West Side of House Plants: Best Plants for West Facing Rooms

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If you have a west-facing room, you're in luck because it receives plenty of indirect sunlight, making it perfect for a variety of low-maintenance house plants.

Some plants thrive in west-facing rooms, such as the Pothos, which can grow up to 8 feet long and can be trained to climb up walls or trellises.

The ZZ Plant is another great option, tolerating low light conditions and infrequent watering, making it perfect for busy people or those new to plant parenthood.

In fact, the ZZ Plant can survive in conditions with as little as 50-75 foot-candles of light, making it a great choice for rooms with limited natural light.

Low-Maintenance Houseplants

If you're looking for low-maintenance houseplants, consider the Jade Plant and Snake Plant.

Both of these plants are relatively easy to care for and can thrive in a west-facing window.

Jade Plants need well-draining soil and between four to six hours of full sun each day.

A fresh viewpoint: Jade Plant Houseplant

Credit: youtube.com, 5 Low-Maintenance Houseplants for The Lazy Plant Parent

Snake Plants, on the other hand, can tolerate extremely little sunlight, but prefer warmer conditions with direct sun for at least a few hours.

The Jade Plant's waxy leaf segments and sturdy trunks can stand up to afternoon heat, making it a great choice for a west-facing window.

In fact, both plants can be impressively long-living and are largely resistant to pests and diseases.

This makes them perfect for busy people or those new to plant care.

Snake Plant

Snake plants are known for their air-purifying prowess, making them a great addition to any indoor space.

They're surprisingly easy to grow and can thrive in a variety of conditions, but they do prefer direct sunlight for at least a few hours each day.

Snake plants can tolerate extremely little sunlight, but they'll do even better with warmer, sunnier conditions, making a west-facing window a perfect spot for them.

To keep them happy, make sure the soil dries out completely between waterings, giving the roots a chance to breathe.

By following these simple guidelines, you can enjoy the many benefits of having a snake plant in your home, from purifying the air to adding a touch of greenery to your space.

See what others are reading: What House Plants Don T Need Sunlight

Pilea Peperomioides

Credit: youtube.com, Tips & Tricks Chinese Money Plant (Pilea Peperomioides) by Focus New york

Pilea Peperomioides is a popular houseplant that's perfect for those who want a low-maintenance addition to their space. It's known for its unique, globe-like shape and can thrive in a west-facing location.

To keep your Pilea Peperomioides looking its best, place it around 1 meter from a west-facing window. This will provide it with the bright sunlight it needs to grow and maintain its shape.

Regular rotation is key to keeping your Pilea Peperomioides looking sculptural, so be sure to turn it weekly. This will help keep the growth balanced and prevent it from becoming straggly.

If you want to encourage new growth, consider placing your Pilea Peperomioides in a location where it can receive direct sunlight for a few hours a day. This will help it produce new leaves and maintain its vibrant color.

Here are some additional tips for caring for your Pilea Peperomioides:

  • Keep the soil well-draining to prevent root rot.
  • Water your Pilea Peperomioides sparingly, as it prefers to dry out slightly between waterings.
  • Prune your Pilea Peperomioides regularly to maintain its shape and encourage new growth.

Variegated Pothos and Other Varieties

Marble Queen pothos is a brilliant choice for a west-facing room, and I've seen it thrive in just that spot. It's an essential part of my plant gang.

Credit: youtube.com, Pothos Varieties | Philodendron pothos | Scindapsus Pictus pothos | MOODY BLOOMS

Variegated pothos plants like Neon, N'joy, and Manjula also do well in west-facing rooms, but they prefer a slightly more protected spot to keep their variegation vibrant. With pronounced variegation, these plants grow well in a western exposure if it's shielded from the brighter afternoon light.

A west-facing window with a slightly frosted glass is an ideal spot for these plants, as it reduces the intensity of the light and prevents crisping on the tips of the leaves.

Curious to learn more? Check out: House Plants for North Facing Window

3. Epipremnum: Variegated Pothos Varieties

I've fallen in love with Marble queen pothos, and it's a brilliant choice for a west-facing room. It thrives in this light intensity, keeping its growth consistent and variegation good.

Variegated pothos plants are an essential part of my plant gang, and I've grown a humungous pot of Marble queen pothos in my old apartment, which was south-west facing.

Neon pothos is another variety that's quite adaptable to a west-facing room, helping to keep the zingy chartreuse colour nice and vibrant.

Credit: youtube.com, 10 Pothos Varieties with Images and Names | 🌱 Neon Pothos, Jade Pothos, Satin, Cebu Blue and More!

In a western exposure, a pothos N'joy and a Manjula Pothos can grow well if it's protected by a net to soften the brighter afternoon light, or it can be moved further back from the light source to enjoy a bright, indirect light position.

Currently, my plants are around 2 metres from a west-facing window that is slightly frosted, and they've really been doing well.

Additional reading: Pothos House Plants

Ficus

I've found that a west-facing window is a great spot for Ficus plants, as they get a few hours of afternoon sunshine and decent light levels throughout the day.

The variegated types of Ficus, like the elastica tineke, require a bit more light than the non-variegated ones.

A Ficus lyrata, or fiddle leaf fig, can thrive in a spot with a west-facing window, producing large leaves.

Having multiple Ficus plants means I've tried out various locations in my homes, and I've found that a westerly aspect works well for these plants.

Mint Plants

Credit: youtube.com, 18 Pothos varieties with NAMES | Epipremnum types | #SHORTS MOODY BLOOMS

Mint plants love full sunlight, but a west-facing window can provide the perfect balance of light and shelter.

These plants can thrive in partial shade, but it's essential to provide them with some protection from the direct afternoon sun during summer.

Mint plants require their soil to be evenly moist at all times, or they can dry out quickly.

The Mentha genus contains nearly 25 types of mint plants, offering a variety to choose from.

Tillandsia Varieties

There are about 650 species of air plants, commonly known as Tillandsia. They're a diverse group, and each one has its own unique characteristics.

Air plants come in a range of shapes and sizes, from small and delicate to large and showy. They can thrive in a variety of environments, as long as they get enough sunlight.

If you live in a humid environment, you can give your air plants direct sunlight from a west-facing window. Just be sure to provide some shelter from the sun with a sheer curtain if it's too intense.

Growing and Care

Credit: youtube.com, 20 Part Sun Houseplants | Houseplants for West Windows vs East Windows

If you have west-facing windows in your home, apartment, or office, then any houseplant that thrives in bright direct or indirect sunlight and warmer temperatures is a must.

Light is essential to every plant's basic metabolic process called photosynthesis, which affects a plant's growing cycle, development, flowering, reproduction, and health.

Houseplants in these locations can dry out the soil and air around the plant more quickly, so you may need to increase humidity or the frequency of your watering schedule.

Plants have adapted to thrive in various light conditions, ranging from low-light forest floors to high-intensity areas like deserts.

To keep your west-facing houseplant happy, provide it with soil that dries out completely between waterings, and make sure it gets the warmth of the direct sun for at least a few hours each day.

Snake plants, for example, prefer the warmth of direct sun and can thrive in a west-facing window that offers warmer, sunnier conditions.

Shrubs for Backyard

Credit: youtube.com, 10 Shrubs & Trees You Can Plant Close to The House 🌲🌳 | Foundation Plants 👍👌

Deciduous shrubs are a great choice for a west-facing backyard in Phoenix because they conserve energy needed to grow and keep healthy.

In a hot and dry climate like Phoenix, heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant shrubs are essential for survival.

Reflective heat from hardscapes and walls can make it challenging to grow plants and shrubs, so it's best to choose ones that can handle it.

Shrubs and bushes that thrive in west-facing backyards in Phoenix often require digging and a bit of trial and error to find the right ones.

Our neighbors in Phoenix have started to plant similar heat-tolerant shrubs after seeing their effectiveness in our yard.

The west-facing sun can be intense, so it's crucial to choose shrubs that can handle the heat and conserve water.

Take a look at this: Grow House for Plants

Ella Paolini

Writer

Ella Paolini is a seasoned writer and blogger with a passion for sharing her expertise on various topics, from lifestyle to travel. With over five years of experience in the industry, she has honed her writing skills and developed a unique voice that resonates with readers. As an avid traveler, Ella has explored many parts of the world, immersing herself in new cultures and experiences.

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