The Secret to Keeping Your Houseplants Happy and Healthy
Are you giving your plants the type of light they need? Find out which plants do best in different conditions
Finding the right amount of light. Every plant needs at least some sunlight to thrive. The amount varies, and hours of direct sun are not what many of them like. Instead, bright, indirect or filtered light is often best.
You can’t choose which way your windows face, but you can adjust the light your plants receive. If they’re getting too much sun, as indicated by burnt or yellow leaves or above-average water needs, try moving them away from the window or adding a sheer curtain.
If they are spindly, have yellow leaves or aren’t thriving, see if they need a little more light. Move them closer to the windows or, in dark spots, see if artificial lights for a few hours a day will help. Just don’t put them so close that you burn the foliage.
Also, remember that while your windows face a certain direction, buildings, trees and other obstacles may block the light. Look at the amount of light your windows actually receive throughout the day, and choose and care for your plants appropriately.
You can’t choose which way your windows face, but you can adjust the light your plants receive. If they’re getting too much sun, as indicated by burnt or yellow leaves or above-average water needs, try moving them away from the window or adding a sheer curtain.
If they are spindly, have yellow leaves or aren’t thriving, see if they need a little more light. Move them closer to the windows or, in dark spots, see if artificial lights for a few hours a day will help. Just don’t put them so close that you burn the foliage.
Also, remember that while your windows face a certain direction, buildings, trees and other obstacles may block the light. Look at the amount of light your windows actually receive throughout the day, and choose and care for your plants appropriately.
Providing basic care. The most popular houseplants are those that are as comfortable in our homes as we are. Most of them like average home daytime and nighttime temperatures. Many might prefer a bit more humidity, but they’ll either be fine with what they get or you can augment humidity levels with misting, pebble trays and humidifiers. The one thing houseplants usually don’t like is drafts. They also may suffer in winter if placed too close to a cold window.
Houseplants generally like their soil to dry out a bit between waterings, although there are exceptions. Go easy on the fertilizer, erring on the side of less rather than more. Pests are not very common, and most that might appear can be easily taken care of with a spray of water or insecticidal soap.
Most of all, pay attention to the plants themselves. If they aren’t thriving, adjust the light and your watering schedule and go from there.
Houseplants generally like their soil to dry out a bit between waterings, although there are exceptions. Go easy on the fertilizer, erring on the side of less rather than more. Pests are not very common, and most that might appear can be easily taken care of with a spray of water or insecticidal soap.
Most of all, pay attention to the plants themselves. If they aren’t thriving, adjust the light and your watering schedule and go from there.
East-facing windows. The light from east-facing windows is what most houseplants crave. It’s bright, but the only direct sunlight is during the morning, when it’s less intense. Most plants in these locations do well with regular water and normal home temperatures.
Favorites for east-facing windows include Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), butterfly palm (Dypsis lutescens), fiddleleaf fig (Ficus lyrata), heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens), moth orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.), umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla and Schefflera arboricola) and youth on age (Tolmiea menziesii).
Learn more about plants that grow well in east-facing windows
Favorites for east-facing windows include Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), butterfly palm (Dypsis lutescens), fiddleleaf fig (Ficus lyrata), heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens), moth orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.), umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla and Schefflera arboricola) and youth on age (Tolmiea menziesii).
Learn more about plants that grow well in east-facing windows
West-facing windows. If your houseplants want a bit more light, west-facing windows are a good place to start. For most of the day, the light is bright and indirect. In the late afternoon it becomes more direct and more intense. If this is a bit too much light, simply move them away from the window a bit or add a sheer curtain.
Favorites for west-facing windows include air plants, aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae), coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides), English ivy (Hedera helix), common geranium (Pelargonium spp.) and different holiday cactuses.
West-facing windows are also a good choice for getting plants such as amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybrids), azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), chrysanthemums, hibiscus and Persian violets (Exacum affine) to bloom. Once they flower, though, the full sun may shorten their blooming season. Move them away from the direct light to extend the blooms.
Learn more about plants that grow well in west-facing windows
Favorites for west-facing windows include air plants, aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae), coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides), English ivy (Hedera helix), common geranium (Pelargonium spp.) and different holiday cactuses.
West-facing windows are also a good choice for getting plants such as amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybrids), azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), chrysanthemums, hibiscus and Persian violets (Exacum affine) to bloom. Once they flower, though, the full sun may shorten their blooming season. Move them away from the direct light to extend the blooms.
Learn more about plants that grow well in west-facing windows
South-facing windows. This is the spot for those plants that crave sunlight. Most south-facing windows receive at least four hours of direct sunlight daily, especially during the summer.
Care requirements vary depending on the type of plant you’re growing. Cactuses and succulents want conditions to be a bit drier, and they get by with less water. More tropical houseplants want a little more humidity and moist soil.
Favorite plants for south-facing windows include garden croton (Codiaeum variagaturm), dwarf citrus, common geranium (Pelargonium spp.), herbs and jade plant (Crassula ovata).
Learn more about plants that grow well in south-facing windows
Care requirements vary depending on the type of plant you’re growing. Cactuses and succulents want conditions to be a bit drier, and they get by with less water. More tropical houseplants want a little more humidity and moist soil.
Favorite plants for south-facing windows include garden croton (Codiaeum variagaturm), dwarf citrus, common geranium (Pelargonium spp.), herbs and jade plant (Crassula ovata).
Learn more about plants that grow well in south-facing windows
North-facing windows. Windows facing north may not get much light throughout the day, but a surprising number of popular houseplants actually prefer these spots. They’re also among the easiest houseplants to grow, and they often do best with lower humidity and less water.
Favorite houseplants for north-facing windows include cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata), peacock plant (Calathea spp.), peace lily (Spathyphyllum spp.), Philippine evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum), pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia).
Learn more about plants that grow well in north-facing windows
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Favorite houseplants for north-facing windows include cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata), peacock plant (Calathea spp.), peace lily (Spathyphyllum spp.), Philippine evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum), pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia).
Learn more about plants that grow well in north-facing windows
More
Happy Houseplants, Happy People
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
Note: Yellow leaves on houseplants are common but unfortunately not necessarily a symptom of a single problem. It may be a natural dropping of an older leaf, but it also may be a sign of too much light or too little light, or of too much water or too little water. When you see leaves starting to turn yellow, consider how to adapt your care of the plant.