Why “Bright Indirect Light” Confused Me at First
When I first brought home a money tree, every care guide said the same thing: bright, indirect sunlight, preferably near a south-facing window. That sounded simple until I realized my apartment only had northeast-facing windows.
No strong sun. No dramatic brightness. Just reflected afternoon light and long stretches of “pretty okay” daylight.
So I had the same question most people do: is this enough, or am I slowly killing it?
What “Bright Indirect Light” Actually Means for a Money Tree
Here’s what I learned the hard way: money trees are more flexible than their reputation suggests, but they still have limits.
A money tree prefers:
- 6–8 hours of bright, indirect light
- A consistently bright room, not direct sun on the leaves
- Stability more than perfection
What it does not need is harsh, direct midday sun blasting through glass. In fact, that can scorch the leaves.
My Northeast Window Reality Check
My money tree lived right on the windowsill of a northeast-facing window. The light was soft in the morning and brighter later in the day due to reflected light from nearby buildings.
Here’s what happened:
- Growth was slower than in ideal conditions
- Leaves stayed green and healthy
- Some yellowing appeared shortly after moving it in
- The plant stabilized once it adjusted
That yellowing wasn’t lack of light. It was relocation stress, something money trees are notorious for.
Why Yellow Leaves Don’t Automatically Mean “More Sun”
This is where most beginners panic.
When a money tree is moved to a new environment, it often:
- Drops a few leaves
- Yellows older foliage
- Pauses growth for a few weeks
That doesn’t mean the light is wrong. It usually means the plant is recalibrating.
In my case, watering too early would have made things worse. The soil stayed moist for a long time, which is normal in lower light.
How I Made Sure My Money Tree Got Enough Light
Instead of chasing a perfect window, I focused on consistency.
What worked:
- Keeping it as close to the window as possible
- Making sure the room stayed bright during the day
- Avoiding dark corners and hallways
- Letting the soil dry slightly between waterings
If your space is very dim, a simple grow light for 4–6 hours a day works incredibly well and removes the guesswork.
Can a Money Tree Survive in Lower Light?
Yes. But there’s a difference between surviving and thriving.
In lower light:
- Growth slows
- Soil stays wet longer
- Overwatering becomes the real danger
This is why so many money trees fail — not because of light, but because water schedules don’t adjust to light levels.
The Bottom Line
A money tree doesn’t need perfect sun. It needs reliable brightness.
If you can give it:
- A bright window (even northeast)
- Several hours of indirect light
- Stable placement and patient watering
It will adapt.
Mine lost a couple of stems early on, but the remaining one pushed through and kept growing. That taught me something important: money trees reward consistency more than ideal conditions.
If you’re new to plants, don’t overcorrect. Give it light, give it time, and let the plant tell you what it needs.
