PlantEtiolation.
Pale, weak, abnormally elongated growth with long internodes and small leaves, produced when a plant receives too little light.
What it means for your plants
Etiolated growth does not shorten again once light improves; move the plant to brighter light, acclimating over 1–2 weeks, and prune the stretched sections back to encourage compact new shoots. Fertilizer does not compensate for missing light.
IN PRACTICE
An aloe kept in a dim corner leans toward the window and grows flat, pale leaves that splay outward.
Put it into practice
Low light means roughly 500–2,500 lux, not a windowless hallway. See which houseplants truly tolerate it, how their care changes, and when to add a grow light.
Low-light houseplants: what “tolerant” really means, in lux
