I've never seen this question posed this way, but here goes...

I'm trying to figure out where to put my monstera, ZZ plants etc, without negatively impacting plants.

Here's some info.

- Live in small apartment, get great SE light, on high floor, no obstructions. So ideally I want to give my monstera bright indirect light, but that right now means right in the middle of my living room. If I put it right in front of window, I think it would fry in summer sun. I do sometimes put it there but not for the whole day. I could put it to the left side of room, near window (and that has the oh so lovely vertical blinds closed a bit on the both sides, so light more diffused but I would have to move the metal chair (and really no other place for it). Or somehow rearrange things.....

Maybe just move. ha. I'm planning to redo layout of bedroom, but I would need to reconfigure, get rid of two small pieces of furniture etc..

I do have one of my zz plants (next to a big ol' wall unit on left) so kind of blocked. I haven't had that plant long but seems fine.. And another a few feet away but with more direct view of window.

I don't know if good idea if I put monstera where zz is (next to wall unit). It would get less light than it gets now, and not sure if walking by that would be real tight. I might just try and see if ok there -- since monstera can deal with different lighting. And maybe it would just grow slower which would be fine.

I keep all my other plants on coffee table, (so just a few feet from window), on side table, and a snake plant on pass thru of kitchen (close to zz).

I just assume bright indirect (in terms of south exposure) is far enough away that you don't actually feel the sun hitting you.

I would love to get more plants, but tight quarters.

Many thanks. Any tips, ideas would be much appreciated on how you deal with growing houseplants if space/light not ideal. Maybe simply have a grow light in that lower light corner (I no zip about grow lights).

Hard to help through pictures...but my idea..that floor lamp you have near the window... I would put a plant between the legs and maybe with a plant stand to give it more height. Plus it will give your plant a light source .

I can't help you with your home decor. I live in a studio so I do understand the limitations that come with that. But I may be able to help you with evaluating the available light and the light requirements of your plants.

Bright indirect light is, as you described, close to a window but just beyond the reach of the sun's rays. That is what your Monstera wants. Light intensity for plants drops off significantly with every foot beyond that. By the time you get more than 5-6 feet from the window, you are well into very low or minimal survival light even for Snake and ZZ plants. Other good low light plants include Pothos, Peace Lily, and Dracaena Lisa.

Hi & welcome! If that was my room, I would put a table right by the window and all of the plants would be there with the blinds open.

I agree with Tiffany. What they call sideboard or credenza.... a tallish narrow table with maybe some cabinet space or drawers under it. Or just a tall bench or narrow table along the window. Perfect spot for sung loving plants, and it doesn't have to be more than a foot or so deep, so it won't jut out into the room too much. :D

What a beautiful room!
If it were me, I'd place your monstera under the window right in the center. I've had mine for over a decade and judging from the light I see in the photos it would do just fine. Would also cover up the plug from the lamp ;)
Maybe place a decorative plant stand to one side.

I have the same problem you do and this was my solution to maximize light space (it's overcast today) but may not be your style at all. I guess the general idea is to try thinking up.

~C

Sorry for the late reply. Thanks everyone for feedback. Guess it took my Monstera to rearrange my bedroom. Right now its in there ---- sold a small desk that I never used.

Oh and I will definitely be putting a plant to hide the outlet.

I had no idea that light drops off so much just a few feet from the window. I basically assumed my living room was mostly bright indirect light.

Thanks again everyone.

CassM said: I guess the general idea is to try thinking up.

That was exactly my conclusion too when i ran out of table space. Macrame plant hangers are now my best friends. (hahah I never thought i'd see those things again after the 1960s, seriously!)