Purple, it's ironic you brought up the subject. It's a subject I've been pondering over a lot lately.

Since plant book #1, most authors wrote, 'variegated plants need more light than non-variegated.'

But, I disagree. To a point

It depends on the plant. Of course, at the moment, I can't think of any examaples except Talinum/Jewel or Opar and variegated palms. Direct sun only burns these plants.
Certain variegated Orchids and Sans pale instead of pronounce creams and yellows.

Let's see...variegated Ficus colors are more pronounced in full/direct sun.

Ivy is another example. A couple Ivy leaves are pure white, yet getting less sun now than during winter and spring.

Dracaenas 'Stripped' do better in lower light..white/cream is vivid..when one Dracaena in particular got more light, reverted to green..

There are other examples, but I've got things to do. Dinner, etc.

Like they say, variegated plants are actually problem or deformed plants.

Hey Purple,

Pls. tell us the copyright year of this info, as this could be quite old & science has progressed a lot in recent years, especially in some of these areas.

FYI: the Sans markings to which you refer are not regarded as variegations, just markings.

Variegation in a Sans. is very definite looking, let's see if I can find one of my own examples.

See how this variegation is distinctly striped?

{{gwi:94685}}

Many folks don't actually believe that Toni, that variegated plants are 'deformed'.

From what I read & hear, some folks believe variegation is virus induced, some believe it's part of the characteristics in the plant's DNA, I'm not informed enough to really know, but tend to lean to the DNA answer rather than that of virus.

There's much more to that section of the book, but it basically says there are different causes of different types of variegation, some virus, some genetic. I don't know enough about it to debate the science or question any of the info, but just thought it would make an interesting introduction for relating variegation experiences.

This is a beautiful coffee table book © 1994. I bought it for the pictures. The author is from England and her credentials are as an author with no mention of any formal scientific education. I've always assumed she correctly related the science part to the best of her knowledge with info available at the time... but who knows? The book is written about outdoor gardening with temperate plants, as mentioned above. I don't know enough about the science to know if the same info applies to tropical plants or not. Feel free to add any modern enlightenment, anyone!

Wiki article on variegation has some similar info and touches on some other types of variegation. I wonder why Sans folks don't refer to the colors as variegation? According to Wiki and dictionary.com, they're variegated.

Karen, nice Sans..Very pretty colors.

I don't believe variegation is deformed, an anomaly or induced by virus either.

After reading this thread, I Googled. Most authors start a variegation article by saying, 'variegation can occur for a number of reasons.'

Does anyone really know why plants are variegated? Is it similar to, who came first, the chicken or the egg?

This kind of sums it up...
Variegation is usually the result of a cell mutation, and can be inherited (genetic) or occur randomly (chimeric). If genetic the variegation is usually stable, which means that if you propagate a green shoot from a plant with colored leaves or sow its seed, the coloring will reappear in the new plant. This applies both to green leaves with irregular variegation, say in white and yellow, and to those of a single solid color such as gold or purple.
A random mutation usually shows up as variegation. If you propagate from a green shoot or sow seed of the plant, the color will not recur. This kind of variegation is the most common but is often difficult to stabilize. Propagation must be from variegated or colored shoots. In nature these forms usually die out, being weaker growers because of the lack of chlorophyll, which plants use to make the food they need for growth.
Variegation can also be the result of a viral infection, showing as discolored veins or leaf areas. This form of variegation is relatively rare, but it is stable. A lot of variegated Camelias are the result of viruses.

To Quote Toni;
"Since plant book #1, most authors wrote, 'variegated plants need more light than non-variegated.'
But, I disagree. To a point "

Many variegated plants do need more light than their normally colored counterparts however that does not necessarily mean an intense change such as from shade to direct sun. It could just be a closer location to a light source or a brighter room in the house. I guess that amounts to the same thing but you should get the idea.

Hey Danny!!! How've you been?

Yes, I agree, many variegated plants need brighter, 'not necessarly intense sun,' to keep colors.

On certain occassions, either a plant/s were intentionally set in total shade, or accidently fell behind a shelf w/o my knowledge.
Once discovered, variegation was more colorful than when getting light.

I have two variegated Orchids..Phalaenopsis...one gets natural sun, the second under artificial lights..
The Phal in lower light is more pronounced..the orchid in bright-indirect lost variegation. The sun isn't harsh.

Same with some Philodendrons/Monsteras/Marantas/Stromanthes/Ctentanthes/Stromanths
.
However, all/most plants need light, whether it's dark shade or direct sun. Toni

Virtually all reliable sources have been pretty consistent for a long time in explaining that variegated plants require more light than their all-green counterparts. And, of course, more light does not necessarily mean direct sun.

No one has mentioned the flip-side to this. The best low light plants are usually dark green in color. Examples are Dracaena Janet Craig, Aspidistra, Jade Pothos and Peace Lily.

~Will

Dracaena deremensis seems to have much better color with significant amounts of direct sun.

Tradescantia spathacea looks much better, with wider, more colorful stripes since I backed it up some into more shade (just AM sun now.)

Can't get Cordyline fruticosa to make that pretty pinkish/purple stripe no matter where I put it.

Still looking for ideal exposure for the tiny pink Syngoniums I dug-up from the yard earlier this year.

{{gwi:94687}}

When you think about it from a phsyics point of view, a dark leaf will be more absorbent/less reflective, so it stands to reason will be able to function in lower light.

In my experience, though, it seems to be the least "interesting"/perceived to be original varieties that take the lowest light.

D. Marginata is a good example - D. Magenta is slightly darker than the basic version and yet seem to need more light. Ditto, Sansverieria Laurentii (with the yellow edged leaves) will take lower light than S. Zeylanica (with the plain green leaves).

It's been a while since this discussion started, so I have some follow-ups on the plants I was working with when I last posted. Most of the plants giving me trouble eventually found spots with no direct light at all and finally started to look great. Syngonium, Cordyline fruticosa, Tradescantia spathacea, Maranta, Dracaena surculosa, and Dracaena braunii (formerly sanderiana, AKA lucky bamboo) look their best when only in shade here (while outside for summer.)

A Columnea is making me crazy. When I got it, it had pretty pink tints but although it's grown a lot, the pinkness has been MIA. After being inside in an east window for a couple months, there's a slight bit of pink on some leaf veins, mostly on the bottom of leaves. I'm going to try a little less sun this summer, dappled, under a tree.

I got some variegated Tradescantia fluminensis last summer but I think all that's left is reversions unless some survives outside. All of the pots for sale had plain green sections in them, I'm not surprised this happened. Has anyone kept one of these with the pretty stripes for a long time?

I don't have any same plants in both variegated and non-, so don't have any of those comparisons to offer. Who does?

What's going on with your variegated plants?

that's a very interesting subject.
i have mostly tropicals indoors and some go out to ultra bright NE balcony outside. lots of variegation.
i think indoor culture is quite different from outdoor and season to season and latitude - just all very complicated!
what i found is that a lot of time recommendations for these plants are from southern growers ... for outdoors! (FL). bright shade in summer in fl = bright dappled sun on the window sill for me in NYC. seasonal light differs a lot too.
so while i put my plants in some early sun, NE bright shade(no sun) outside in summer, in winter they stay in dappled sun west window or even full sun west.
one example is crotons: early summer outside in 3-4 hrs of sun cooler temps is great! but then they really color up in october too - no direct sun, 60-65F. while hot temps over 80F and direct hot sun in july -aug totally bleach out the leaves.
but indoors west partial 3-4 hr sun in winter does wonders for them.
caladiums are similar to that. they green in too much shade and bleach out in too much hot sun. while take 4-5 hrs of direct eastern sun indoors in summer.
i have many more: stromanthe triostar, alocasia african mask, etc - that are strictly indoors. they are supposed to be in bright shade only, but i keep them all in dappled , even direct early/late sun to maintain color/good growth indoors in winter and sheers filtered sun in summer.