Jan 3 · 5 min read

Plants for north windows

The north side is one of the greatest challenges for all the green thumbs. It gets no direct sunlight at all, and this is especially tricky during winter. Due to lack of light, the color of the leaves becomes pale, the stems stretch out and never bloom. Immediately comes the question: «It is possible to grow anything on the north side?». Don’t worry; our answer is «YES!»: in this article, we will outline the plants that thrive even without many sun rays!

Caregiving advice

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Windows

First, we advise you to pay attention to your windows on the north side. In the future, this will help you determine which plants you can plant in such a difficult place. If your north window is small, then this window needs hardy plants like Sansevieria or Chlorophytum. In this case, it is better to place all the plants on the windowsill so that they will get a minimum amount of light - placed in the corners; even the hardiest of the low-light plants may struggle.

If the windows are big, you can try to place green friends around the room, but be careful and watch them for some time. If you see that they are not feeling good, consider placing them on the windowsill or get additional artificial light.

Temperature

Second, the temperature is critical. For example, the temperature in a given window can be very different from the temperature in a room. In winter, the north window is colder than in the room - the sun does not heat the window, and cold air penetrates through the slots. In summer, the temperature becomes stable, and it is perfect for the plants!

Seasons

Spring and summer light days are longer. Even though the light never looks in the north window, it gets reflected and scattered - perfect for many plants that do not like direct sunrays. In summer, it is possible to move ficuses to the north side, excellent leafy ones, such as the Ficus Benjamina. If you have a balcony that goes to the north side, this place is ideal for most domestic plants in the summer. Petunia will bloom on it as well as Pelargonium; we also recommend Phoenix palm and Anthurium.

When winter comes, all the plants are out of the light, not to mention the plants that grow on the north side. This problem can be easily solved with a few daylight bulbs, which will prolong the “light day” and benefit the plants.

List of plants suitable for the north side

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Dracaena

If it was the top of the undemanding plants, Dracaena would definitely be in first place! It is this plant that does not require much light and feels fine in the shadows. It does not like water overflow and stagnation, prefers high humidity of the air. We really suggest you get yourself this pretty and easy plant.

Maidenhair fern

This plant does not tolerate direct sunlight and feels comfortable in half-shaded places in the house. Adiantum does not like to be moved, is very sensitive to cloud smoke, dust, and temperature differences. The plant likes fresh air, but be careful with the draughts because it’s susceptible to this.

Peace Lily

For Spathiphyllum, the sunny side is perilous! The plant is susceptible to sunlight; it will wither and drop the leaves immediately. High humidity, abundant water, and scattered light are essential in the care of this beauty. Use only warm water to spray your Peace Lily.

Cast Iron plant

This plant is famous for being one of the few that can grow where other plants can hardly exist! Such things as the temperature difference in the room, the lack of light, the dryness of the soil, and minimal maintenance are not frightening for it at all. Aspidistra is a find for people who do not have enough time to look at plants, but really want to have green pets.

Chamaedorea

Another posh plant doesn’t require much lighting. This plant can be placed even in the darkest corners of the room. For it, 54-72°F (12-22˚C) temperatures are ideal for thriving. Chamaedorea needs humid air, but can tolerate dry one easily as well - a great benefit for those who use central heating during cold winters. However, the constant dryness of the air results in yellowing of leaves, drying of their tips, and infestation by pests, so we recommend spraying it.

Nephrolepis

Nephrolepis requires scattered light and a light day of 14-16 hours. This type of fern enjoys frequent spraying and high humidity, without which the tips of the leaves begin to dry. In spring and summer, you will have enough to spray once in two or three days with warm water, and in the cold season, it is better to do it daily because of central heating.