{"id":28164,"date":"2026-04-13T19:22:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T01:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.landuum.com\/interventions\/my-oasis-at-home-guide-to-mapping-light-and-shadows-on-your-balcony\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T19:22:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T01:22:17","slug":"my-oasis-at-home-guide-to-mapping-light-and-shadows-on-your-balcony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.landuum.com\/en\/the-lab\/my-oasis-at-home-guide-to-mapping-light-and-shadows-on-your-balcony\/","title":{"rendered":"My oasis at home: guide to mapping light and shadows on your balcony"},"content":{"rendered":"

In <\/span>My oasis at home: a guide to mapping light and shadows on your balcony,<\/b> by Sof\u00eda Medrano, you will learn how to interpret the light on your balcony through a solar observation journal, allowing you to select the most suitable plant species and design a personal refuge that is strategic, functional, and full of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Many times, a garden\u2019s success depends not only on how much we water it, but on how well we understand its microclimate: that corner where the midday sun hits hardest, or that spot where the wind creates a constant draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this exercise, I invite you to take the first fundamental step for any landscape architect: shadow mapping. Through a simple log at three key times (9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.), we will learn to read the dance of light across the space. Only then can we choose the right plant species and define that strategic spot where a bench or a table becomes our true sanctuary.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Luz y sombra \/ Light and shadow
Fotograf\u00eda\/ Photography: Sof\u00eda Medrano<\/p><\/div>\n

Microclimate log: My oasis at home shadow record.<\/b><\/p>\n

Instructions: Choose a clear day to perform your observations. Stand in the center of your space (balcony, terrace, or window) and record what happens during these three key moments:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Time<\/b><\/td>\nDirect Sunlight?<\/b><\/td>\nLight Intensity<\/b><\/td>\nObservations (wind, heat, reflections)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
09:00 a.m.<\/b><\/td>\n[ ] Yes \/ [ ] No<\/span><\/td>\nLow \/ Medium \/ High<\/span><\/td>\nE.g., Sunlight enters from the side, cool breeze.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
01:00 p.m.<\/b><\/td>\n[ ] Yes \/ [ ] No<\/span><\/td>\nLow \/ Medium \/ High<\/span><\/td>\nE.g., Overhead sun, high floor temperature.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
05:00 p.m.<\/b><\/td>\n[ ] Yes \/ [ ] No<\/span><\/td>\nLow \/ Medium \/ High<\/span><\/td>\nE.g., Long shadows, steady airflow.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Balc\u00f3n a las 9 am, media sombra, intensidad de luz baja, el sol entra de lado, sin corrientes de aire Balcony at 9 am, partial shade, low light intensity, sideways sunlight, and no drafts
Fotograf\u00eda \/ Photography: Sof\u00eda Medrano<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Balc\u00f3n a la 1 am, sol en posici\u00f3n cenital, intensidad de luz media \/ Balcony at 1 pm, sun at zenith, medium light intensity
Fotograf\u00eda \/ Photography: Sof\u00eda Medrano<\/p><\/div>\n

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Balc\u00f3n a la 1 am, se pueden observar las sombras largas y marcadas de las ramas de los \u00e1rboles Balcony at 1:00 p.m.; long, sharp shadows from the tree branches can be observed
Fotograf\u00eda \/ Photography: Sof\u00eda Medrano<\/p><\/div>\n

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Balc\u00f3n a las 5pm Intensidad de la luz baja no se puede percibir ninguna sombra, pero s\u00ed varias corrientes de aire \/ Balcony at 5 pm. Low light intensity; no shadows are visible, but there are several drafts
Fotograf\u00eda \/ Photography: Sof\u00eda Medrano<\/p><\/div>\n

Tips for your home experiment:<\/b><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • The hand trick:<\/strong> Place your hand about 20 cm above a light-colored surface. If the shadow is very sharp, it is the direct sun. If it is blurry, it is partial shade.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Identify \u201chot spots\u201d: Notice if sunlight bounces off a neighbor’s window or a white wall; this can increase your plants’ temperature more than usual.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Once you have identified the sun’s behavior on your balcony or terrace, choosing species becomes an act of conscious design. Here are some recommendations based on your findings:<\/span><\/p>\n

    Once you have identified the sun’s behavior on your balcony or terrace, choosing species becomes an act of conscious design.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    1. The full sun corner (direct light at 9:00, 13:00, and 17:00 hrs)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    If your space receives sun all day, you need \u201cwarrior\u201d plants that can withstand high radiation and rapid evaporation.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Suggested species:<\/strong> Lavender, sages, or large-format succulents.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Design tip:<\/strong> These plants are not only resilient; many provide scents that the sun intensifies, creating a sensory oasis.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      2. The transition zone (sun only at 9:00 or 17:00 hrs)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

      This is the \u201cpartial shade\u201d microclimate. It is the most versatile because the light is soft and won’t burn delicate leaves.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Suggested species:<\/strong> Dahlias, Mexican Begonias, or some hardy fern varieties (such as Asplenium nidus).<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Design tip:<\/strong> This is where leaf texture shines brightest; look for contrasts between large and small leaves to add depth to the space.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        3. The shade retreat (indirect light or shade at 13:00 and 17:00 hrs)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

        If the light is minimal, do not be discouraged; it is the perfect place to create a cool, jungle-like atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Suggested species:<\/strong> Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum), Calatheas, or the classic Anthurium.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Design tip:<\/strong> Use light-colored pots (white or blue) to bounce back the little available light and bring brightness to the corner.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          After conducting this shadow analysis on your balcony, you will be able to correctly select the appropriate plant species considering the site’s microclimate.<\/span><\/p>\n

          \"\"

          Propuesta de paleta vegetal con salvias y lavandas para un balc\u00f3n que recibe luz directa durante todo el d\u00eda \/ Planting palette proposal featuring salvias and lavenders for a balcony with full sun exposure throughout the day.
          Ilustraci\u00f3n \/ Illustration: Sof\u00eda Medrano y Valentina Lara<\/p><\/div>\n

           <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          In My oasis at home: a guide to mapping light and shadows on your balcony, by Sof\u00eda Medrano, you will learn how to interpret the light on your balcony through a solar observation journal, allowing you to select the most suitable plant species and design a personal refuge that is strategic, functional, and full of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":407,"featured_media":28163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-lab"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t