In living quarters with north-facing windows, not every plant can feel comfortable. They are affected by the lack of sunlight and short daylight hours in winter. However, many plants can grow and thrive well even in low light conditions. But first, let’s find out which windows are best for plants.
The Best Window for House Plants
Most houseplants grow well near windows on the east and west sides of the house. Sunlight does not come directed, but diffused, so shading flowers in such a place is not required. But unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to place plants near the east or west windows, and have to look for other options. Many gardeners are wondering if it is possible to grow plants in a north-facing window?
Are North-Facing Windows Good for Plants?
Many people consider north-facing windows not very suitable for plants because the most important condition for the well-being of your little green friends is the availability of a sufficient amount of sunlight. But there are many plants that, on the contrary, prefer diffused light or even do not give up living in the shade. Of course, there are some rules here that should be taken into account when choosing and placing plants.
Do North-Facing Windows Get Light?
The northern windows are either not illuminated by the sun at all, or it looks into them only for 1-2 hours a day. Usually, in poor light, plants begin to stretch out strongly, lose color, and do not agree to bloom in any way. In general, this is true for any flower. But the fact is that the north windows are different. Of course, if the window is small, and the walls of other buildings are nearby, lush growth can hardly be expected even from the most unpretentious plants. But near the large northern windows, many flowers would feel good.
Top 10 Plants for North-Facing Window
Aspidistra Elatior (Cast Iron Plant)
Gardeners love Aspidistra for its incredible unpretentiousness. Lack of lighting, dry air, temperature changes, tobacco smoke, drought – it seems that this plant can withstand everything. But do not oppress the Aspidistra too much if you want to enjoy its beauty. Provide the plant with moderate watering and feeding, do not be zealous with transplants – and it would certainly become the pride of your green collection!
Sansevieria Trifasciata (Snake Plant)
Sansevieria Trifasciata is one of the most popular north-facing indoor plants that can handle low light conditions with ease. Gardeners appreciate them for their sharp, erect leaves and incredible steadiness. It is best to place them where they can receive enough bright indirect light. The Snake Plant is also able to withstand lower light conditions, although in this case, it can slow down the growth rate.
The great advantage of Sansevieria Trifasciata is its unpretentiousness. It should be watered only when the soil dries out. The only thing is to avoid too low temperatures and keep it away from pets, as it is toxic to them.
Spathiphyllum Wallisii (Peace Lily)
If you’re looking for a blooming plant for the northwest window, then we highly recommend Peace Lily, which wins the hearts of gardeners with its vibrant white flowers and attractive foliage. But keep in mind that this north window plant tends to grow rather slowly.
Caring for Spathiphyllum Wallisii is quite simple: they tolerate indirect sunlight well and can be watered as needed, but it is recommended to keep the soil moist. Moreover, the plants themselves can tell that they need water by dropping sharply. The plant prefers medium temperatures and moderate humidity. Try not to place it in low light conditions, and keep it away from pets as it is toxic.
Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant)
If you are looking for large indoor plants for north-facing windows then Monstera Deliciosa is what you need! A distinctive feature of these tropical plants is their unusual holes on leaves of various shapes. Like any exotic flower, Monstera Deliciosa loves warmth. Ideal conditions are 77-84 °F in summer and about 68 °F in winter. It is necessary to try to create the most similar conditions to those in which the plant grows in the natural environment.
In addition, it is worth considering that it needs high humidity at any time of the year. With proper care, this exotic plant grows fairly quickly in height, so you need to regularly prune, adjusting the height as you wish. During pruning, the first thing to do is to get rid of limp and lifeless leaves. If provided with a support grid, a Swiss Cheese Plant can grow to a really large size.
Chlorophytum Comosum (Spider Plant)
Among the best plants for the north side of the house, we could not fail to highlight the amazing Spider Plant. They are fairly easy to care for and can withstand almost any unfavorable conditions. The location at the northwest-facing window is ideal for this plant. The older Chlorophytum Comosum grows, the more spectacular and luxurious its leaves look!
Although these plants can withstand drought with dignity, it is better not to forget to water them, while remembering that they do not tolerate waterlogging. If you suddenly notice that the tips of the Spider Plant leaves are turning brown, then simply increase the moisture. If you decided to purchase this houseplant for a north-facing window, then we strongly recommend using quick-drying soil.
Hedera Helix (English Ivy)
Although often referred to as a pest in the wild, Hedera Helix is a pretty cute plant with beautiful star-shaped leaves that makes it great for your north-facing garden. Given its extreme hardiness and tolerance for low light conditions, the light from a north-facing window would be more than enough for its full development. English Ivy is a vine that needs a supporting structure. The ideal temperature for it is about 60-65 ° F; in drier climates, you should provide the plant with extra moisture. Also, prune the vine from time to time to get the desired shape.
Zamioculcas Zamiifolia (ZZ Plant)
Zamioculcas zamiifolia is a succulent that grows well in low light conditions, which makes it one of the best plants for the north side of the house. These hardy plants can even survive in windowless rooms. They grow quite slowly, but with time and proper care, they can grow up to three feet in height.
ZZ succulents thrive in a variety of humidity levels and temperatures, making them a good choice for difficult-to-control environments. They calmly tolerate temperature extremes and easily recover after forgotten watering. Keep ZZ Plant away from pets as they are quite toxic. Moreover, we recommend wearing gloves when interacting with it to avoid skin irritation.
Begonia Rex (Painted-Leaf Begonia)
Gardeners adore Begonias for both their foliage and flowers. True, blooming begonias do not do well in north-facing sunlight, but Begonia Rex is perfect for shady conditions. You can find many different varieties of Begonia Rex, all with unique leaf patterns and interesting coloration. They are quite hardy and prefer warm and moderately humid environments. But we strongly recommend that you avoid over-watering.
Pilea Cadierei (Aluminum Plant)
These amazing plants for northern exposure get their name from the bright silver patterns that can be seen on their bright green leaves.
Aluminum Plant is a tropical plant that needs warm and humid conditions. These plants thrive near the northeast windows as indirect light is ideal for them. They can grow quite quickly, so you would have to prune them quite often if you want to keep the desired shape. You should water the plant only when the topsoil is dry and also try to avoid drafts.
Philodendron Scandens (Heart-Leaf Philodendron)
These cute plants for the north-facing window win the hearts of gardeners with their dense, heart-shaped leaves. They are quite hardy and can respond well to various environmental changes. For most species of the genus Philodendron, low light or partial shade is ideal. But keep them out of direct sunlight, as the plant can get burned. It prefers average room temperature and moderate humidity. Avoid over-watering.
As you can see, the choice of indoor plants for the northern window is really large, you can always pick flowers that can give you a good mood and not require any special worries. When purchasing an indoor flower in a store, you need to take into account its preferences and the possibilities of growing in your room. Even with a little care, unpretentious plants can create a real corner of peaceful privacy in rooms with northern windows.