North-facing windows are often considered unsuitable for growing indoor plants, especially flowering ones. Is this really so?
Windows facing north are not lit by the sun. Or they are lit for 1-2 hours if they face northwest or northeast. The light on the windowsills is only diffused. It is believed that this is not enough for growing most indoor plants. However, many houseplant enthusiasts write on forums that leafy begonias, shade-loving ferns, and many plants of the Aroid family grow perfectly on their north-facing windows. Despite the lack of light, fuchsias, cyclamens, and violets bloom.
What is the contradiction? Why are some north-facing windows unsuitable for flowers, while others are a great place for plants, and which indoor plants for north-facing windows are best suited?
Characteristics of North-Facing Windows
The most important characteristic of a window is its illumination. If you cannot measure the illumination, you can estimate it approximately. Look at the window of your apartment and answer the following questions:
- Is it large or small in terms of glass area?
- Are there double-glazed windows or old double frames that are difficult to open and the glass is rarely cleaned?
- Do trees grow outside the window or are there buildings nearby?
- Where do you live, in a southern or northern region?
If the north-facing window is large, in the southern region, where the intensity of sunlight is high, and high-quality double-glazed windows are installed, then such a window is also perfect for indoor plants. If the window is small, on the first floor, and a tree grows in front of the window, only the most hardy plants can be placed here, such as chlorophytum or, for example, sansevieria.
The second important characteristic is temperature. The temperature on the window can differ significantly from the temperature in the room. This characteristic is more important for southern windows – on them, indoor flowers simply overheat in the summer, boil, and die from this. On a north-facing window, it may be slightly colder in winter than in the room – cold air penetrates through cracks, and the sun does not heat the windowsill. But in summer, the temperature is stable and this is just great for plants.
North-facing windows and seasons
In spring and summer, the daylight hours are long. Even if the sun never looks into the window, the illumination from reflected and diffused sunlight is quite high. At the same time, many indoor plants have to be removed from the south windows – they cannot withstand the heat. In summer, ficuses, especially small-leaved ones – for example, Ficus Benjamin, schefflera, dracaena, cordilina, maranta, and many other houseplants, will feel better on a north-facing window.
Which indoor plants for a north-facing window are best suited?
First of all, from flowering plants, violets can live on a north-facing window, fuchsias feel good, cyclamen and spathiphyllum will bloom. A great choice for a north-facing window can be Amaryllis: hippeastrum, clivia, zephyranthes, if you know one secret. These plants do not need a lot of sun to produce flower stalks, and flower buds in the bulbs are laid in the summer when there is more light and plants can be taken out to the balcony. Hippeastrums can be kept on the balcony in summer, or even in the garden, in winter they go through a dormant period (if there are no leaves, then not even on the window), and when a flower stalk appears, a beautiful flower will delight you even on a north-facing window!
From leafy plants, ferns can be kept on a north-facing window. Practically all of them are shade-loving plants, found in nature in forests. Adiantum (Venus hair) and Nephrolepis look very decorative. Zamioculcas and unpretentious plants – chlorophytum or sansevieria (mother-in-law’s tongue) can be grown without any problems. Aspidistra does not suffer at all in the shade, it can grow even at some distance from the window.
Leafy begonias are also a good choice for a north-facing window. On a large window, dieffenbachia, alocasia, syngonium – plants from the Aroid family – can grow. Anthurium will also not disappear, but it will most likely not bloom. The same can be said about eschinanthus – its long lush stems will delight with greenery, but not flowers.
Even palms can be grown on a north-facing window, although they are considered light-loving plants. The bamboo palm Chamaedorea grows well in shady places and is perfect for windows without direct sunlight.
Of the large plants, hibiscus (Chinese rose) can be grown. This plant adapts well to different conditions and also tolerates shade well.
Of the climbing plants, shade-loving ivy, hoya, and cissus (indoor grape) are suitable for north-facing rooms. It is better to choose green ivy, variegated varieties lose their bright color in insufficient light.
The choice of indoor plants for a north-facing window is large, you can always choose flowers that will give you a good mood and will not require special care.