Which window for which plant?
Light is the single biggest thing that decides whether a houseplant thrives or slowly fades, and it comes down to two things: which way your window faces, and how far the plant sits from the glass. Here is what each aspect gives you and which plants suit it.
First, the distance rule
Light falls off far faster than it looks. A plant on the windowsill can get many times more light than the same plant two metres back, even in the same room. As a rule of thumb: on the sill is bright, a metre back is medium, and across the room from the window is low light - whatever direction it faces. Move a struggling plant closer to the glass before you blame anything else.
North-facing
Low, cool, indirect - no direct sunA north window gets steady, gentle light and never any direct sun. It is the dimmest aspect, so it suits shade-tolerant foliage rather than anything that wants to bask.
Best for: Shade-tolerant foliage and ferns that would scorch elsewhere.
Watch out: Growth is slower and watering less frequent here. Keep sun-lovers well away.
East-facing
Bright, with soft morning sunAn east window gives a few hours of gentle morning sun and bright, indirect light the rest of the day. It is the easiest, most forgiving aspect and the happy place for the majority of houseplants.
Best for: Most foliage houseplants, which love bright, indirect light without harsh heat.
Watch out: Almost nothing to watch for - this is the sweet spot for the widest range of plants.
West-facing
Bright, with strong afternoon sunA west window is bright all day and gets hot, direct afternoon sun. Right on the sill it suits sun-tolerant plants; a metre back, most foliage plants are comfortable in the bright indirect light.
Best for: Bright-light foliage set back a little, and sun-tolerant plants on the sill.
Watch out: Afternoon sun can scorch tender leaves - acclimate plants gradually and pull delicate ones back from the glass.
South-facing
The brightest - long, direct sunA south window is the brightest spot in the home and gets the most direct sun. It is perfect for sun-worshippers on the sill, but shade-lovers need to sit well back or behind a sheer curtain or they will burn.
Best for: Cacti, succulents and other sun-lovers right in the window.
Watch out: Direct midday sun scorches shade plants fast. Use a sheer curtain, or keep sensitive foliage a good distance back.
These aspects are for the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, swap north and south: it is the north-facing window that gets the brightest, most direct sun.
What the extension service says
Clemson Extension sorts houseplants into light groups and matches them to windows. High-light plants such as weeping fig, English ivy and schefflera can usually be grown well near west- or south-facing windows or glass doors. Medium-light plants such as African violet, Boston fern and dumb cane do well within several feet of those windows or in an east window. Low-light plants such as peace lily, heart-leaf philodendron and cast-iron plant can sit several feet from an east window or in a north one. Very-high-light plants such as hibiscus, wax begonia and geranium need a sunroom or greenhouse in most homes (Clemson Extension).
Feeding depends on the window too
The same factsheet says foliage plants need at least 200 foot-candles for 12 hours a day before they show any benefit from fertilizer, that plants resting in winter should not be fed, and that in the growing season the label rate every two or three months, or about one-tenth of it at every watering, is enough; it suggests a balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20 for foliage plants and one higher in phosphorus, such as 15-30-15, for flowering plants (Clemson Extension). So a plant in a bright west or south window can use feeding that a plant in a dim north corner cannot. Each product below is described from Espoma's product page, checked on 26 October 2026; we have not trialed them, and there are no prices here: the Amazon link searches for the exact product, and we may earn a commission if you buy through it.
- Espoma Indoor!: organic liquid food for all houseplants, 2 teaspoons per quart of water, every 2 to 4 weeks. Maker's page · See on Amazon
- Espoma Bloom!: organic liquid food for indoor and outdoor flowering plants, including hanging baskets, at the same rate. Maker's page · See on Amazon
Which plants suit a west-facing window? High-light plants such as weeping fig, English ivy and schefflera, close to the glass; medium-light plants such as African violet, Boston fern and dumb cane a few feet back (Clemson Extension).
Not sure how bright your spot really is? Try the light checker, browse plants that suit low light in the low-light collection, or match any plant to your space with the plant finder.
For the light you measured
Links go to Amazon or a partner store (such as Adagio Teas) and may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We link gear types, not sponsors' picks: you choose the exact product.