What plants don't need sunlight? Shade-loving indoor plants for northern windows. Solving the problem - replacing the light source

This plant, familiar to many from childhood, is considered more useful than decorative. But in vain: in addition to the familiar tree-like aloe, there are several dozen more species of this plant, some of which look very interesting. Aloe tolerates both direct sunlight and insufficient lighting, dry air and high humidity, temperature changes and infrequent watering. In winter, it is enough to water the plant once a month, and in summer - once a week.

If you want aloe not only to feel good, but to feel good, replant it every two years in soil for succulents, do not expose it to the scorching sun and water it when the soil in the pot dries out.

Another ornamental medicinal plant that can survive the carelessness of its owner. Kalanchoe does not like strong humidity, so if you forget to water it, it will not be offended by you. Also, nothing will happen to this plant if the room temperature drops to +5 °C. Kalanchoe loves light, but it is still better not to expose it to the afternoon sun. There is no need to spray it either.

3. Echeveria (echeveria)

Like all succulents, echeveria does not need special care. It is enough to plant it in soil for succulents and water it occasionally (in summer, once a week is enough, in spring and autumn - once a month, and in winter, you can generally water it 1-2 times). Echeveria will be happy with any room temperature above +5 °C.

4. Howea Forstera (kentia)

This palm tree is amazingly unpretentious. She doesn’t care about life in a dark corner of the room and dry air. You need to water the howea more often in the summer months, preventing the soil in the pot from drying out, and in winter - less often, when the soil begins to dry out. To keep the plant feeling good, you can spray it from time to time or wash the leaves with warm water in the shower.

This plant also does not need anything special, except dim lighting, spraying and regular watering. It is also not recommended to leave it in the cold for a long time. Ideally, the temperature in the room where the syngonium grows should not fall below +17 °C. But since in residential premises it usually does not fall lower, you should like the syngonium.

This is a very unusual plant whose leaves resemble peas. The ragwort accumulates moisture in them, so it needs to be watered quite rarely. Plant the groundsel in soil for succulents, and place the pot in a well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight. However, lack of light, like dry air and cool room temperature, will not kill it.

Loach, which loves plenty of watering and spraying, is ideal for beginning gardeners. It is almost impossible to destroy it: in unfavorable conditions, the epipremnum will shed its leaves and grow poorly, but as soon as access to water and light is restored, it will instantly resurrect.

This is a nice compact plant with striped leaves, reminiscent of the color. In other types of peperomia (and there are more than a thousand of them), the shape and color of the leaves are different, so you can choose exactly the one you like. All that peperomia needs is room temperature, indirect light or partial shade, and moderate watering when the soil in the pot begins to dry out. Like other plants, it is watered less often in winter than in summer. It is also advisable to spray peperomia in the summer months.

This funny little succulent with a predatory color is very hardy and unpretentious. He is accustomed to droughts, so he will not notice if you forget to water him. In winter, you can practically not water it at all - this should be done only if the leaves begin to lose their elasticity. Haworthia loves bright, diffused light, but it is still not worth exposing it to the scorching sun. But the coolness does not threaten her.

The best place for chlorophytum is on the window - it loves bright, non-burning sunlight. But even if you deprive him of this joy and push him into a dark corner, with regular watering he will survive there. In summer you can water chlorophytum once every three days, and in winter - less often and little by little. He doesn't need more.

Gasteria is a shade-tolerant plant, but diffused light will not hurt it. At the same time, gasteria has nothing against dry air and temperature drops to +6 °C. This plant needs to be watered when the soil in the pot dries out. In winter, one or two waterings per month are enough. Gasteria loves fresh air, but without drafts.

12. Graptopetalum paraguayan (stone rose)

This is a heat-loving and light-loving plant, which nevertheless survives at low temperatures above zero. It needs to be watered rarely, and in winter you don’t need to water it at all.

13. Crassula (money tree)

Whether this plant really promotes the growth of its host is unknown to science, but it certainly enlivens the interior of even the most unlucky gardeners. It is enough just to water it once a week in summer and once a month in winter, wipe the leaves from dust and ventilate the room from time to time. Crassula loves sunlight, but on especially hot days it is better not to let it fry in the sun for a long time - the leaves may burn.

14. Sedum Morgana

Another plant with an unusual appearance, which is sure to please succulent lovers. Morgan's sedum takes root well on windowsills and loves fresh air. It should be watered very sparingly, as the thick leaves accumulate moisture. The humidity in the room is not particularly important. The main thing is not to poke your fingers into the plant, as its leaves easily break off and nothing grows in their place.

Our grandmothers loved this plant not only for its bright flowers, but also for its amazing unpretentiousness. Geranium tolerates cold weather, bright sunlight, dry air and lack of transplants. Geranium does not need to be sprayed, but it is advisable to water it frequently and abundantly.

This is a hanging plant that is best planted in a hanging pot. It grows quickly, tolerates temperature changes and infrequent watering, and is tolerant of direct sunlight and lack of lighting. Ceropegia should be planted in a cactus substrate with mandatory drainage at the bottom of the pot.

It is recommended to keep the ficus where it receives a sufficient amount of diffused light. However, even in the shade he feels quite well. Ficus loves warmth, but cool room temperatures do not threaten it. As for watering, keep an eye on the soil in the pot: as soon as the top layer dries, you can water it. As a rule, once a week is enough. To keep the leaves shiny, wipe them with a damp sponge a couple of times a month.

18. Araucaria variegated (Norfolk pine)

This plant is ideal for those who dream of having a Christmas tree at home. Unlike other conifers, araucaria takes root at home. Ideally, it should be kept in a cool room and exposed to fresh air in the summer. Araucaria loves bright light, but also tolerates shade. It needs to be watered regularly, and in winter the soil in the pot should have time to dry out between waterings. If the room is hot or dry, spray the tree with water.

This cute tree will not cause you much trouble if you provide it with diffused light, a temperature of at least +14 °C, protection from direct sunlight and moist soil. To do this, water the plant 1–2 times a week in summer and 1–2 times every two weeks in winter. And to make your myrsine completely comfortable, spray it and sometimes take it out into the shade and into the fresh air.

This colorful plant loves light and fresh air, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. It is recommended to keep the tolmia in a room with humid air and regularly water it with a small amount of water, preventing the soil in the pot from drying out. There is no need to spray it, and no other care is required.

Eco-friendly home: There are quite a lot of such low-maintenance indoor plants; it’s easy to choose hanging or beautifully flowering, large or miniature...

Plants for the lazy person

Beautiful, well-groomed green plants decorate the house, saturate the air with phytoncides, absorb harmful substances and create an atmosphere of comfort. But in order for store-bought potted flowers to grow and develop safely in your apartment, you need to take care of them.

Some capricious green creatures need to be sprayed with water mist 3-4 times a day, others need shading from the bright sun at noon and lighting in the evening. People who work outside the home and often go on vacation or on business trips cannot provide such plants with normal care.

So, can we do without greens entirely? No, you just need to choose the most unpretentious indoor plants for landscaping your home. Those that can withstand 1-2 weeks without watering, grow well in the dry air of a heated apartment, feel normal both in the heat and in a cold draft, and do not require frequent feeding and replanting.

1. It is probably difficult to find a more unpretentious indoor plant than Sansevieria (mother-in-law's tongue, pike tail) . It grows well both on a south window and in a semi-dark corner, but on a sunny window the leaves will be brighter.

You can replant it every few years when it doesn’t fit in the pot. No need to feed.

Sansevieria does not suffer from the dry air of the apartment in winter; it does not need to be sprayed. It is necessary to water rarely - the dense leathery leaves retain a supply of moisture, in winter you don’t have to water it at all - growth will stop, and it will rest until spring.

Cold drafts of sansevieria are not scary; it often decorates cold foyers and halls.

2. Another exceptionally persistent hanging plant - Hoya carnosa or "wax ivy". It grows well on the south window, and it won’t go to waste in the north room either. Its thick waxy leaves accumulate moisture, and it can easily survive several months without watering.

If you managed to completely dry out your hoya and it has lost all its leaves and roots, cut the stalk from the stem and place it in water - in a couple of weeks the plant will sprout roots again.

Wax ivy is replanted very rarely, when there is absolutely no room in the pot. You can also do without fertilizing. And under good maintenance conditions, unpretentious hoya will delight you with abundant and lush flowering.

3. Indoor plant is very popular crassula oval , better known as Crassula or "money tree" . It needs to be watered rarely - the fleshy leaves retain a lot of moisture. Dry apartment air does not harm the fat woman. It practically does not need fertilizing and replanting.

The money tree can grow on the south window and on the north. Can be kept in a cool room in winter at temperatures up to 10 degrees.

You just have to follow two simple rules money tree care: the pot is small so that the soil has time to dry between waterings, and add more sand, perlite or vermiculite to the soil mixture.

It reproduces easily - just stick a leaf into the ground or water.

4. Graceful green or white-green narrow leaves chlorophytum seem tender and brittle. But this plant is one of the most undemanding and easy to care for. Its underground part has thickenings that accumulate water and nutrients.

Chlorophytum is not afraid of drought and excess moisture, heat and cold drafts; it can grow in the sun and in the shade. It can live in one pot for many years (it’s better, of course, to replant it on time, but it won’t go away without replanting and fertilizing).

Chlorophytum is considered one of the best absorbers harmful substances from the air. Perhaps the reason the plant is able to survive without proper care is that it can obtain and process the substances it needs from the air.

5. Aspidistra also does not require special care. This plant in England is called the "cast iron plant" for its ability to withstand heat and cold, lack of light and moisture. Its other name is “friendly family” because of the large number of leaves on long petioles growing from a small pot.

This plant is ideal:

• for northern rooms,
• for decorating rooms with insufficient daylight,
• for landscaping offices with artificial lighting.

Aspidistra grows normally in dry and humid air, is not afraid of drafts or heat, and does not suffer from either excess or lack of moisture. It needs to be replanted rarely, when the rhizome begins to occupy almost the entire pot.

6. Exotic doesn’t need special care either. zamioculcas. Tolerates poor lighting and interruptions in soil watering. Zamiakulkas does not suffer from bright sun, does not require frequent replanting and fertilizing, and grows well in a small pot.

If you don’t water for a long time, it will shed all its leaf blades and lose its decorative appearance, but new complex leaves will quickly grow from the tuber (thickened stem under the surface of the soil) after watering.

The only requirement– the soil should not be too nutritious and dense. It is better to mix ready-made soil for violets or cacti with sand.

7. An ideal plant for people who often leave their home for 1-2 weeks - nolina (bocarnea) . This desert dweller with a bottle-shaped trunk looks original in any interior and requires very little care and attention. And to form a caudex (thickening on the trunk), it needs to be watered rarely, but abundantly, so that it is saturated with water during the “drought” period.

The only requirement– plant bokarnia correctly: the soil should be loose, low in nutrition, the pot should be small. After a good watering, all excess moisture should drain out of the pot. This plant will rot in wet soil.

8. Scindapsus aureus - an unpretentious hanging plant with heart-shaped or rounded leaves of bright green color with yellowish-white spots. The plant can reach one and a half meters in length and is used for vertical gardening.

Scindapsus is quite shade-tolerant and can grow in the back of the room., where the sun only occasionally hits, or even gets by only with artificial lighting. True, leaves in the shade lose their light spots and become completely green.

Plant care is minimal. Scindapsus effectively purifies the air of harmful substances. Feels very good in the kitchen, where there are constant changes in temperature and humidity. Its dense leaves and stems retain moisture well. It grows quickly, so it is advisable to fertilize it periodically.

9. Some types Kalanchoe have long been known as a medicinal houseplant that does not require any care. Recently, many beautifully flowering Kalanchoe hybrids have appeared.

The plant can be watered rarely; its dense, succulent leaves and stems contain a lot of moisture. Grows well on windows of any orientation.

Kalanchoe is a shade-tolerant flower, It tolerates sudden temperature changes without problems and blooms for a long time. It grows quite slowly and does not need frequent replanting.

10. Spathiphyllum - an unpretentious plant that blooms throughout the year. In summer it grows well on western, eastern and northern windows; in winter it is better to move it to the southern one.

It tolerates a lack of moisture well. If the leaves become too dry, they droop, but after watering they come back to life. Does not require frequent transplants. Fertilizers are useful, but without them they will not be lost.

For spathiphyllum, it is important to choose the right place - it does not like the cold. Place it away from drafts and windows that open in winter for ventilation, and there will be no problems with the plant.

There are quite a lot of such low-maintenance indoor plants; it’s easy to choose a hanging or beautifully flowering one, large or miniature. Minimal care does not mean that a flower can be left in a corner for six months without watering. Each indoor plant requires attention; it responds to care with new shoots and the appearance of buds.

Unpretentious, easy-to-maintain home flowers are perfect for beginning gardeners.

This plant of the palm family is afraid of direct sunlight and loves shade. In addition, it can grow in a cramped pot and perfectly filters the air from gasoline vapors and formaldehyde (8.4 points on a 10-point scale).

2. Cycad drooping

If you've always wanted to grow a real palm tree at home, plant a cycad. It will grow, however, not as tall as in the Caucasus, but only 50-60 cm in height, but it is completely unpretentious and does not require sun. Not suitable for families with animals because it is poisonous.

3. Aglaonema

A cute and unusual looking plant that can be placed in the darkest corner and watered whenever you remember.

4. Ficus benjamina

Varieties with green leaves do not require sunlight, but in the first months it is better to water them with warm water. They grow up to the ceiling with proper care. You can plant several sprouts in one pot, and over time they will intertwine beautifully.

5. Epipremnum aureus

This bindweed is known as pothos or raminophora. It takes additional moisture from the air and cleans it of harmful impurities.

6. Dieffenbachia

A plant with beautiful leaves that grows well in the shade and does not require special care.

7. Dracaena

One of the most unpretentious deciduous plants, which needs neither sunlight nor large number water. It’s as difficult to ruin as a cactus!

8. Chlorophytum crested

It looks beautiful, blooms in any conditions, is undemanding in terms of maintenance - an excellent option for an apartment.

All plants, like any living organisms, have their own individuality and cannot exist in the same conditions. Some people need a lot of moisture, while others prefer drought. Some love the heat, while others need coolness. The same applies to lighting - all indoor plants are different, therefore the light requirements of all house flowers are different.

Sun or shade? Only the cultures themselves can give the correct answer to this question through their development and healthy appearance.

Before you figure out what kind of lighting plants need, you need to understand why flowers need light in the first place.

The fact is that the leaf of a plant is a small factory in which constant diligent work is going on. On the underside of the leaf there are numerous stomata - slits through which plants receive carbon dioxide from the air. At the same time, the roots extract certain minerals from the soil and transport them through the plant’s conducting system to the leaves. In all green parts of plants, i.e. leaves and green stems contain chlorophyll, a green pigment. It captures the energy of sunlight.

As soon as the sun's rays “hit” a green plant, a chemical process begins to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates - nutrients needed for growth and healthy development. This whole process is called photosynthesis, the energy source of which is sunlight.

If the lighting conditions of the plants are violated, the “machine” stops, the process does not proceed, although both the “workers” (chlorophyll grains) and materials (water, nutrients, carbon dioxide) are ready to work. This means that without light, indoor flowers eventually “die of hunger,” although they are abundantly watered and fed. In poor lighting conditions, houseplants wither.

So what kind of lighting is needed for flowers, which indoor plants do not need light, and which, on the contrary, need its abundance?

Insufficient or excessive lighting of indoor flowers

Fortunately, every plant, including indoor plants, promptly signals insufficient lighting at home. If you see one of these signals, be sure to change your pet's location.

Insufficient lighting for flowers in the apartment is indicated by:

• Poor plant growth
• small leaves,
• Change in color of variegated leaves - they become green,
• Long, thin and soft stems ("etiolation" occurs),
• Poor formation of flower buds
• Increase in the distances between leaf nodes on new stems compared to old stems.

Excessive lighting for plants at home is just as harmful as insufficient lighting.

If you place a shade-loving plant on a south-facing window, then in the hottest hours the leaves wither and hang helplessly. After some time, first yellow and then brown spots appear on the leaves: this is a sunburn. Move such a plant away from the window towards the back of the room: the effect of the sun's rays weakens with every centimeter. You can also shade the plant a little during the hottest time of the day, from about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: draw the curtain or simply place a sheet of newspaper between the window glass and the plant.

With proper lighting of plants, when the “pet” receives the right amount of light, it grows healthy, with strong shoots, short internodes, intensely colored leaves and flowers.

The amount of light can be measured. To measure light intensity, there is a special unit - lux, which allows you to accurately determine in which place in the room and at what time of day the lighting intensity is maximum and minimum.

A special lux meter, a light meter, can be purchased at a specialty store. This device is similar to an exposure meter and is very convenient for indoor plant lovers.

It should be remembered that the intensity of light depends on the time of year and the surrounding environment. On a sunny summer day, around noon, the illumination is 100,000 lux (lx). But if at the same time you are standing under a tree with a light meter, it will show only 10,000 lux. The amount of light at the same time in the room, right next to the window glass, is 2500 lux, and in the middle of the room - only 500 lux. The situation is completely different on a normal, bright winter day. On the windowsill where your plants are located, the device registers only 500-1000 lux. The middle of the room is almost dark.

The best lighting conditions for active plant growth at home

The lighting regime for plants at home is very important. In order to use the above data correctly, you must know what kind of lighting your plants require. They can be roughly divided into groups, and to determine the light regime in each group, home gardeners usually use not lux, but generally accepted terms: “sun”, “partial shade” and “shade” and, in accordance with this, recommend the correct placement of plants in the apartment.

Plants that require bright light for active growth (1500-2000 lux or more) should be placed in a sunny window facing south.

To achieve better lighting for plants that require diffuse light of about 1000 lux, they are placed in a semi-shaded place on a window facing east or oriented to the west. Indoor flowers that do not like light, that is, requiring low lighting (500-700 lux), can be placed in a shady place, on a window facing north.

In botany, in addition to lux indicators, three other concepts have been established to determine the light regime of plants. According to these terms, light-loving plants love a sunny place; We always mean a window facing south. Less demanding plants prefer partial shade, which for many is associated with windows facing west and east. Finally, plants that are shade tolerant do well in a north-facing window.

You should know that these concepts are not entirely accurate. The phrase “partial shade” is already misleading. It would be more correct to replace it with the phrase “bright place”, because plants suitable for it require bright, diffused light, but cannot tolerate the hot midday sun on southern windows. The division by cardinal directions is also not always fair: you need to take into account the surrounding situation.

If there is a tree in front of a window facing south, such a window can no longer be called “sunny”, but only “light”. A window facing west onto a covered balcony or loggia is sometimes darker than a window facing north.

Both the landscape and the area of ​​residence influence illumination. A south window on a densely built-up street, and even on the first floor of a house, is always less “sunny” than in a separate house.

Houseplants that require a lot of light

In many apartments, the living room windows face the south side of the house. As a rule, these are large windows, and many plants can be placed on the windowsills, which on sunny days are brightly illuminated by the sun from noon to evening.

Plants that are familiar to you from your travels to the south thrive here: bougainvillea with luxurious flowers, hibiscus, bocarnea (Beaucarnea recurvata), yucca (Yucca). Another indoor flower that loves sunlight is pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira). The south window can become a green and blooming link between the house and the garden.

Unfortunately, most of these exotic plants that require a lot of light are not easy to grow. First of all, problems arise in winter. Of course, there are more hardy types for southern windows.

For example, such plants that feel good in any place:

Sansevieria ( Sansevieria)

Chlorophytum ( Chlorophytum)

Unassuming indoor nettle

Bloom's Coleus ( Coleus blumei, hybrids)

Euphorbia ( Euphorbia milii)

And if you love cacti, then you can arrange a multi-tiered cactus garden on the south window.

Creating optimal conditions lighting for indoor plants, keep the following in mind:

• On sunny days, the temperature near the southern windows rises significantly, and the plants located here need to be sprayed often, but not at noon!
• In black plastic pots, the soil quickly overheats, so use ceramic pots for south-facing windows. You can place dark pots in light containers.
• If you have a bottom-hung window or vent, keep them open in the summer. Otherwise, stagnation of hot air will occur.

When taking care of lighting the flowers at home, do not forget about shading plants on the south window. You can accommodate a greater variety of crops here if you turn the burning direct rays of the sun into pleasant diffused light.

This can be done through shading in various ways:

• The easiest way is to use loose shutters, external blinds, or awnings.
• Even faster and easier: curtains made of fabric or paper, blinds (be careful: metal blinds should not touch the plants, as they get very hot), or frames covered with canvas.
• Temporarily: newspaper or cardboard.

Yucca ( Yucca)

This is a light-loving houseplant and is considered one of the most popular decorative leafy houseplants. In summer it feels good outdoors. In winter they are placed in a cool room. Good drainage in a pot is very important. Do not overfeed.

Leaf Begonia ( Begonia)

Many species and hybrids with attractively colored leaves. Requires high air humidity, but not spraying. Does not tolerate drafts.

Spathiphyllum ( Spathiphyllum)

In winter you need to put it in a brighter place than in summer. This is an indoor plant that does not need much light, and it is also tolerant of a warm room. Be careful when spraying - the wrapper and the cob-shaped inflorescence do not tolerate moisture. Don't water too much.

An ideal plant for beginning gardeners: it feels great anywhere, is easily propagated by cuttings, and can be placed outdoors in the summer. This indoor plant does not like light and should be watered sparingly.

Tholmia Menzies ( Tolmiea tempziesii)

An easy plant to cultivate. It develops well in any place, just not in bright sunny conditions. Tolerant to dry air. In summer you can put it outdoors. A wonderful hanging plant.

Aglaonema ( Aglaonema)

Species with green leaves are shade tolerant. Loves high temperature and humidity, warm soil. Don't forget good drainage! The plant is suitable for growing hydroponically.

, or sago palm ( Cycas revoluta)

This is another house flower that does not need bright light, but it loves fresh air and is very sensitive to dampness. Cycas does not tolerate frequent. Old plants need a lot of space. It grows very slowly.

Indoor flowers that do not require a lot of light: house plants for the bedroom, bathroom and corridor

The apartment should have as many indoor plants as possible. This applies not only to the living room; there are other rooms where flowers grow just as well, and sometimes even much better.

Plants in bedrooms. As a rule, bedroom windows face east and are illuminated by the soft morning sun. This is an ideal location for many plants that cannot tolerate the harsh midday sun.

Sometimes there is enough space in the bedroom for a small tree: indoor linden ( Sparmannia africana) or ficus benjamina ( Ficus benjamina).

For “winter apartments” in the bedroom you can place indoor plants that do not require a lot of light and need a moderate temperature of about 15 ° C in winter.

It is often asked whether plants in the bedroom at night really deprive sleepers of oxygen. This is partly true; plants absorb oxygen at night, but in such quantities that it is completely unnoticeable. You sleep as if in a hermetically sealed “forest” of indoor crops. However, some people cannot stand the aroma of strong-smelling plants and complain of headaches.

In such cases, do not place fragrant pelargoniums, flowering orange trees, primroses, etc. in the bedroom, but do not completely abandon plants.

Plants in the bathroom. If your bathroom seems uncomfortable, cold, or too sterile to you, liven it up with indoor plants that are unpretentious to light! For example, it will amazingly transform a bathroom. Of course, the condition for this must be the presence of a window. In a completely dark bathroom you will have to make do with artificial flowers made of plastic. However, not every home flower that does not require a lot of light can be placed in the bathroom. Species that love warmth and high humidity grow well here.

They feel great in the “greenhouse” climate of the bathroom. Coconut palm trees ( Cocos nucifera) And Variegated dracaenas ( Dracaena) , A also monstera ( Monstera deticiosa) , (Philodendron) And (Cyperus) .

If the bathroom is small, it is easy to place small indoor plants that do not require bright light: reed ( Scirpus serpius) And soleiroly ( Soleirolia soleiroiii) .

You can even put blooming ones Usambara violets ( Saintpaulia, hybrids) who love a humid atmosphere. And if you are delighted with flashy decorations, place a pot of water on the shelf between a glass for brushing your teeth and a hair brush atmospheric tillandsia.

Various aerosols, such as hair spray and body care deodorants, are very harmful to plants in the bathroom. Therefore, try to place indoor flowers that do not require a lot of light so that splashes of these various cosmetics do not fall on the leaves. ivy (

Sansevieria ( Sanseviena)

Chlorophytum ( Chlorophytum comosum)

If your hall is spacious enough but dark, provide the plants with artificial lighting.

It is important to remember that there should be no drafts in the hall that cause leaves to fall. Therefore, do not place plants in such a hallway.

Additional artificial lighting for plants at home: lamps for indoor flowers

With the onset of winter, any home gardener faces the problem of reducing light levels during the cold period. Therefore, in the fall you should be especially careful about plant placement. The days are getting shorter, the sun rarely appears, and the exposure to indoor pets is decreasing.

But there are also plants that do not need rest. Problems arise with tropical exotic crops, which in their homeland are accustomed to bright sunlight throughout the year.

How to help them in winter? Try to provide them with the scant winter light as best you can. For this, such actions are important.

• Before winter begins, wash your windows again.
• Place the plants close to each other on the windowsill (under no circumstances leave them in the back of the room).
• There should be no curtains, curtains or blinds between the window glass and the plants.
• If after all this there is not enough light, there is another way: artificial lighting for indoor plants.

If normal daylight for plants is not enough in winter near a room window, or in any season in a dark corner, you can compensate for it with artificial lighting.

Conventional incandescent lamps are not suitable for additional lighting of plants: they get very hot and can burn house flowers.

The industry produces special lamps for artificial lighting of plants at home: pendant, wall-mounted and in the form of tubes. At first glance, they do not differ from ordinary lamps and lamps, but in fact their rays have a different composition.

They contain more ultraviolet and blue light and less infrared rays. Their light is more like daylight, it is cooler than the warm yellowish light of incandescent lamps. You can buy separate special lamps that connect to any light source (with the appropriate power), or a whole system as a set (by the way, very inexpensive). Lamps of different designs for additional illumination of flowers hardly differ in light intensity. In most cases, artificial light is mixed, pleasing to the eye.

There are also mercury lamps with bright white light and low energy consumption. These lamps are often used in offices and gardening businesses. They are economical, but they are expensive to purchase.

Be sure to use additional lamps to illuminate indoor plants! Growing flowers at artificial lighting, follow the rules listed below. Hanging lamps should hang in the center of the plants so that they do not bend. Wall lamps are less practical in this regard. So, when using additional lighting for indoor plants, consider the following:

• The higher the lamp is, the larger area irradiation and the more plants receive additional lighting. True, the intensity of radiation decreases with increasing distance from the light source to the object.
• The distance from the plant to the lamp is about 80 cm.
• If there are a lot of plants, use several lamps.
• If plants are grown exclusively under artificial lighting, the lamps should burn from 12 (for shade-loving species) to 16 (for light-loving plants) hours a day.
• If lamps are used in winter as an additional light source, it is enough to turn them on for 4-6 hours.

Houseplants for short and long daylight hours

Some ornamental flowering species have special lighting requirements. For them, the formation of buds depends not only on the intensity of light, but also on the length of the day. Therefore, there are indoor short-day crops and have a long day.

In short-day plants, such as poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) and Kalanchoe, brightly colored bracts and flowers develop only when the day is “short”, i.e. when they are illuminated no more than 12 hours a day. Even a street lamp outside a window or a small floor lamp in a room can become too light for such plants.

Cover these types with a cardboard box or bucket for 12 hours (from evening to morning) every day for 6 weeks. Those who like to experiment can use this method to make plants that bloom in winter bloom in the fall. This “light control” allows gardeners to grow and sell flowering chrysanthemums (also a short-day crop) all year round.

Long-day plants include a number of annuals cultivated in our gardens, as well as Uzambara violets (Saintpauiia ionantha, hybrids). They bloom when the light lasts at least 14 hours a day, and the plants do not care whether it is natural or artificial light.

“Neutral” houseplants, the flowering of which does not directly depend on the length of the day, include most of the known indoor species.

Lighting is critical to the life of indoor plants. Light is necessary for the process of photosynthesis, as a result of which plants synthesize organic substances for their growth and vital activity. Various types Plants need different amounts of light.

There are very photophilous species that require direct sunlight. Most indoor species grow well in bright, indirect light. But there are home flowers that love shade. They are convenient to grow in poorly lit apartments with windows facing north.

Home decorative foliage flowers that love shade

It is often difficult to maintain light-loving plants in houses and apartments due to insufficient natural light. But this does not mean that you need to give up indoor flowers altogether. There are many house flowers that do not like light, and feel great in darkened rooms where the sun's rays do not penetrate at all. And some flowers are contraindicated in the sun - they develop correctly only in the shade. Consider shade-loving indoor flowers with their names and photos.

Dieffenbachia

This large indoor plant grows equally well in bright, indirect light and in partial shade. In the shade it may weaken and begin to stretch out. It has a straight trunk that rarely branches. In indoor culture it grows up to 2 m in height. The leaf blades are large, oval, variegated, up to 50 cm long. Used for landscaping spacious rooms.

Ferns

All types of indoor ferns are shade-tolerant plants. In the wild, they have adapted to living in the lower tiers of the forest. Long and lush fronds of ferns have a bizarre and very decorative shape. These species are grown on hangings or shelves. In cultivation, ferns are kept in partial shade. With more intense lighting, their foliage loses brightness and fades. In direct sun, delicate ferns can get burned.

Ivy

A herbaceous liana popular in indoor culture. Ivy vines reach several meters in length and have weak branches. New shoots are formed in the lower part near the surface of the earth or from the root. The branches are capable of growing to supports, so common ivy is grown as a hanging plant and is also used for vertical gardening.

The leaves are shiny and leathery. Numerous decorative varieties of this plant are distinguished by variegated two-color and even three-color leaf blades. Ivy grows well in the shade and suffers from direct sunlight. Variegated forms require slightly more intense lighting. They can be kept in partial shade.

Ficus benjamina

A versatile houseplant that grows well in almost any environment. climatic conditions. Withstands dryness and abundant watering, heat and cold, direct sun and shade. Ficus benjamina is a tree-like plant with a straight trunk with light bark, a branched crown with many small leathery leaves. All its varieties grow well in partial shade, but variegated forms lose color and grow green foliage.

Fittonia

Herbaceous plant of the humid tropics. Needs shading from direct sunlight. Withstands both bright diffused light and partial shade. The height of Fittonia is no more than 50 cm; there are also more compact, low-growing forms.

The leaves of the plant are very diverse in color. Different varieties look great in group planting. Fittonia is a rather demanding species, as it requires intensive watering and high air humidity. Ideal for florarium.

Cissus

Cissus or Antarctic grape is a very popular hanging plant. It grows beautifully in the most shaded areas of the apartment, where other plants cannot live. Forms long shoots more than 3 m long, on which there are many bright green carved leaves.

You will be interested in:

The leaves of the plant are complex in shape, reminiscent of wild grape leaves. In indoor culture it usually does not bloom or bear fruit. Cissus is an unpretentious plant that can withstand low light and a wide range of temperatures. Suitable for vertical gardening of the darkest walls of the apartment.

Indoor decorative flowers that do not like light

Usually, with a lack of light, indoor ornamental flowering plants do not form flowers or bloom very sparingly. However, there are also flowering species that can be grown on northern windows in partial shade.

Shade-tolerant ornamental flowering plants are perfectly adapted to such conditions; they bloom profusely and for a long time even in very low light, and the sun's rays can be destructive for them. Below are homemade flowers that love shade in the apartment.

Begonia decorative flowering

Flowering begonias can be grown on northern windowsills. Unlike decorative foliage species, which stretch without sunlight, flowering begonias do not need bright light.

They should not be placed in the sun, as they will very quickly burn their tender leaves.

There are several types blooming begonias. These are low plants with succulent leaves of green or reddish shades. They bloom profusely and for a long time. Their flowers come in regular, semi-double and double forms, depending on the variety. The shades of the petals are very diverse - from white and light pink to dark red and burgundy. There are also plants with yellow flowering.

Oxalis

Oxalis or wood sorrel are indoor flowers that love shade. It has many leaves on long petioles growing from a modified and greatly shortened stem.

Indoor oxalis can have green, burgundy and variegated leaf blades. It blooms with small single or collected flowers in inflorescences. There can be several dozen of them on one plant. Prefers partial shade, but can grow in the shade. Direct sun is harmful to the flower.

Saintpaulia

Saintpaulias or violets are indoor flowers that do not like light and do not need bright lighting. Forms a dense rosette of pubescent dark green leaves. There are variegated varieties of Saintpaulia. Blooms profusely from early spring to late autumn. Flowers are single or collected in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces.

Color - from white to dark blue and burgundy. Numerous varieties of Saintpaulias are distinguished by large double and semi-double flowers. Grows well in northern and north-eastern windows, where there is never direct sun.

Spathiphyllum

Spathiphyllum is another indoor flower that loves shade in the apartment. Very popular for its flowers unusual shape. In addition, this plant does not need bright lighting, so it decorates the windowsills of northern windows. All this has made it a favorite plant of many gardeners.

The plant forms lush bushes of dark green leaves, above which white flowers rise on long stalks. The flower is unpretentious; with regular watering and spraying it pleases with regular flowering.

Cyclamen

Cyclamen or alpine violet is a perennial tuberous plant famous for its long and beautiful flowering. Variegated leaves on long petioles grow directly from the tuber. Flowers with long petals have an unusual shape.

Cyclamen prefers northern and northeastern windows. Blooms in winter. During flowering, it is advisable to place these plants on the coldest windowsills away from heating radiators.

Other shade-tolerant plants

In addition to decorative foliage and flowering plants, there are many other varieties of house flowers that do not like light. For landscaping a darkened apartment, it is easy to choose shade-tolerant succulents, orchids and even fruit-bearing species.

Succulents

Succulents grow in dry and hot areas where there is always plenty of sunlight. However, some of them grow well even in partial shade, especially if they are grown in these conditions long time. Forest cacti are also succulents.

They have adapted to grow under the cover of large trees, so they do not need bright lighting. The most common shade-tolerant succulents are:

• Sansevieria;
• Haworthia rigidifolia;
• Peperomia;
• Decembrist.

Sansevieria

Haworthia rigidifolia

Peperomia

Decembrist

Orchids

All types of orchids are shade-tolerant plants. These are plants of the humid tropics, where they grow on the bark of tall trees and do not see direct sun. Some of their types require more intense lighting.

But there are also those that can be grown even with weak electric light. These are some species of precious terrestrial orchids. The most famous of them are Makodes and Anectochilus.

Makodes

Makodes

Anectochilus

Anectochilus

These plants require very high humidity. They are usually kept in orchidariums away from windows in artificial light. The phalaenopsis orchid is also quite shade-tolerant, but not at all as demanding as its precious relatives. It does not tolerate direct sunlight, but can develop and bloom well in diffused light and partial shade.

Fruitful plants

It is quite difficult to find a houseplant that does not require bright lighting, but produces edible fruits. Typically, fruit-bearing plants grown indoors are native to southern regions where there is excess sunlight.

Most exotics that bear fruit need bright light and even direct sun. Without this, they stop blooming and bearing fruit, and then die. Indoor hot peppers, which are valued for their decorative properties and pungent fruits, can be considered the most shade-tolerant.

Today there are a large number of different varieties of indoor peppers, which differ in color and shape of the fruit. The fruits come in round, oval and elongated shapes. Ripe peppers can be red, yellow, or even purple.

In good conditions, the plant can live and bear fruit for up to 4 years. Do not place indoor peppers in the shade. It won't bloom here. This plant thrives in bright, indirect light, but can also produce fruit in partial shade.