount of light necessary varies with each plant. In general, the light fixtures available for home plant lighting make it practically impossible to produce too much light for most plants.
Plants that can adapt to interior settings usually are divided into three general categories: those suitable for low, medium and high light intensities. (These three groups are referred to in the discussion of individual plants in the last section of this publication.) The categories generally indicate the minimum light required. Growth is often best at the higher end of these suggested light ranges.
Foot-candle A foot-candle is a measure of light intensity, or brightness. It is defined as the amount of light received by a 1-square-foot surface that is 1 foot away from a light source equivalent to one candle of a certain type.
Plants referred to as low light intensity plants generally should receive between 50 and 250 foot-candles. Under artificial light, a few plants in this group can be maintained at as little as 10 foot-candles. Low-light plants should receive between 10 and 15 watts of fluorescent light per square foot of growing space. A single fluorescent tube such as a 2-foot 20-watt tube or a 4-foot 40-watt tube without any other light provides only enough light for plants in this category (Table 1).
Table 1 Light output measured at various distances below fluorescent lamps†.
| Distance (feet) | Light output (foot-candles)‡ based on fixture type | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 foot | 500 | 700 | 900 |
| 1 foot | 260 (200) | 400 (260) | 600 |
| 2 feet | 110 (100) | 180 (150) | 330 |
| 3 feet | 60 (60) | 100 (90) | |
| 4 feet | 40 | 60 | 100 |
Medium light intensity plants prefer 250 to 1,000 foot-candles. Best growth occurs above 750 foot-candles unless plants also receive extended periods of direct sunlight. Give them artificial light in the 500 to 1,000 foot-candle range, or 15 or more watts per square foot of growing area. Although plants in this group can be held in the 250 to 500 foot-candle range, growth is best with more light. A fixture containing two fluorescent tubes is sufficient for plants in the low- to medium-light range. Adjustments in the number of tubes used may be made if you regulate the distance between the tubes and plants.
Plants that require high light intensity generally are less satisfactory for growing under artificial lights in the home. However, if you want to try, use special high-intensity lamps. These plants need at least 1,000 foot-candles, or 20 watts per square foot of growing area, but should have higher intensities for best growth and flowering. Fixtures containing three to four fluorescent tubes are necessary for plants requiring high light intensity.