If the light in your home is coming in through an east-facing window, you’re in luck. When it comes to keeping your houseplants happy, east-facing windows are often the ideal location for indirect but still bright light. Even though eastward exposure means that sunlight does hit plants directly, sunlight is much less intense and lasts much shorter than when exposed to the south or even west, making it less likely to burn plants.
Whether you’re new to caring for houseplants or have kept them alive for years, here are seven great options for this prime location, as well as many others you might want to try. However, don’t be afraid to expand and try other plants. They also have the potential to thrive.
Ideally, east-facing windows will either get bright indirect light throughout the day, or direct sunlight in the morning when the sun is not too strong, and indirect sunlight during the rest of the day. However, every place is different, and if the morning light is very bright or hot, it can cause the leaves to burn or wilt, or not grow at all. If this is the case, move the plant farther away from the window or install a clear curtain to filter out the sun.
Trees and tall buildings, on the other hand, may filter light so that it is no longer bright and may even block out light for most of the day. If the plant is tilted towards light, becomes elongated, or has difficulty growing, try moving it closer to a window. If it still struggles, you may want to look for plants that grow well in low light, such as those that thrive in northern light.
It’s no surprise that houseplants tend to thrive in the same conditions as we do. They prefer room temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) during the day and around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 13 degrees Celsius) at night, plus normal household humidity levels.
Caring for houseplants is also fairly simple. Water thoroughly and drain excess water so they don’t get submerged in the water. Don’t overwater; It works best if you let them dry a little before watering them.
Fertilization is also easy to overdose, so most experts recommend fertilizing in small amounts but regularly. You can apply about a quarter of the recommended dose weekly while the plant is growing, and then reduce to the same dose about once a month for the rest of the year (usually late fall and winter). Check leaf color to monitor fertilizer levels: if the leaves are small but dark in color, you may have over-fertilized; If they are light, it may be that there is insufficient fertilization.
Finally, keep houseplants away from drafts and extremely hot or cold places.
Easy to grow and loved. If you start with Philodendron, it’s hard to go wrong. They are a workhorse in the houseplant world and can grow in almost any indoor location.
Heartleaf campylobe is one of the most well-known in the easy-to-care family of philodendron. It is an energetic climber, although it needs support; When it grows on a hanging basket or shelf, the long stems can be admired, and it will also sparkle. For denser plants, cut or pinch back the stems at the nodes.
Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the year, fertilize, and fertilize more in summer. Don’t worry about some leaves falling unless they fall too much. Wash or wipe the leaves monthly to keep them dust-free.
More: Other plants that are easy to grow indoors include Monstera deliciosa, pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Dumb vine (Dieffenbachia maculata) and small rubber tree (Peperomia obtusifolia). Spider plants (spider plants) and many plants known as spider grass are ideal for hanging baskets.
Another familiar option. S. umbrella tree actinophylla) and S. dwarf umbrella tree (S. acticulata). arboricola) is a beloved ancient tree species, but is now being rediscovered. The leaves of the first type can be up to 1 foot in diameter, while the leaves of the latter are much smaller. However, it is still not a true gnome as it can reach up to 6 feet tall.
Allow the plants to dry slightly, then water thoroughly and drain the excess water. Fertilize them as they grow, usually spring to autumn, and pluck off any yellow leaves. Pinch off the branches for shaping.
More: Other good options include miniature grape ivy (Cissus striata) and Japanese octagonal (Fatsia japonica).
Classic ferns. The Boston fern was the standard living room plant of the Victorian era and the most popular plant of the mid-century century, and it is also suitable for modern environments. Display its drooping leaves on a hanging basket or elevated plant shelf.
Boston ferns prefer indirect light, but if the light level is too low, they can become elongated. Keep the soil evenly moist and fertilize it in small amounts throughout the year (about a quarter of the recommended weekly dose).
More: Other popular ferns include the delicate delta clemat fern (Adiantum raddianum) and the tough staghorn fern (Platycerium spp.), which don’t even need soil to grow. Asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus) While not technically a true fern, it’s a great option if you’re new to growing houseplants.
Flowering plants. Bright or even direct sunlight is often a prerequisite for growing flowering plants indoors, but one of the most popular orchids, Phalaenopsis, prefers east-facing windows. It will also give you weeks of flowers blooming and will fit equally well in both traditional and modern settings.
Phalaenopsis prefers slightly warmer daytime temperatures, typically 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 27 degrees Celsius), but can adapt to both higher and lower indoor temperatures. They prefer slightly higher than average humidity, so consider planting them on pebble trays. Keep them well ventilated.
When the roots are silvery and the potting mixture is slightly wet, water with room temperature water and drain thoroughly. Apply a quarter of the strength of fertilizer every week and reduce the amount of fertilizer applied when the plant is flowering. Keep them well ventilated.
More information: Other flowering plants that prefer oriental light are African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) and their endive moss, including Cape Primrose (Episcia and Sinningia spp.). You may also want to try planting winter-flowering cyclamen, colourful pocket plants (Calceolaria spp.) or striking zebra plants (Aphelandra squarrosa).
Dendriform. Indoor trees are iconic plants in any space. If that’s what you’re looking for, one of the best options is the versatile fig, named for its violin-shaped leaf. It can reach up to 10 feet tall but is usually shorter. If the light is too low, it will start to lose its leaves.
The fern-leaf fig grows best when it receives three to four hours of filtered sunlight per day. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings, then water thoroughly and drain the excess water. Fertilize throughout the year and increase the amount of watering slightly in the summer. If you move it to a place with less light, the leaves may fall off.
More: Other figs worth considering include the long-standing popular weeping fig (F. benjamina) and easy-going Indian rubber plants (F. elastica). Two popular dracaena trees that can reach the same height as trees are the maize plant (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’) and the dracaena tree, or the red-edged dracaena (D. rubralis. marginata）。 Other plants to consider are the slow-growing Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria) and the umbrella tree (Flatwood).
Indoor palms. If you want to create a tropical paradise in your home, or simply enjoy the elegance of palm leaves, then butterfly palm or betel nut palm is a popular choice. Despite its peculiar appearance, it is fairly easy to grow.
Keep the soil evenly moist in the spring and summer, then reduce growth in late fall and winter. Feed it once a month while it is growing. Butterfly palms can get bigger, but it takes some time.
More: Other palm trees suitable for indoor cultivation include the fan-shaped palm (Livistona chinensis), the fishtail palm (Caryota spp.), the lady’s palm (Rapis excelsa), the living room palm (Chamaedorea elegans) and the dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii). You can also try planting a bird of paradise (Coffa arabica) or a coffee tree (Coffea arabica), although neither of them is likely to produce flowers or coffee berries.
Humidity lovers. Providing slightly higher humidity is a great help for plants that prefer a humid atmosphere. A simple water spray may not be enough to raise the ambient humidity as its effects will fade quickly, but you can try planting them on pebble trays – low trays, filled with pebbles and water, placed under the pots – and put them in the kitchen or bath, or place them near a humidifier.
Fast-growing young plants, also known as piggybacks, are popular houseplants that grow best in shade, away from direct sunlight. It takes its name from the plantlets formed at the top of the existing leaves. Plant it in a place where you can appreciate the leaves hanging from the edge of the pot or on the side of the shelf.
Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy, and apply a small amount of fertilizer (about a quarter of the recommended amount) every week from spring to fall. Winter to reduce. Keep plants away from direct sunlight, high temperatures, and dry air. Pinch back to keep it thick.
More: Other plants that love humidity include the silver-leaved aluminium plant (Pilea cadierei), the popular arrow vine (Syngium podophyllum), and the awkwardly named Fatshedera (x Fatshedera lizei) or ivy. The peacock plant (Calathea makoyana) and the prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) are both humidity lovers and are known for their unusual leaves.
