Houseplants for a sunny windowsill
A sunny windowsill (south or south-west facing) is often the warmest kind, as it gets the sun when it's at its hottest. Most plants don't cope well in this kind of sustained heat and sun and wither away quickly. Yet there are some tough plants which will thrive here:
- Cacti: cacti thrive perfectly in places with lots of direct sunlight. They need very little water and can tolerate long periods of heat and drought. Read more about the many different species of cacti here.
- Succulents: succulents endure hot and dry periods effortlessly and come in many different shapes, colours and sizes. Popular succulents include Aloe Vera, Euphorbia, Pea plant, Crassula, Agave and the colourful Kalanchoe.
- Snake plant: snake plant is known for its survivability and stylish, sturdy, upright leaves. This indestructible plant thrives in a sunny spot (while also doing perfectly well in the shade)!
Houseplants for a shady windowsill
A shady, north-facing windowsill gets a lot less warm and sunny than a south-facing pme. These strong houseplants thrive best in a shady spot with indirect sunlight:
- Zamioculcas: the Zamioculcas, also known as the ZZ plant, is a strong and easy-to-care-for plant that thrives pretty much anywhere, including in the shade. Just make sure to rotate its pot occasionally to ensure even growth.
- Epipremnum aureum: this hanging and climbing plant, also known as dragon ivy or Epipremnum Scindapsus, thrives in a shady spot. It's fast-growing, so your windowsill will be a jungle in no time!
- Monstera: A northern windowsill provides perfect conditions for the monstera. Just keep in mind that this plant can grow quite large, so if space on your windowsill is limited, opt for cuttings of the plant that will fit the space well.
- Polka dot begonia: This unusually-patterned plant has a unique reason for doing well in the shade: the white dots on its flowers mean it burns quickly on a sunny windowsill.
Houseplants for an east or west-facing windowsill
An east or west-facing windowsill mean you're dealing with a lot of indirect sunlight. The following houseplants will thrive in this location:
- Beaucarnea: this plant needs a lot of light, but prefers indirect light to direct sunlight. This tropical-looking tree needs little water and grows fast when it's happy and content, so give it lots of space!
- Rhipsalis: this hanging plant has the look of a cactus, but lacks spines. The fresh green-coloured tropical houseplant thrives in a bright spot with just a little direct sunlight.
- Banana plant: although a mature banana plant is probably too big for your windowsill, a small one will do just fine. Banana plant needs a lot of indirect sunlight and are therefore perfect for an east or west-facing windowsill.
- Yucca: Yucca is also known as palm lily. This strong plant with its cool look doesn't need much water and likes a lot of indirect light. A little direct sunlight is no problem for Yucca.
Hard-to-kill houseplants
Now that your windowsills are laden with thriving greenery, don't forget about the rest of your house! Check out our list of 10 of the strongest, most easy-to-care-for houseplants around, and bone up on plant care with our basic rules and tips for caring for your houseplants.
