Which Houseplants That Like Direct Sunlight
The fun part of taking care of flowers is identifying their optimum location in the house. This could indicate selecting plants that grow in low light, but these lovely ones that enjoy the sun will brighten up any environment.
These plants thrive in areas with plenty of natural light, such as a sunny window. There’s nothing better for your indoor garden than natural light streaming through a south-facing window sill. However, windows facing west provide enough light in the afternoon. Allow the flowers that prefer direct sunlight to bloom on one window sill while you care for those that prefer indirect light.
Here are ten of our small indoor plants that like direct sunlight.
10 Best Indoor Plants That Like Direct Sunlight
1. Aloe Vera
- Botanical Name:Aloe barbadensis Miller
- Soil Type:Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH:0 to 8.5
- Sun Exposure:Direct sunlight
- Height: up to 3 feet
- Care Level: super easy to grow, tough and undemanding
If you place these spiky, rosette-shaped succulents somewhere dry and sunny, they will provide a touch of desert air to any area they are in. If they are pleased, they will produce pups, also known as offsets, small plants that can be organically split and grown. There are several types of aloe vera, but this particular variety is well-known for its fluid’s soothing and cooling properties.
2. Jade Plant
- Botanical Name:Crassula ovata
- Soil Type:Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH:0 to 6.5
- Sun Exposure:Direct sunlight
- Height: up to 6 feet
- Care Level: easy
There are several varieties of these easy-to-care-for plants. Some species have smaller leaves, different-colored foliage, or even pink blooms shaped like stars. Other species have green leaves that resemble paddles. When exposed to direct sunlight, many jade plants’ leaves glow a vibrant red.
3. Snake Plant
- Botanical Name:Dracaena trifasciata
- Soil Type:Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH:5 to 8.5
- Sun Exposure:Direct or bright, indirect sunlight
- Height:up to 8 feet
- Care level:easy and low maintenance, ideal for beginners
Are you looking for a houseplant that will only require a little attention for a few weeks? Snake plants can help you grow. Aside from mother-in-law’s tongue and sansevieria, this rugged and easy-to-care-for plant goes by several other names. Some snake plants can endure protracted droughts while producing gorgeous lance-shaped leaves with various designs. This resilient plant prefers shade but can also like full sun and heat, so a west-facing window is ideal. Snake plants can thrive in areas with little light.
4. Echeveria
- Botanical Name:Echeveria
- Soil Type:Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH:0 to 6.5
- Sun Exposure:Direct or bright, indirect sunlight
- Height:up to 12 inches
- Care level:easy and low maintenance, ideal for beginners
This tropical plant, which looks like a flower, must be in full sun to grow well. Once established, it will form a flat cluster of leaves that rest on the ground. Echeveria can still develop in low-light conditions, but they may become strap-like and lengthy as they stretch for more light. The afternoon sun may overstress your echeveria, causing its leaves to burn. Move it away from the window. This species comes in various colors, including multicolored and varying shades of blue, green, purple, and gray.
5. Sweet Basil
- Botanical Name:Ocimum basilicum
- Sun Exposure:Direct sunlight
- Soil Type:Standard potting soil
- Soil pH:5 to 7.5
- Height:up to 24 inches
- Care level:easy and low maintenance
If you have adequate light, an indoor plant garden that smells wonderful can be a delightful treat in the spring, summer, or fall. Basil, parsley, chives, and cilantro are delicate herbs that grow best in full sunlight. In the spring, start your basil plants in a pot with soil that does not retain moisture. After that, please place them in a sunny window facing south. To cook, pluck a sprig. To extend the growing season and make your herb plants bushier and stronger, move them outside during the summer and back inside in the fall.
6. Geranium
- Botanical Name:Pelargonium
- Soil Type:Standard potting soil
- Soil pH:0 to 6.5
- Sun Exposure:Direct sunlight
- Height:up to 48 inches
- Care level:easy
Geraniums kept inside will do just as well as those kept outside, as long as they get enough light. Geranium comes in various colors: red, pink, white, orange, and purple. When the weather is warm, take your plant outside to enjoy the sun, and bring it inside when the temperature drops below 50 degrees.
7. Money Tree
- Botanical Name:Pachira aquatica
- Soil Type:Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH:0 to 7.5
- Sun Exposure:Bright, indirect light
- Height:up to 8 feet
- Care level:Bright or direct sunlight, maintain a humid environment
People sometimes refer to this easy-to-care-for houseplant as a “bonsai tree,” and with good reason: its numerous braided roots meet in a cluster of green, palmate leaves. Money trees are particularly well-known in feng shui because they are believed to bring good luck if placed in the southeast corner of a room facing south, hence their name. During the growing season, keep a watch on the leaves and, if required, relocate the plant. This plant can become sunburned in the summer sun.
8. Dragon Tree
- Botanical Name:Dracaena draco
- Soil Type:Loamy, well drained and standard potting soil
- Soil pH:0 to 6.5
- Sun Exposure:Direct sunlight, Partial shade
- Height:up to 15 feet
- Care level:Low-light levels, Ideal for beginners
If you have a south-facing window, a dragon tree is an excellent choice because it is tall and luxuriant. When housed inside, this species grows about six to eight feet tall and responds swiftly to increased light. Dragon trees are easy to grow; you only have to water them when the soil is dry and fertilize them every six months. This plant is very easy to propagate; therefore, it can produce numerous cuttings once fully grown.
9. Bird of Paradise
- Botanical Name:Strelitzia
- Soil Type:Well-draining potting soil
- Soil pH:5 to 7.5
- Sun Exposure:Direct sunlight
- Height:up to 10 feet
- Care level:medium
When cultivated in full sunlight, this unusual plant produces some of the most stunning blossoms. The brilliant, fluffy petals that emerge from the green blossoms of a bird of paradise resemble the beaks of tropical birds. Choose the window that receives the most incredible sunlight. Plants that resemble birds of paradise require light to develop. Once your plant fully grows, you can swiftly propagate offsets, or tiny seeds, to produce more of the same species. Simply look at your bird of paradise and select an exotic plant that will stand out in a south-facing window. It can still live in low-light environments, although it will not bloom as much without a lot of sunlight.
10. Ponytail Palm
- Botanical Name:Beaucarnea recurvata
- Soil Type:Well-draining succulent or cacti soil
- Soil pH:5 to 7.5
- Sun Exposure:Direct sunlight
- Height:up to 3 feet
- Care level:very easy and little maintenance, ideal for beginners
Ponytail palms require very little maintenance. A ponytail palm is all you need to create a tropical feel in your home. All it requires is some water and plenty of sunlight. The ponytail palm’s tall, narrow trunk and tightly wound bundle of leaves resemble a classic hairdo. You can keep this species outside during the summer, and it will thrive next to a south-facing window all year. Simply allow the dirt to dry completely between waterings, and your ponytail palm will thrive with minimal care. This species is safe for humans and dogs, so you can feel comfortable keeping your pets indoors.
FAQs
Q. Which house plants like direct sunlight?
Houseplants that love direct sunlight include succulents like Aloe Vera and Echeveria and cacti such as Bunny Ear Cactus and Barrel Cactus. Other options are Jade Plants, Ponytail Palms, Crown of Thorns, Crotons, Agave, and Snake Plants.
Q. Which potted plants like full sun?
Potted plants that thrive in full sun include herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme and flowering plants like geraniums, petunias, and marigolds.
Q. What houseplants like bright direct light?
Houseplants that thrive in bright, direct light include Croton plants, Ponytail Palms, and Bird of Paradise.
