So, What Exactly Does Full Sun, Full Shade Or Part Sun/shade Mean?

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So, what exactly does full sun, full shade or part sun/shade mean?

by Tina Landsburg | Jun 3, 2019 | Articles

It’s always a good idea to review these guidelines before you start planting: * 6+ hours of sun = Full sun * Less than 4 hours of sun = Shade * 4-6 hours of sun = part sun/part shade. * If the label says “partial shade,” 6 hours is the recommended maximum sun exposure. * If it says “partial sun,” 4 hours is the recommended minimum sun exposure. * With “part to full shade,” try to give it less than 6 hours. With “part to full sun,” anything over 4 hours should be OK. * When adding up the number of hours your location receives, keep in mind they don’t have to be continuous hours of sunlight. * Hours accumulated in the morning or at night don’t count for as much as during the afternoon when the sun is at it’s hottest. * Pay attention to structures, such as boulder walls, and materials such as steel siding or cement for example, which can create a micro-climate and adds more heat in that location. Hanging baskets are often hung next to the house, which adds to the amount of heat they receive. So, perhaps they could get by with a little less sun? * If your plant is growing well, but it isn’t blooming, it’s a sure sign that it’s not receiving enough sun. * Plants that are stretched and leggy looking are likely not getting enough sun. * Plants that look bleached out or that have bronze patches are likely getting too much sun. * Foliage plants do good in the shade. Naturally this makes sense because they have no flowers. It IS possible to brighten up a shady spot with a foliage plant. * If you have two matching pots and one gets more sun or shade than the other, the two pots can be rotated frequently to even out their growing conditions. Liners inserted into window boxes can make rotating easy. A plant such as Dragon Wing Begonia will do well in a case like this as well. * As you walk into our greenhouse, generally all the plants on the right side of the greenhouse are full sun, the left side of the greenhouse is shade, and the plants in the middle are part sun/part shade. Search for:

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