Houseplants

Lesson 3: Growing at the Speed of Light

This section will teach you the importance of plant placement. A correctly sited plant is a happy plant. Again, bearing in mind your window exposures and preferred style of care, different plants may be right for you...

South of the Border: too much of a good thing?

South-facing rooms tend to be bright and cheery, and direct sun streams in through every window.

Lemon Geranium

Although there are plants that revel in all these photons, ones that evolved in dark jungles or shady forests might not appreciate it. Direct sun can burn holes in leaves, blacken leaf tips and dry out sensitive foliage.

For the majority of the time, setting plants that like "bright light" back from the windows, is a great option. Place them along the other walls or at least a few feet away from a southern exposure. Check the A-Z Plant Profiles in your plant guide for each plant's light requirements.

Desert cacti and jungle canopy plants can certainly 'take the heat', however. Stick em right in the sunshine and watch them grow!

Sun-Worshippers

• Cacti
• Succulents, such as the Jade Plant
• Swedish Ivy/Creeping Charlie

  Swedish Ivy, Howie Deutch, Suite101 Garden Adventures

• Geraniums
• Rubber Tree
• Yucca
• Aloe vera
• Bromiliads
• Citrus Plants and other miniature fruit trees
• Most Kitchen Herbs
• Velvet Plant (Gynura)
• Kalanchoe
• Some types of Palm
• Poinsettia
• Wandering Jew (Zebrina)

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