How much light do houseplants need?

Many types of houseplants will thrive with light from a sunny window, as long as they don’t receive direct sunlight. Others can take as much sun as you can give them, while some blooming houseplants require special lighting. If you opt for lights, make sure you give plants a period of darkness as well. Plants require both in order to bloom.

A plant with an unpronounceable name and the ability to bloom in little light is Porphyrocoma pohliana (por-fy-ro-KOH-muh pohl-ee-AY-nuh). These are also known as Brazilian fireworks. This tropical shade-lover prefers a shady position. With leaves streaked with silver, this plant will flower even in the winter months if given a half-strength blooming fertilizer.

One surprise in the sunlight department is any plant in the citrus family. (Especially so if they’ve spent their summer outdoors soaking up the sun, and you’ve kept up with a modicum of fertilizer.) There are special citrus fertilizers you can use. However, in a pinch, water soluble types made for acid-loving plants (like Rhododendrons) work very well. I feed them at half strength once November rolls around. Still they’ll bloom, their waxy white flowers giving off the unmistakable fragrance of orange blossom.

Why not Orchids?

And don’t let anyone tell you not to bother with orchids. These irresistibly exotic beauties might have a high price tag, especially if they’re of blooming size, but they are worth it. The easiest type with repeating bloom is Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid. It is also the most easily available for purchase. I bought mine at my local supermarket three winters ago and it’s working toward its third bloom.

Josh’s Frogs

Josh’s Frogs’ Plant Department Manager, Tina Potter, offers up to 500 different types of plants on its website. “I’m always looking for low maintenance, no fuss plants. Some that come to mind immediately are Syngoniums. We always have some of these in stock,” she said. “The varieties we rotate in and out are ‘Confetti’, ‘Neon Robusta’, ‘Pixie’, ‘Cream Supreme’, ‘Bold Allusion’, ‘Green Star’ and ‘Princess’.

Potter loves them all for their great color, low maintenance requirements, and forgiving nature. “They don’t require a lot of light and do well in shade or part sun,” she explained. “They also are tolerant of being over watered or under watered which is huge for people who are just starting out growing houseplants, and might not have the hang of it yet.”

Philodendron and Pothos are others Potter recommends to anyone just starting out in houseplants. They’re also good for those who need to brighten up a darkish corner with some greenery.