Skylights and Plants: Creating Indoor Gardens with Perfect Lighting

Indoor plants have surged in popularity, transforming urban homes into green sanctuaries. But for plants to thrive, they need just the right amount of light. In New Zealand, where nature is cherished and interiors are often a blend of indoor and outdoor, skylights offer an ideal solution to nurture these green companions.

Optimal Growth with Natural Light

• Perfect for Photosynthesis: Plants need light for photosynthesis. Skylights provide abundant natural light, ensuring plants get their daily dose of energy.
• Regulated Light Patterns: Just like they do in nature, indoor plants under skylights receive varying light intensities throughout the day, mimicking their natural environment.

Design & Aesthetics

• Vertical Green Walls: With skylights illuminating from above, vertical gardens or green walls can thrive, becoming living art pieces.
• Highlighting Specimen Plants: A strategically positioned skylight can spotlight a specific plant or arrangement, turning it into a focal point of the room.

Variety in Plant Choices

• For Sun-loving Plants: Plants that require ample sunlight, like succulents or certain flowering plants, can thrive directly under skylights.
• Shade-loving Greens: For plants that prefer indirect light, placing them slightly away from the direct path of the skylight ensures they get the right amount of diffused light.

Health Benefits

• Air Purification: Many indoor plants are known to purify the air, and with adequate light from skylights, they can perform this function more efficiently.
• Mental Well-being: A combination of lush plants and natural light is known to boost mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.

Installation Tips

• Glazing Options: UV-protective glazing can ensure that plants get the light they need without harmful UV rays that might cause damage.
• Ventilation: Some skylights can be opened, providing not just light but also ventilation, which can be beneficial for certain plants.

Case Study – The Hamilton Haven: A Hamilton resident with a passion for tropical plants converted her sunroom with skylights. The result was a tropical paradise, with ferns, orchids, and palms thriving under the gentle glow of the New Zealand sky.

In Conclusion: Skylights and plants are a match made in heaven. Together, they can transform interiors into vibrant living spaces where nature takes centre stage. Especially in a country like New Zealand, where the bond with nature runs deep, skylights offer a bridge, connecting indoor living spaces with the rhythms and hues of the outdoors.