These flowers prefer to stay in the shade. Direct sunlight is even destructive for many of them.
Let’s say right away – most of the plants described in this article belong to the category of decorative deciduous, that is, all their charm is not in flowers, but in beautiful leaves. But even this is a lot, considering the “sun-free” diet, which they are usually on in our apartments.
Grow in the shade
These plants do quite well in a dark room, the windows of which are not facing the sunny side. The pots can be safely placed far from the window, in the back of the room.
1. Aglaonema
All the beauty of Aglaonema is in its oblong variegated leaves. The flower grows very slowly, so you can transplant it every three years. Aglaonema loves feeding, warm and humid air (you will have to spray often). At the same time, it does not tolerate drafts and smoke. Plant the plant in a low pot and out of direct sunlight. However, in full shade, yellow or white-green leaves will lose their decorative effect: from variegated they will turn into ordinary green ones.
2. Aspidistra
One of the most hardy indoor plants – it’s not for nothing that the British call it cast-iron. neither polluted air, nor rare watering, nor dryness are terrible. However, direct sunlight can burn the leaves, so keep the pot of aspidistra away from the window. It is necessary to transplant a flower only if absolutely necessary – once every five years.
3. Asplenium
The second name of this plant is nesting bone, the British call it more poetically: Bird’s Nest Fern, which means “fern is a bird’s nest.” This plant of the fern family is rather large: its xiphoid leaves reach 60 cm in length. Asplenium, loves shade and humid air. Regular spraying is mandatory. Under no circumstances place a pot with a plant next to a central heating radiator – dry, warm air is destructive for it. Another limitation: do not touch the young leaves of the asplenium – they do not like it.
4. Gelksina
The moss-like Gelksin with tiny delicate leaves looks beautiful in hanging pots, as well as in pots next to large, tall plants. Gelksina covers the soil with a graceful green carpet. But be careful: do not plant it to low plants – gelksina can “strangle” them. Frequent watering and spraying is required of you. Propagating gelksin is very simple: pinch off a small lump of earth with several stalks and dig in a new pot.
5. Sansevieria
, she’s mother-in-law’s tongue, she’s a snake skin, grows in the sun and in the shade, tolerates dry air, drafts and rare watering, it can not be transplanted for years, and the plant will remain strong and beautiful. Choose what is closer to you – tall leaves up to 1 m or low dense rosettes. Both those and other varieties are equally unpretentious. The only thing that sansevieria cannot stand is waterlogging of the soil. In winter, you can forget about watering altogether.
6. Scindapsus (potos)
In Britain, this liana with variegated waxy leaves is called devil’s ivy. Yellow or white streaks, streaks and splashes adorn the bright green leaves of scindapsus. However, be prepared for them to fade slightly in full shade. This popular plant looks great in a hanging pot or when planted on a wall. Does not tolerate drafts, dry air and direct sun. Spray the scindapsus often. In order for the plant to branch, the ends of the stems are pinched.
7. Philodendron climbing
Philodendrons are tropical plants that love very humid air and diffused light. The climbing philodendron with bright green shiny leaves is the smallest and most unpretentious of the entire family. It grows well in the shade. This is a liana, so be sure to stick a shaggy column into the pot, which will become a support for the plant. And don’t forget to spray regularly. By the way, this is the brother of the giant (after all, its second name is the perforated philodendron).
Grow in partial shade
For normal growth, these plants only need to be away from a well-lit window, and even a window in which there is no sun will become a luxurious haven for them.
8. Dracaena bordered
Dracaena is also called a false palm for its external resemblance – a lignified stem with a bunch of leaves at the top is very reminiscent of a spreading palm tree. Dracaena bordered with narrow and long (up to 70 cm) leaves – one of the most undemanding in the family. She easily puts up with shade, careless maintenance and a drop in temperature in winter (even below + 10 ° C). Dracaena will feel best in light shade, near the east or west window. It should be sprayed at least occasionally.
9. Ferns
More than two thousand species of ferns are suitable for growing at home. These tropical plants are willing to stay in the shade, but they will not tolerate dry air. The simplest ferns to keep are citromium, davallia, Cretan pteris, nephrolepis, nesting bone, round-leaved pellet. But even they need frequent spraying of the leaves, especially during the heating season. Keep the soil in the fern pot moist at all times.
10. Ivy
A very popular liana that grows rapidly, covering the walls with a green “waterfall”. Species a great many – with oval and star-shaped, even and corrugated leaves. Plants with a uniform color of leaves are less spectacular than variegated ones – yellow and white-green. The secrets of success in growing ivy: partial shade, mandatory support, frequent spraying (including in winter!), Transplanting every two years into a large-diameter pot.
11. Tolmia
This bush of fluffy bright green leaves is one of the hardiest indoor plants. It feels great in a cool room away from direct sun. Drafts are not terrible for tolmiya. But hot and dry air is destructive for her. In tolmiya, offshoots are formed on the leaves, which are easily rooted, turning into a new plant.
12. Fascia
Fatsia has been cultivated since Victorian times (from the XNUMXth century) for its beautiful shiny leaves. The plant loves coolness and bright light, but can adapt to any conditions. It is better to purchase a small plant – it will grow quickly (if you feed it and replant it annually) and after a couple of years it will reach a meter height.
To get a voluminous bush, trim the ends of the shoots every spring. Fatsia loves frequent spraying, as well as taking a shower from time to time.
13. Ficus dwarf
Unlike its “big brother” – the famous rubber-bearing ficus, it is a small ground cover (ampelous) plant, capable of twisting with greenery and a pillar-support, and the earth in a wide pot. It has a thin, wire-like stem and small (up to 2,5 cm) heart-shaped leaves. It does not tolerate bright sunlight and dry air, so keep the dwarf ficus away from the window, spray and water often with warm water. Dislikes frequent transplants.
14. Fatshedera
A hybrid of fatsia and ivy is as unpretentious as its progenitors. It prefers coolness, but in winter it can withstand temperatures up to + 20 ° C. It can grow as a bush, like a fatsia, or curl along a support, like ivy. If in the summer you keep the fatshedera in the back of the room, in the winter it is better to rearrange it on the windowsill. Spray the leaves as often as possible and make sure that the soil in the pot does not dry out.
15. Fittonia
This plant is easily recognizable by its characteristic web of white, pink or red veins on velvet oval leaves. It grows well in partial shade, but only on one condition – if you can provide it with a constant high humidity. That is why Fittonia is preferred to grow in a terrarium or “bottle garden”. In the spring, the bare shoots are cut off, and the plant itself is divided.