When it comes to cultivating north facing window plants might be difficult. Fortunately, several long-time favourites, as well as one up-and-comer, thrive in less-than-ideal lighting. They’re also tough and easy to look after, especially if you’re new to caring for houseplants.
Many of these plants are also in the top 10 for improving indoor air quality, which is an added plus. On the negative, all but two are hazardous to humans and pets if eaten, and the sap and berries can irritate the skin.
Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata):
It is often known as mother-in-tongue, law’s grows best in indirect light and can withstand low light. (However, the variegated pattern on the leaves may fade to green in dim light.) This easy-to-grow houseplant is best suited to a north-facing window. It tolerates neglect just as well as many of the other plants on our list, but good maintenance of your snake plant will result in quicker growth and more appealing leaves.
Snake plants are easy to grow, but it’s important not to shift them from low light to direct sunlight too quickly, since this might shock them. Snake plants have sword-like leaves that shoot out of the earth and may grow up to 8 feet tall. Snake plants come in a variety of colours, but they generally feature light green banded leaves with a vivid yellow border.
Cast iron plants
They are hardy houseplants that can withstand a wide range of environmental conditions, which is how they acquired their name! This plant thrives in bright or medium light, but it also thrives in the gentler light of a north window.
Their easygoing demeanour and gorgeous deep green coloration make them an ideal way to bring some life into your house without committing to a time-consuming maintenance routine.
Cast iron plant is a slow growing, while being a tough plant. It will maintain its tiny size even after several years, making it ideal for a tabletop or shelf.
In hot climes, cast iron plant is commonly used as a ground cover for shaded locations. It thrives in north-facing windows or other low-light environments as an indoor plant.
Peace lilies
They are a unique indoor blooming plant that does well in low light. During the spring and fall, when the plant need less light, a north-facing window is ideal.
The peace lily is a popular houseplant. This plant is appealing not only because of its lovely white blossoms, but also because it is tolerant and thrives in low light. Peace lily is one of the finest plants for north facing windows since it naturally loves darker light.
If you like, you may relocate your peace lily to an east-facing window in the spring and summer. It will grow faster and have a better chance of blooming.
Although it may remain in a north-facing window indefinitely, direct sunshine turns the peace lily brown, so keep it in indirect light.
Peace lilies bloom in the spring and summer, and if you place your plant in a location that it enjoys, you may be able to extend the flowering season into the fall. Each blossom starts off green, then turns white as it grows, and stays that way for 10-14 days. That’s a long time for a bloom to last!
Fern with a Case Bird’s
It grows in the crotches of trees in the wild. It thrives in indirect light or partial shade, making it an excellent choice for a north-facing window plant. Although many ferns thrive in low light, I choose the bird’s nest fern since it’s easier to cultivate and less finicky than others. It thrives in dark, chilly areas and thrives in the natural light of a north-facing window.
Ferns have been present for a long time as a group; in fact, it is thought that ferns flourished during the period of the dinosaurs! They have a prehistoric appearance about them as well. The fronds of the bird’s nest fern are solid rather than highly fringed, which sets it apart from other ferns.
However, because the fronds frequently have a crinkly texture, you still receive a good dose of visual intrigue. Add in the gorgeous brilliant green coloration, and you’ve got yourself a houseplant that will liven up your north window.
Spider plant
The spider plant is an excellent beginner’s plant since it is both easy to cultivate and hardy. It’s also one of the best plants for windows with a northerly orientation. It prefers bright, indirect light and cannot be exposed to direct sunshine.
Both too much and too little light can lead leaves to yellow, although spider plants thrive in a north-facing window. Keep the soil wet and display these resilient plants in hanging baskets.
For decades, the spider plant has been a favourite houseplant. It’s easy to understand why they’re so popular, given their cheerful green-and-white colour pattern, rapid growth, and capacity to thrive in practically any lighting.
The new growth that these plants produce resembles spiders dangling on a thread, which gives them their name. And once you’ve clipped these “spiders” off your plant, you can simply place them in a container of dirt to start a new spider plant.
It’s also a good idea to have a number of spider plants around. They’re extremely hardy and tolerant of almost any lighting, watering, or maintenance regimen you can offer them. Furthermore, they are capable of filtering interior air.
Philodendron
They thrives in the strong, indirect light of a north-facing window. It tolerates low light conditions better than other philodendron cultivars in the winter.
When these indoor plants are exposed to direct sunshine, their leaves turn yellow, but too little light may also be a problem. In a north-facing window, if your heart leaf philodendron gets leggy, you may need to supplement with fluorescent lights.
Another alternative is to keep it outside in the summer in a shaded place, then return it to the northern window in the fall and winter. Philodendrons are fast to respond and will let you know if they’re having trouble. However, I’ve found that they work best in north-facing windows.
The Philodendron genus contains over 450 species, and the attractive and low-maintenance heartleaf philodendron is an excellent choice for your north window. Despite the fact that many variegated philodendrons prefer the brighter light of an east or south window, Philodendron Brasil tolerates softer light better. Plant breeders have created a variegated form of the plant that we didn’t even realise we wanted. Philodendron Brasil is the name of the plant, and it has a bright, joyful lemon-lime hue.
Chinese Evergreen
Low light levels are ideal for Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) plants. They’re my favourite low-light plant, and I’d recommend them to everyone. Due to their propensity for low light, Chinese evergreens are one of the finest north facing window plants.
They can endure dry air and a variety of other conditions that other plants cannot. Cold temperatures, on the other hand, are their vulnerability. Depending on whatever registry you look at, aglaonema refers to a broad family of plants that comprises 12 or 24 types.
Aglaonemas come in two varieties: silvery and red/pink variegation, each of which are lovely in their own way. Silvery kinds will handle lower light, while red/pink variegation varieties will truly sparkle when exposed to northern light.
Hacksaw Fern North Facing Window Plants
Another fantastic plant for a north-facing window is the hacksaw fern (Doodia). Outside, it thrives in moderate or full shade. It prefers shaded and chilly surroundings with lots of moisture as an indoor houseplant. This is a rare houseplant, but if you can find one, it would make a wonderful addition to your northern window garden. And, once it’s established, it won’t need to be relocated very often as long as you keep it in perfect growth circumstances (humid, low light, moist).
Aralia japonica
With huge, glossy, dark green foliage, Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica) is a beautiful plant. It thrives in low-light environments, such as those found in a north-facing window. Direct sunlight causes the leaves to become yellow, thus keep it out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
However, if you can avoid it, I wouldn’t advocate letting it drop that low! If you want to liven up a chilly room with a northern window, this is a terrific option. It enjoys temperatures of roughly 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees C).
Maidenhair Fern
The maidenhair fern (Adiantum) is a difficult houseplant to cultivate, especially in a dry area. However, if you have a warm place near a north-facing window and can maintain a high level of humidity, this plant makes a lovely addition to indoor gardening. It’s a wonderful choice for restrooms since it thrives in warm, humid environments, but only if there’s lots of filtered light. If you put a maidenhair fern in direct sunlight, it will die.
Aluminum Plant
The aluminium plant (Pilea cadierei) has lovely silver splotches between the green leaf veins. The popular name aluminium plant comes from the fact that they look to have been sprayed with silver paint.
These leafy plants, which are commonly used as outdoor ground cover in tropical places, flourish under a north-facing window. (However, they may dwell in either east or west facing windows.) They like warm, humid settings like those found on the forest floor. Maintain constant moisture in the soil and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Rabbit’s Foot Fern
Some of the best plants for north-facing windows are Rabbit’s Foot Ferns (Davallia fejeensis). Indirect light, such as that found in their native tropical and subtropical woods, is ideal for them. The rabbit’s foot fern thrives in cool temperatures and heavy humidity. The fern’s fuzzy rhizomes climb over the top of the container when provided adequate moisture. They are, however, more than just ornaments. They help the plant by absorbing nutrients and moisture. Hanging baskets with these ferns will provide a lovely touch to your north-facing window garden.
Plant ZZ
The ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a beautiful leaf plant that thrives in low light. It’s perfect for growing in a north-facing window because of this. It enjoys bright, indirect light, although it can survive in considerably lower light if required.
This indoor plant can withstand dry air and being submerged, making it an excellent choice for new gardeners or those with a “black thumb.” Simply keep it out of direct sunlight, moisten the soil, and don’t move it around much once it’s in place (this can shock the plant and cause leaf drop).
The foliage of the ZZ plant is a gorgeous deep green with a glossy texture. Because the leaves are so good at processing whatever light they get, this is a terrific houseplant for low-light locations. The ZZ plant is found in East Africa’s arid grasslands and woods. It’s drought-resistant, and its bulbous roots, known as rhizomes, store excess water.
Boston Fern
The common Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is a huge, light green fern that is frequently marketed in hanging baskets in the spring. Because of their high humidity requirements, they can be difficult to cultivate, but they’re a wonderful choice for experienced indoor gardeners searching for north-facing window plants. Boston ferns thrive under filtered light, plenty of moisture (misting, room humidifier, wet soil, etc.) and temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 degrees F (15 to 26 degrees C) as indoor plants. They may be quite sensitive to temperature changes, and if they don’t get enough moisture, they can turn brown around the edges.
Peperomia
Peperomia is a tropical plant endemic to the rain forests of South America. It thrives in low-light environments, such as those found in a north-facing window. It may also be cultivated under fluorescent lights with success.
Although this plant is simple to grow, it is susceptible to overwatering. To get the greatest results, let the soil dry out somewhat between waterings. Peperomia, unlike many of the other indoor plants on our list, does not require a lot of humidity and thrives in most home environments. Peperomia obtusfolia stores surplus water in its thick leaves, similar to how a succulent does, although to a lower amount. As a result, you won’t have to worry as much about soil moisture as you would with plants that love damp soil.
Holly Fern
The holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) is a tiny shrub-like fern that thrives in bright indirect light from a north or east-facing window. It has high cold resistance, making it a great choice for draughty entryways where other plants might perish. All the moisture and humidity this plant requires may be obtained by keeping the soil gently damp at all times. It’s not as difficult to cultivate as some other ferns, and it’s fairly robust in cold, low-light environments. If you put it in a north-facing window and maintain the soil moist, you shouldn’t have too many issues.
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia (also known as stupid cane) is one of my favourite houseplants, and it likes slightly filtered light, making it one of the greatest north facing window plants.
Temperature and light changes can cause the leaves to droop and turn yellow, causing the plant to die. However, if you maintain it in a same location with indirect light and consistent room temps, it will survive for years. You can’t have indoor gardening without dieffenbachia, in my view.
Fern of the Trees North Facing Window Plants
Tree ferns are excellent low-light interior trees. They thrive in a north-facing window as long as all of their other needs are satisfied. Tree ferns are tropical plants that require a lot of humidity and moisture to thrive, which can be difficult to provide. Tree ferns may reach enormous sizes (usually reaching many feet tall). If you have a large northern window open, they’re an excellent choice, but I wouldn’t recommend them for novices. Tree ferns should only be handled by skilled indoor gardeners.
Plant for Swiss Cheese
It is a simple to grow plant that tolerates neglect and thrives in strong indirect light (no direct sun). It may grow to be quite tall, up to 8 feet tall (2.4 m). It looks great on a large north-facing window and is much simpler to cultivate than tree fern.
The plant derives its name from the Swiss cheese-like holes in its leaves. These holes appear in mature plants and help them endure severe winds in the wild. The leaves of Monstera deliciosa are firm and heart-shaped. It does, however, produce apertures in the leaves as it ages, beginning at the centre vein and progressing outwards. These holes eventually reach the leaf margins and develop into fenestrations, which are deep lobes. Given the right circumstances and enough time, this plant may grow to be many feet tall with 18-inch-wide leaves.
Fern Brake
One of the greatest ferns for beginners is the brake fern (Pteris sp.). From spring through fall, it thrives in the mild indirect light of a north-facing window. In the winter, though, it may be necessary to supplement with fluorescent lights (or move it to an east facing window). It requires significantly less water than other ferns, although it still enjoys moist soil at all times. Average temperatures are OK, but in the winter, when indoor humidity is low, it will need to be misted regularly. Brake ferns, on the other hand, are more tolerant of neglect than most other ferns.
Radiator Plant
Radiator plants thrive in indirect light and are ideal for north-facing windows. These tropical plants (Peperomia metallica) prefer indirect sunlight because they are endemic to rain forest floors. Filtered strong light from an east-facing window or office building fluorescent lights are also suitable.
Radiator plants thrive with typical room temperatures and average wetness. It’s simple to grow as long as you don’t expose it to too much sunlight. Because of its tolerance for lower light levels, it’s one of the finest plants for northern exposure.
Tree Dragon
Another low-light indoor species to consider is the dragon tree (Dracaena marginata). This colourful houseplant likes strong light, and the moderate light supplied by a north window is generally sufficient. The leaves of variegated varieties, in particular, will be burned by direct sunlight. Variegated cultivars, on the other hand, may lose their variegation in low light. Most varieties of dragon trees, in my experience, thrive nicely in northern windows.
Prayer Plant north facing window plant
The prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) receives its name from the amazing capacity of its leaves to fold up (in a prayer-like manner) in reaction to darkness. When the sun shines again, the leaves revert to their original form and position.
It prefers moderate light, making it an excellent choice for north-facing windows. It, like many of the other plants on this list, thrives in fluorescent light. To keep the air from being too dry, spray it frequently, maintain a good houseplant humidifier in the area, and position it near other plants that demand high humidity levels.
Umbrella Tree north facing window plant
One of my favourite indoor plants is the umbrella tree, commonly known as miniature schefflera. It enjoys indirect light, therefore a north-facing window is great for it. It will grow if you put it in a room with light-colored walls and strong light from a northern window or fluorescent lighting. It’s simple to cultivate, as it simply requires moderate humidity for the most of the year. During the winter, though, it will benefit from daily watering and being near a humidifier.
Parlor Palm north facing window plant
The parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) thrives in low-light environments. It thrives in indirect sunlight, just like the other indoor plants on our list, and makes a charming addition to any north-facing window garden. It’s also a fantastic office plant.
The parlour palm is a simple plant to cultivate. They prefer relatively damp soil all of the time, but will survive some drying out. (This makes them an excellent alternative for indoor gardeners who forget to water their plants on a regular basis.) Plants can grow up to 4 feet tall when fully grown (1.2 meters).
Is a north facing window good for plants?
Many people don’t realise that the northern window is ideal for growing indoor plants. A north-facing window receives a little quantity of light (no direct sunshine), which is ideal for maintaining these low-light plants a rich, lush shade of green throughout the winter and year.
Succulents in a north-facing window
Most succulents require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day, so position them near a south- or east-facing window. If your succulents don’t receive enough sun, they may become spindly or extend toward the light.
Are north facing window bad?
Because north-facing windows receive very little direct sunshine, the space will be darker but evenly illuminated. People who don’t like a lot of direct sunshine will like north-facing windows. The light from south/north-facing windows will be colder in tone.
North-facing window light
A north-facing window is advantageous because it provides soft, even light, which is ideal for portrait photography. In the afternoon, a west-facing window, for example, will create significantly harsher light. The borders between shadow and light will be considerably more defined, and shadows will be longer.
Are east-facing windows good for plants?
Because the sun rises in the east, east-facing windows are ideal for plants that thrive in early sunshine or moderate light. Because not all plants thrive in early sunshine, it’s crucial to pick your houseplants carefully.
Conclusion:
They will not be overexposed to the sun if they have north-facing windows. Just bear in mind that they won’t blossom as well if you put them in a low-saturation area. Bright light is beneficial as long as it is indirect. Peace Lilies, like Snake plants, are known for having delicate leaves that can easily burnt.
Hi This is Maria, We are a team of gardening enthusiasts with a passion for gardening. We have tried to bring you tips and advice enabling you to grow and maintain a healthy and beautiful garden. We Hope You Find it Useful.
