---
title: "How do you calculate lighting? I tried using the app but it doesn’t…"
description: "How do you calculate lighting? I tried using the app but it doesn’t seem to consider the varying length of day where I live. I tried an online calculator and…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/wiG33pl7YrazeKfrUHh6Vv"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Crafty Sam"
published: "2026-07-23T02:34:15.691919Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/M5GOH1r0weUJxWUPQrk7e7T_62UYOrbHZAGGYVvzjSQ/9YJ65XilRoW7ZdUYkWs_rA.webp?size=large"
---

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# How do you calculate lighting? I tried using the app but it doesn’t…

_Posted by Crafty Sam on 2026-07-23_

How do you calculate lighting? I tried using the app but it doesn’t seem to consider the varying length of day where I live. I tried an online calculator and it seems I’m missing something. My plants all live within 1 foot of the window. I also have a smaller area on a south facing window which I can use for my plants.

In the winter I’ll have to supplement but trying to figure out what plants to put where to start. I just got a bunch of new plants so some need to move.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/M5GOH1r0weUJxWUPQrk7e7T_62UYOrbHZAGGYVvzjSQ/9YJ65XilRoW7ZdUYkWs_rA.webp?size=large)

## 2 comments

### Colorkey commented on 2026-07-23

I would consider this Bright, indirect light. The light from the outside world is reflecting up and the plants are absorbing some of that.

### Phil commented on 2026-07-23

This is interesting because everyone interprets light intensity very differently. I’d really like to see more comments about this. To me it looks like sunlight is not hitting the window. I would call the lighting for your plants as “shade”, or maybe “indirect”.

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