The best plants for a south-facing window are those that can withstand a lot of sun. You can also consider crotons, which don’t have blossoms, but have striking coloration patterns on their leaves. The best thing about crotons is that they don’t require much watering – just a little spritz once a week will do the trick. But don’t over-water them!
Croton
Growing a croton indoors is an excellent option for a southern-facing window. This plant can survive in any room, but it needs 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Some varieties, such as variegated varieties, require even more sunlight. Crotons are also tolerant of full sun, but they do require adequate light in order to develop their vibrant colors. Despite their prickly appearance, they don’t like full shade and will not grow well in it.
Crotons are very resilient to pests, but there are certain precautions you need to take. Spider mites, which are tiny and difficult to see, are especially troublesome, so be sure to regularly clean your croton’s leaves. Caterpillars can also cause damage. To control pests, you can spray the croton with a hose or use an insecticidal soap.
Crotons do not like to be close to air conditioners, so make sure they’re placed at least a couple of feet away from the windows. The plant also requires a high level of humidity. Avoid placing crotons near a fireplace, which can dry the air. If the plant isn’t protected from extreme heat, it won’t grow at all. It’s best to keep crotons a few feet away from windows to prevent them from being damaged by cold winds.
To maintain a healthy crop of crotons, you must carefully prune them regularly. Remove only the dead leaves or branches to promote new growth. This will also promote better distribution of nutrients. Sometimes you may need to trim the crotons to keep their shape, but don’t remove more than one-third of the stem at a time. These tips will help your croton grow and maintain its beauty.
Aloe Vera
When you think about the types of plants that will thrive in your south facing window, aloe vera is probably at the top of your list. This plant is known for its gel, but it also has health and beauty benefits. It is a low-maintenance houseplant that will thrive in a dry, coarse potting mix. It will grow best in a bright, sunny area.
Aloe Vera is an excellent choice for this type of window because it thrives in bright light and is known to cure minor skin irritations. It can be grown indoors or outdoors, depending on the climate. In warmer climates, you can plant it outdoors, but make sure to move it slowly. In this way, it can be moved from its current light environment to a lower-light one.
If you do not want to put a plant in a bright window, you can also use a diffuser, like a wicker basket. Diffusers can help diffuse light from a south facing window. Try different types and see which one works best for your window. In addition to Aloe Vera, other plants such as Kalanchoe are also suitable for such windows.
The plant grows very quickly and will reward you with pups when it’s satisfied with the environment. Aloe plants are easy to propagate from pups, and can be repotted into a new container. Croton plants are also ideal for a south facing window. They can grow well in high temperatures and direct sunlight, but they cannot tolerate overwatering. To make sure that your Crotons get enough moisture, you can supplement their humidity levels by placing a spray bottle on the window. Or, you can simply pour water into a glass and allow it to evaporate.
Areca palm
You can grow the Areca palm in a south-facing window. Although it is considered an invasive species in some parts of South Florida, it does well in warm, humid climates. Its USDA hardiness zone is 9-11, and the ideal temperature is 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. This tropical palm will not grow well in a dark room. However, it can be grown in a north-facing window if the sun is not very strong.
To get the best growth from the plant, make sure that it has ample sunlight and high humidity. Generally, areca palms grow best in a temperature range of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, but they can also be grown in an air-conditioned room. Make sure to keep the leaves away from drafty areas and bring them inside when the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The sudden exposure to cold can result in dark spots on the leaves. In addition, areca palms need high humidity. While the palm adapts to indoor humidity, they don’t like it when the air is dry and brittle.
To grow the Areca palm in a south-facing window, you need to make sure that the soil around the roots is moist. Avoid overwatering your areca palm as this can result in root rot. Also, be sure to use distilled water if you have fluoridated tap water. In winter months, you must allow the soil to dry before watering it. This is essential for the healthy growth of your areca palm.
Areca palms need indirect light but can tolerate some direct sunlight as long as it is covered by a sheer curtain. Ideally, they will receive direct sunlight for a few hours each day but should be kept out of the midday sun. As for the soil, an Areca Palm prefers a well-draining, rich peat-based potting mix with good drainage. You can also use grow lights for your Areca palm, but be sure to leave them on for most of the day.
Ponytail palm
When growing plants for a south facing window, the Ponytail Palm is a great choice. The plant likes to be crowded and grows best in containers with a base of two inches or less. Its pots should have drainage holes and be filled with Miracle-Gro(r) Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Potting Mix. You should place the plant a few inches below the rim to provide proper drainage.
Although it does not require a lot of water, the Ponytail Palm is extremely drought resistant. It can go several weeks without being watered, but it is best not to water it too often. A hose down is a good way to hydrate the leaves and wash away any dust and other potential pests. While the Ponytail Palm is drought-resistant, overwatering can cause brown leaf dips.
Ponytail palms are one of the most popular houseplants. It has vines that look like heart shapes. This South African native recently won the Royal Horticulture Society’s Award of Garden Merit. While it requires hotter temperatures to grow, it can withstand temperatures as low as 60degF, if not less. It is best placed on a south facing window, but can also be grown in regular planters.
Another succulent plant that grows well in a south facing window is the powder puff cactus. This plant is easy to grow and tolerates neglect. Its flowers are small and white, and its fruit is cherry-sized. While it needs about four hours of direct sunlight a day, it will reward you with a beautiful display of colorful blooms during the fall. The fruit begins green and turns yellow and red toward Christmas.
Crown of thorns
When growing Crown of Thorns, make sure the plant receives a lot of bright sunlight. Three to four hours of direct sun per day is sufficient for reliable flowering. During winter, place the plant in a west-facing window or in a spot with low humidity. In order to keep your crown of thorns plants looking their best, you should feed them regularly. Using a cactus and succulent fertilizer is the best way to feed them.
Crown of thorns are slow-growing plants, and you’ll want to keep in mind this when choosing your plant. Crowns of Thorns can take two to three years to reach maturity, but it’s not necessary to repotted every year. It will benefit from a smaller container every two or three years. Repotted crowns of thorns should be moved in March to a larger pot that is two fingerwidths bigger. Crown of thorns also tolerate pruning, but be sure to use gloves. If you have trouble removing a dead branch, you can drastically cut the plant back to a stump, and you can then start again.
Another way to propagate Crown of Thorns is by cuttings of the stem tips. Be sure to use gloves when handling the cuttings, because the sap is milky. Before handling the cuttings, make sure to soak them in lukewarm water. After that, you can separate the cuttings and plant them separately on the window sill. Crown of thorns cuttings can be left for a few days to dry.
If you have a south-facing window, the Crown of Thorns plant will thrive. Crown of Thorns are best planted in windows that receive at least four hours of sunlight each day. It doesn’t require much humidity, and will tolerate a small amount of partial shade as long as you don’t overwater it. Crown of Thorns should be placed in a south-facing window, but a west-facing window will also work.
