What indoor flowers love shade in the apartment. How to choose a houseplant. Video: home care for calathea

They can revive and make any interior more comfortable. But there is not always enough light in the apartment for their full development. How to be in this case? Experienced gardeners know that there are unpretentious shade-loving plants for the home. As a rule, these are inhabitants of shaded places in natural conditions. We will talk about them in this article.

We will introduce you to shade-loving plants for the home. Photos and their names will help you determine which one will fit better into your interior.

Indoor plants that can grow even in minimal light without losing the attractiveness of their leaves and flowers are extremely popular today. And this is due not only to the fact that they are unpretentious. Not all flowers are adapted to dim lighting, which serves as a decorative accent. Fortunately, among them there are many crops that are shade-tolerant and shade-loving.

Features of shade-tolerant plants

Let us immediately make a reservation that without access to light, in complete shade, not a single plant can grow. But the requirements for lower lighting intensity and the ability to grow them using artificial lighting make it possible to identify a large group of truly universal varieties that can be placed in the middle of the room and in shaded corners.

If light-loving plants require a light intensity of 10,000 lux, shade-tolerant plants make do with a much lower level - from 500 to 1000 lux. You can measure the level of illumination using photo exposure meters or lux meters. But experienced flower growers use a simpler method. Even shade-tolerant plants should be placed at a distance of no more than 2 m from the north window and no more than 3 m from windows facing other sides.

The ability to adapt to such difficult conditions allows you to choose shade-loving plants for your home. Let's take a closer look at these flowers.

Chlorophytum crested

Even for beginners in floriculture, some names of shade-loving plants for the home are well known. Among them, undoubtedly, is chlorophytum: today it is difficult to imagine decorating a home or office without this flower. An unusually spectacular plant, which has elegant lanceolate leaves collected in dense rosettes, producing elastic long lashes not only with inflorescences, but also with new rosettes that can take root, belongs to plants that are well known and loved by many.

It would seem that the usual chlorophytum is no longer capable of surprising anyone, but new varieties that have appeared in recent years, having curly or wide leaves similar to garden chard or spinach, delight even experienced flower growers.

Chlorophytum is equally beautiful both in a pot and in an ampelous culture. This plant does not exceed 40 cm in height, although its spreading vines can cover quite large areas and create incredibly beautiful cascades. Chlorophytum is one of those shade-loving plants for the home that can withstand almost any conditions. It tolerates not only diffused light, but also complete shadow.

True, if you want your chlorophytum to grow in the shade, you need to gradually accustom it to reduced light: a sharp change in growing conditions can provoke a loss of decorativeness. If young plants are grown in the shade, no problems will arise. Chlorophytum feels equally comfortable in both hot and cool weather, tolerates even very dry air and is surprisingly easy to care for. The only thing worth keeping an eye on is the condition of the substrate: it should not be too dry or waterlogged.

Aspidistra tall

A very impressive decorative deciduous shade-loving plant for the home. The beautiful leaves of aspidistra, as if strewn with white powder, look very unusual. But if you plan to grow this flower in the shade, we recommend paying attention to varieties that have a solid green color. Unfortunately, in shaded areas the flower loses its white patterns.

From the fleshy rhizomes emerge long, elongated oval leaves with pointed tips. They form a beautiful and slender turf. Their shape resembles lilies of the valley. Aspidistra flowers, appearing almost at the very base of the leaves, are located at soil level. Despite their pink color, they are rather inconspicuous.

Aglaonema variable

This shade-loving plant for the home has many varieties and varieties, differing in the shape or color of the leaves. Oval and lanceolate, bright green and yellow leaves with silver, gray, yellow, cream stripes and spots create amazingly beautiful bushes.

It seems that a shrubby plant with a height of 30 to 60 cm consists only of leaves tightly pressed together, which create a beautiful turf, while the stem is almost invisible. Shades of silver and green look elegant and fresh. With proper care, aglaonema blooms even in indoor conditions, forming original inflorescences-cobs with a snow-white stipule-veil. Despite the showiness of silver varieties and their tendency to partially lose patterns in shading, aglaonema does not lose its decorative effect even in a significantly shaded place.

Shade-loving climbing plants for the home

Any closet, wall, flower stand or shelf in the apartment can be decorated with the help of vines, which love and grow well and develop in partial shade and shade. The list of shade-loving climbing plants for the home is as follows:

  • Ivy.
  • Roicissus rhombicus.
  • Green-leaved syngonium.
  • Peperomia.
  • Epipremnum.
  • Tradescantia.
  • Scindapsus.
  • Cissus.

Of course, this is not a complete list; we have listed only the most popular crops.

Scindapsus

Shade-loving climbing plants for the home, photos of which we posted in this article, are distinguished by simple leathery leaves. In scindapsus they are decorated with yellow and white streaks. At home, this plant grows quickly. In order for the vine to be lush and look good, it must be trimmed periodically.

The plant tolerates partial shade well and requires high humidity and abundant watering on hot summer days.

Tradescantia

There are a huge number of varieties of this plant in the world with very different leaf colors. In order for Tradescantia to retain its decorative effect, it needs partial shade or diffuse lighting.

Cissus

Many of our readers know this shade-loving plant for the home under another name - indoor birch. The climbing shoots are covered with green leaves, which are very similar in shape to birch leaves. On the shoots you can see curved tendrils, with the help of which the plant clings to the support.

Cissus is suitable for the office, home and children's rooms. It grows well on supports and in planters, creating a true green wall. The plant is unpretentious. Does not tolerate bright lighting - sunlight can cause leaf plates to fade.

Shade-loving climbing plants for the home and bathroom

We have already said that indoor plants can decorate any room. However, they are installed extremely rarely. It would seem that the conditions in this room are conducive to adding flowers to the interior, but there are some nuances.

Both the high air temperature and high humidity characteristic of this room are favorable for plants, but the lack of light can complicate the adaptation of flowers. In addition, the plants here spend a long time not only in the dark, but also in rather cool conditions. They are exposed to chemicals used indoors (cosmetics, cleaning products, aerosols). These features must be taken into account when selecting plants and placing them in the bathroom.

It’s no secret that bathrooms rarely have windows and are large in size, but flowers can be placed even in a very small room without a window if you choose the right plants and install phytolamps. When deciding to grow flowers in the bathroom, you should first organize proper lighting.

Among the plants that are able to adapt to difficult conditions, climbing flowers are often chosen, for example, philodendron, epipremnum, and even more often, ivy. In addition, you can grow large plants (Fatsia, Monstera) in the bathroom, of course, if the space allows. In such conditions, bush plants (aspidistra, aglaonema, chamedorea) feel great.

Ivy

A wonderful shade-loving plant with star-shaped variegated or green leaves has long been a favorite of many gardeners. This flower can very quickly grow and wrap around a support. Grow it on a moss support, shaped like a tree, or in a hanging planter.

Syngonium

There are many species of this plant, but green-leaved syngonium grows well in the shade. The spectacular vine has succulent leaves that, when closed, form a cascade that can decorate any interior. It grows very quickly and can form a tree on a support. Needs regular watering and spraying.

Flowering climbing plants

Without exception, all vines are very beautiful, but flowering plants are especially attractive. They create comfort and enliven the most austere interior.

Hoya (wax ivy)

This large shade-loving climbing plant for the home with flowers has large leathery leaves, the unusual star-shaped flowers are very beautiful. At home in partial shade it grows up to three meters. Flowering can continue for several months. At this time, you should not turn the plant and move it from place to place - the hoya may stop flowering and drop its buds.

Passionflower

These evergreen vines are grown to decorate homes, offices, and children's institutions. Passionflower has very unusual flowers, which have a brightly colored double perianth with cross-shaped stigmas and bright straight or curved threads.

At home, three-stripe and blue passionflower is most often grown, which is a vine with deeply dissected leaves and single flowers up to 10 cm in diameter. Tri-stripe passionflower has grayish-purple stripes on dark leaves. Its yellow-white flowers reach 4 cm in diameter.

Flowering plants

Among the shade-loving flowers, there are many beautifully blooming ones, so you can decorate both northern windows and shaded areas of your home with magnificent flowers.

Clivia

This plant does not tolerate bright light. Clivia grows annually subject to a full winter rest, during which the plant is moved to a cool room (temperature below +12 °C), watering is reduced to a minimum and fertilization is stopped.

Bell-shaped yellow, orange and red flowers are collected on a tall peduncle in inflorescences. They look very impressive.

Anthurium

For growth and development, it requires partial shade from spring to autumn and diffused light in autumn and winter. Flowering begins from mid-spring to late August. The plant requires regular but moderate watering and temperature control (+15 °C).

Begonia

The well-known begonia is a shade-loving flowering plant. Its magnificent bright flowers in summer and winter delight lovers of indoor plants with their appearance. There are almost two thousand varieties of decorative deciduous and decorative flowering begonias. All of them are undemanding in care and prefer partial shade.

Spathiphyllum

“Women's happiness” is what people call this flower. This shade-tolerant houseplant has beautiful pointed leaves and sail-like white flowers.

Gradually, the cover of the flower changes color to green and is lost against the background of the foliage. By regularly cutting off wilted inflorescences, you can prolong flowering for a while. At room temperature, regular spraying of the leaves and abundant watering are necessary.

Flowers are perhaps the most exquisite decoration of any interior, be it a cozy home area or a strictly official office. Living green foliage, elegant and eye-catching, becomes an inseparable part of the space in which we exist. But it is important to choose the right plants for the conditions of the premises where you plan to place them. It is no secret that lighting plays an important role in the decorativeness of home crops. Therefore, let's talk about plants that can maintain beauty and attractiveness, despite the obvious lack of light.

Offering a selection of popular indoor shade-loving plants with photos and names, we will look at several of the most common of them, learn the characteristics of cultivation and acceptable conditions of detention.

Such representatives of the flora include many plants - mainly natives of tropical rainforests, living in the lower tier and being content with very little light. This feature is used by their cultural offspring and becomes invaluable in arranging interiors with low levels of illumination. For the most part, these are decorative deciduous plants, divided into:

  • erect;
  • hanging (ampeled);
  • creepers.

But there are many flowering species among them.

Flowering species

Spathiphyllum

An unassuming flower, beautiful and long-blooming. It thrives on a northern windowsill, not tolerating direct sunlight. This is a moisture-loving stemless crop with decorative oblong juicy green leaves, decorated with sharp tips, which begin to dry out if the spathiphyllum does not have enough water. The leaves grow immediately from the rhizome, and flower stalks also appear from there. Spathiphyllum loves high air humidity and frequent spraying, but suffers from drafts and sudden temperature changes. The optimal content is considered to be 22–23 °C.

Usambara violet (Saintpaulia)

The recognized queen of indoor cultivation, capable of blooming in partial shade for 3–4 months with short breaks. This beauty, a lover of warm rooms with high humidity, puts forward special watering conditions: water should not get on the leaves, which are densely pubescent and often have no less decorative value than flowers. More than 3 thousand species are common, but the number of new varieties and hybrids is constantly increasing. The heat-loving violet does not tolerate excessive moisture and is afraid of drafts.

Vriesia

A culture whose uniqueness is emphasized by the interesting shape of the flower - a bright colorful arrow. Vriesia is very capricious: it grows successfully only in a certain temperature range (20-27 °C), it does not tolerate water getting into the rosette of leaves before flowering, the rest of the time it must contain moisture. Sometimes she needs help to bloom. Vriesia is stimulated with ethylene gas, which is released by ripe fruits: they are placed near the container with the flower and covered with a transparent cap. During flowering, Vriesia is additionally illuminated.

Flowering plants are still more demanding on lighting, since budding and subsequent flowering noticeably deplete any crop. Therefore, in office buildings, classrooms, corridors and dimly lit rooms, it is more advisable to use non-flowering plants, but no less interesting.

Decorative deciduous shade-tolerant crops

Maidenhair

A type of fern with very thin but strong stems, studded with delicate light green leaves. Colloquially it is called “Venus hair”, it is very graceful and elegant. Adiantum is unpretentious, it is comfortable in warmth and partial shade, but it suffers from excess moisture and drafts.

Maranta

This is a representative of the arrowroot family. Like all varieties of this family, it has amazingly beautiful leaf colors, grows quickly, is not picky and often throws out flower stalks on which inconspicuous small white, purple or pinkish flowers bloom. The plant is moisture-loving; it requires frequent spraying and maintaining constant soil moisture. In winter, when the dormant period begins, the intensity of watering is reduced. Lack of moisture affects the tips of the leaves. Comfortable temperature – 17–24 °C.

Aglaonema

A tropical beauty with oval-pointed, green or variegated leaves. It is valued not only as an unpretentious shade-tolerant plant, but also as a wonderful orderly, purifying the indoor air from harmful chemical compounds. The culture is compact: the leaves are attached to thick short shoots, sometimes a flower-cob is formed, but this happens very rarely. Aglaonema is warm and moisture-loving, needs daily spraying and generous watering. It has a well-defined dormant period; during this time the crop is watered moderately. The temperature considered comfortable for it during the active spring-summer period is 20–25 °C, in winter – 16–20 °C.

All of the above indoor shade-tolerant plants are short, growing no more than 0.5–0.7 m. But among these crops there are real giants - large-sized plants and representatives of palm trees.

Large indoor plants that prefer partial shade

Advice! When choosing palm trees, subshrubs or so-called large trees, you should pay attention to the color of the leaves: the darker the foliage of the plant, the easier it is for it to tolerate light deficiency. These crops can decorate the most shaded corners. Variegated forms will require more light.

Dracaena

A widespread crop, some species of which visually resemble a palm tree. In shaded and warm rooms, dracaena develops successfully, but grows slowly, clearing the air space around. She prefers abundant watering in summer, moderate in winter, responds well to spraying, but does not tolerate stagnant water. The optimal temperature for it is considered to be 20-25 °C during the active period, 15–18 °C in winter. There are many varieties of dracaena: some differ in the shape and color of the leaves, others have a palm-shaped hard trunk, others resemble subshrubs with flexible, perfectly shaped shoots. Dracaena is distinguished by its surprisingly high ability for vegetative propagation: pieces of the stem are successfully transported and quickly take root.

Hamedorea

A bush-shaped palm with an incredible ability to feel comfortable in any environment. Hamedorea is a true leader among air purifying plants, and it is also hardy and unpretentious. This shade-loving and unpretentious species is capable of throwing out 3-5 new leaves per season, without noticing a lack of light. The palm tree, like its fellows, loves moderate moisture, high humidity in the surrounding area and periodic spraying. In summer, chamedorea is watered 2-3 times a week, in winter – once. Like all members of the arecaceae family, this palm tree responds gratefully to feeding with palm fertilizer. Hamedorea is the only palm tree that reproduces by daughter offspring, which are separated during transplantation.

Ficus

A traditional plant that has long and firmly settled in our homes and offices, it is decorative and very popular. Like other shade-loving flowers, ficus is not indifferent to generous watering, loves warmth and regular spraying, but does not tolerate bright sunlight. There are many varieties of ficus: large with large leathery leaves, tree-like shrub forms, ampelous and ivy-like. This is a fertile material for creating bonsai. All ficus plants are shade-tolerant, develop well at temperatures of 20–25 °C, and overwinter at 16–18 °C.

It is difficult to imagine a home that would not be decorated with indoor plants. They make the home atmosphere cozy, pleasing to the eye, and purify the air. However, not every housewife can boast of having a greenhouse bursting with fragrance, color, and greenery. This indicates a lack of necessary experience and knowledge of the rules of growing flowers. Important conditions for their maintenance include temperature and lighting of the room. Let’s try to understand this in more detail by answering the question: how to choose light/shade-loving and shade-tolerant indoor plants, the names of which may be familiar to you or you may be hearing about them for the first time.

Indoor plants can be classified according to different criteria: characteristics of reproduction and flowering, life expectancy, flowering time, type of stem and rhizome.

It is generally accepted to distinguish 8 main types of indoor flowers:

  1. Beautifully flowering plants delight the eye with magnificent inflorescences. These are azalea, begonia, gerbera, rose, pelargonium, phalaenopsis, cyclamen, etc. They differ in flowering time (from a week to several months), life period (one year or more). They require special care, while delighting with regular flowering.
  2. Decorative deciduous specimens are the largest group, distinguished by the structure, shape of leaves, bushes, and their varied colors. There are bush-like and tree-like creatures with oval, linear, dissected, toothed leaves, as well as hanging stems. This group includes ardisia, dieffenbachia, cypress, ficus, boxwood, myrtle, schefflera, ivy, tradescantia, etc.
  3. Bromeliad plants are distinguished by hard, spiny leaves that form a rosette, in the center of which small flowers often form. The beauty of this species lies in the leaves located around the inflorescences and having different colors. This includes Billbergia, Cryptanthus, Aechmea.
  4. Cacti and succulents are a group of unpretentious specimens. They are distinguished by their compactness, fleshy, juicy stems. Cacti are covered with spines with light fluff. The species is represented by Kalanchoe, Crassula, Hoya, Sansevieria, etc.
  5. Ferns have spreading light green graceful leaves. They reproduce by spores, division and buds, but are not capable of flowering. They prefer partial shade and do not require careful care. Aadiantum, nephrolepis, polypodium and other varieties belong to this species.
  6. Bulbous plants are flowers with a bulb-shaped underground stem that collects nutrients necessary for nutrition. Does not tolerate damage or waterlogging. They have beautiful blooms and are great for creating compositions. These include hippeastrum, hyacinth, lily, eucharius, etc.
  7. Palm trees are inhabitants of the tropics, perfectly adapted to our climatic conditions. They have endurance, love light, and can grow over 2 meters. Coconut, date palms, rapis, and chamedorea trees are well placed in spacious rooms.
  8. Fruit and berry plants now grow well at home. To bear fruit, they require a lot of lighting, regular fertilizer, and warm air. These are avocado, lemon, coffee tree, tangerine.

True flower lovers prefer to have at least one representative of each group in their home greenhouse. When choosing a houseplant, you need to take into account all the characteristics: appearance, size, color scheme, and most importantly - the conditions of maintenance.

Room temperature requirements

In a residential area, it is now possible to grow plants that originally grew in the desert, near bodies of water, in open space. This requires compliance with certain conditions of detention, maximally adapted to existence in the natural environment.

A plant chosen taking into account the characteristics of the room will delight you with beauty and health, as well as with a minimum of effort and means for caring for it.
The decisive indicator is the choice of plant, taking into account a suitable temperature regime that provides periods of dormancy and growth.

Depending on this indicator, indoor flowers are divided into three groups:

  1. Moderately thermophilic - grow favorably at 14-17 °C. These include aloe, asparagus, clivia, zebrina, zygocactus, kalanchoe, tradescantia, common ivy, cyperus.
  2. Heat-loving - they feel great at 18 - 25 ° C and suffer from the slightest drop in degrees. Their root system does not absorb air well and rots. These are tropical plants: begonia, peperomia, saintpaulia, coleus, bromeliad. When the air temperature rises above 28 °C, they also feel unwell: the leaves darken, wither, and fall off. It is important to ensure sufficient air humidity.
  3. Cold-resistant ones - oleander, date, raucaria, clivia, yucca, chlorophytum, cyclamen - develop well at 10 -15 ° C.

Each indoor plant has a temperature limit, below which they die. For example, for acalypha, anthurium, dieffenbachia, syngonium - this is 14 ° C, begonias, Kalanchoe, orchids - not lower than 10 ° C, and pelargonium, ivy, tradescantia, saxifrage are stored at temperatures up to 5 ° C.

In winter, it is important to provide flowers with peace by reducing watering and maintaining a thermal regime of 10 to 4 ° C. Therefore, when choosing a suitable plant, take into account the temperature conditions of the room in which you plan to place your new green friend.

Lighting requirements

A mandatory criterion on which the favorable growth of a houseplant directly depends is the lighting of the room. Unlike temperature, watering, and air humidity, it cannot be controlled. It is determined by the location of the room, the presence of windows and their orientation. According to this indicator, indoor plants are also divided into 3 groups.

Let's look at each in more detail:

Light-loving indoor flowers

Plants that require from 1000 to 5000 lux of illumination (in winter - at least 700 lux) are considered light-loving. These include all varieties of succulents, citrus fruits, oleander, cacti, laurel, cyperus, passionflower, etc. These crops require a room with good diffused lighting. It is best to place them on windows on the south, south-east/west side, avoiding direct sunlight that burns the leaves. When growing flowers that love light in dark rooms, lighting is required using a fluorescent lamp.

Shade-loving indoor flowers

Saintpaulia

Indoor flowers that have minimal light requirements and do not tolerate bright sunlight are classified as shade-loving. They develop favorably when receiving 400-500 lux for 10-12 hours a day. These are alpinia, cardamom, boxwood, spathiphyllum, clivia, saintpaulia, chamedorea, etc. It is important for each plant to find a place where it feels comfortable. It is best to place them on a windowsill or near a window facing north or northwest.

Shade-tolerant indoor plants

Aloe Barbados

Flowers that require sufficient lighting (about 1000 - 3000 lux), but can easily tolerate slight shading, are shade-tolerant. This group includes coffee tree, fern, ficus, etc. Their daylight hours are 8–10 hours (in winter 4–5 hours). Prolonged exposure to direct ultraviolet radiation should be avoided, as this worsens the general condition of the flowers. For normal growth, they need diffused light and placement next to western/eastern windows.

The most shade-tolerant indoor plants are considered to be aspidistra, chamedorea, philodendron, ivy, sansevieria, etc. They will easily occupy a bookshelf, be placed on a stand in the hallway or the far corner of the room, delighting the eye with beauty and comfort. The ideal location for them is a distance of 2 m from northern and 3 m from well-lit windows. However, it should be remembered that all shade-tolerant flowers tolerate shade differently. Some of them require temporary exposure to a bright place from time to time.

On a note

You can correctly distribute light using a mathematical expression: its intensity is proportional to the square of the distance from the window. This means that by placing flowers 1 m from the window opening, you will provide them with maximum light. At a distance of 2 m it is 4 times less, respectively at 3 m - 9 times.

Plants placed deep in the room need an additional light source. Maximum compliance with ultraviolet radiation will be provided by fluorescent fluorescent lamps, aquarium lamps, as well as mercury, sodium, and halogen lamps. In winter, all indoor flowers without exception require this.

How to choose a plant that requires minimal care

You are a big fan of flowers, but you are afraid to start growing green, blooming and fragrant beauty at home, since you spend most of your time at work and often go on business trips. In this case, too, there is a way out: opt for unpretentious indoor plants, among which there are indoor flowers for every taste: flowering, decorative foliage, bromeliads, fruit and berry and hanging flowers.

Let's take a closer look at the top most popular flowers that require minimal care:

Sansevieria, or mother-in-law's tail, loves dark as well as well-lit dry rooms. Only when the root system becomes crowded is it placed in a larger container. It does well without feeding with fertilizer. In winter it should not be disturbed at all.

Chlorophytum is an unpretentious, useful creature that is not afraid of drought or excessive moisture, shade or sun. But you won’t find a better green specimen capable of absorbing carbon monoxide.

Hoya carnosa, or wax ivy, is one of the flowering ampelous specimens that can survive without water for several months, receiving nutrition from thick glossy leaves. It may not be fed or replanted for a very long time. If you regularly pamper it with your attention, it will thank you with riotous color.

Nolina, or bocarnea, is a desert dweller with a bottle-like trunk. Its original appearance is often used by decorators when decorating interiors. To form the correct large base (caudex), the plant requires infrequent, abundant watering. It is enough to plant it in loose soil that is not rich in useful microelements and water it thoroughly once a month. An ideal option for people who are often forced to leave home for various reasons.

Kalanchoe is a healing plant, prefers infrequent watering, grows beautifully on south/north facing windows. There are many different hybrids that delight the eye with colorful paints.

–exotic thrives well in low-nutrient loose soil, in the shade and in the light. Experienced flower growers advise choosing soil for cacti/violets mixed with sand.

Spathiphyllum is a year-round flowering plant that tolerates lack of moisture very well. Does not accept frequent transplants. The only condition is a warm room, since it does not tolerate drafts.

Scindapsus is an ampelous species with round/heart-shaped green leaves with yellowish splashes. Well suited for landscaping walls. It rids the air of harmful substances, tolerates shade well, does not require much care and does not react to sudden temperature changes.

The list goes on and on. This category includes fern, calathea, philodendron,. Don’t forget: unpretentiousness does not mean a complete lack of care and watering. Each green creature, with attention to itself, will respond with good growth, lush flowering or rich greenery. Unpretentious flowers are an excellent start for beginners in floriculture.

What to look for when buying a plant

Often the acquisition of a green pet is the result of a spontaneous decision: I saw it, liked it, bought it. This is the wrong approach, since purchasing a plant should be balanced, organized, and systematic. The main guide to action is to treat the plant as a living pet, and not as an interior decoration. Comprehensively evaluate the characteristics of the flower, correlate it with the conditions that you can offer to your green friend.

Use the advice of experienced florists to help you make the right choice:

  • Place of sale

It is better to buy plants in specialized stores that offer a large selection of flowers and necessary accessories. The seller will give recommendations on growing and care, and recommend the best option.

  • Appearance

Decide where you will place the flower and choose a flower suitable for the window sill, floor, or winter garden.

  • Conditions of detention

Pay attention to temperature, air humidity, lighting level, and need for watering. Choose a plant that suits the conditions of its residence in your room.

  • Endurance

Decide for yourself how often you will devote time to indoor flowers and make your choice accordingly.

  • Condition of the plant at the time of purchase

Carry out a thorough inspection. Florists do not recommend buying flowering specimens during the period of active flowering. The leaves should be distributed evenly and not be limp, dried out, or unnatural in color.

We think that the suggested tips will be useful to you.

Popular wisdom says: “Like the gardener, so is the garden.” A very wise and accurate saying. Choose flower friends, skillfully combining personal preferences with the necessary living conditions.

Indoor plants decorate the house and make the life of a modern city dweller more joyful. And even if a city apartment is not always sunny and spacious. There are many - large and compact, bright and modest shade-loving, decorative deciduous and flowering - that can decorate any home, even a dark hallway. For example, those that do not need bright lighting.

In urban dwellings, there is often a shortage of well-lit, sunny places. Therefore, shade-loving ones are especially valued. Sciophytes - “shade plants” - is the name given to representatives of the flora that prefer shaded areas. They are also known as heliophobes - those afraid of the sun.

Bright light if not destructive, then definitely not useful. The ancestral home is the gloomy deciduous forests of various parts of the world. Under their canopy, the leaves acquire an exotic color; only here is flowering possible.

Many shade-tolerant inhabitants of the lower tiers of tropical and subtropical forests have settled in city apartments. And now the best place for them has become the northern and western home window sills, the shaded corners of the rooms, where only diffused light falls.

Among them are those that do not bloom or have very modest inflorescences, but have extremely decorative leaves of various colors. Others feature colorful flowers.

Some shade-loving plants are luxurious and large, many are graceful and airy, unpretentious plants. Each one needs proper placement and special tender, loving care.

Blooming

A small part of shade-loving plants can boast luxurious flowers. However, even among them there are spectacular species that can make up an exquisite collection.

Anthurium - a flower that prefers shade

For good health, this exotic plant needs partial shade from spring to autumn and diffused light in the cold season. Blooms from mid-spring to late summer. The inflorescence spadix is ​​framed by a bright “waxy” blanket.

Regular but not excessive watering, air humidification, and temperature control (constant temperature of about 15 degrees) are required.

Clivia

Good lighting is required, but indirect sunlight. Annual flowering will provide winter rest, during which the flower needs to be moved to a cool room (with a temperature below 12 degrees), watering should be reduced and fertilizing should be stopped. The rest of the time it should not be moved, replanted, or over-watered.


Occasionally you need to wipe the leaves with a damp soft cloth.

Bell-shaped red, yellow or orange flowers, collected in an inflorescence on a high peduncle, look bright and very impressive.

A striking representative of the “atmospheric” bromeliads. The 70 cm inflorescence with bright bracts makes it memorable. For luxurious flowering you need a stable temperature in the range of 19-28 degrees, and constant moistening of the rosette.


Sempolia or Uzambara violet

Although this flower needs enough light, does not tolerate direct sunlight well: burn spots appear on the leaves, their color fades, and there is no flowering. The best placement option is light partial shade, diffused light.


Violet is a very popular flower

Decorative foliage

The main advantage of decorative deciduous plants is spectacular coloring of their leaves. The flowers may be small and inconspicuous.

This plant of “strict lines” is called “mother-in-law’s tongue” and “pike tail” by amateur gardeners. Many varieties have been bred with different combinations of colors in the color of leathery leaves.

In partial shade the contrast of color spots becomes brighter. In favorable conditions it blooms, throwing out long “candles” of white and yellowish inflorescences.

Ferns - love dark places

Among the many types, you can choose for both home and office, large or compact types. For example, broad-leaved Asplenium or delicate thin-leaved Adiantum (Venus hair).

All of them prefers shade or partial shade, moist air and soil.


Crassula (money tree)

Does not tolerate shadows well, but feels comfortable in dim lighting. Abundant watering is not required.


Compact ampelous and dwarf species need partial shade, they bright light is contraindicated. Moderate watering, air humidification, and temperatures above 12 degrees are required.

It takes root well in a bright room, but at some distance from the window. Frequent spraying of leaves and maintaining a temperature of 12 to 20 degrees is required. Compact and large species have been bred.


Palm trees and large trees for home growing in partial shade

Such plants will decorate a spacious room, office or winter garden.

Dracaena

A tree-like plant with contrasting colors of narrow long leaves. Depending on the size, it grows from 70 cm to 3 m in height. To preserve decorativeness it is necessary sufficient but not bright lighting, moderate hydration.


Cordilina

Height from 0.5 to 2 meters. Often grown in tubs. It is distinguished not only by its varied color, but also by the shape of its leaves: they can be very narrow, long, lanceolate, or wide, round. Cordyline is often confused with dracaena.


Doesn't tolerate bright lighting at all. He loves “water procedures” - wiping and polishing leaves, spraying, abundant watering in summer and moderate watering in winter.


This name combines various species that have one feature: a single growth point at the top of the stem. Most palms grown indoors are love partial shade, abundant watering in summer and less intense in winter, humid air.

Everyone cannot stand drafts and transplants.


Climbing shade-tolerant

Climbing plants and vines are used to decorate walls and create three-dimensional compositions.

Does not tolerate direct sunlight and strong shade. Best Accommodation – in bright but diffuse light or in partial shade. Moisturizing is weak in winter, frequent and abundant in summer.

There are a huge number of species of this hanging plant with varied leaf colors. To preserve its decorativeness partial shade required or indirect bright light.


An excellent option for decorating large surfaces. There is plenty of imagination given by the variety of varieties - the leaves can be large leathery and small delicate, whole and dissected. It grows quickly, becomes attractive and decorates the room.


Features of shade-loving flowers

All shade-loving plants are characterized by properties that distinguish them from others:

  • decorative qualities are most clearly manifested, if the flower is located in the shade or partial shade most of the day;
  • under intense lighting, development is inhibited, growth slows down, leaf color fades, flowering may not occur; in direct sunlight, the plant may get burned;
  • need sufficient soil and air moisture;
  • it is necessary to observe the temperature regime;
  • usually shade-loving cannot tolerate frequent transplants.

Shade-loving plants are beautiful in their diversity. From them you can create exquisite, bright, stylish, light or respectable compositions that will become the main decoration of any room.

Every florist in his home has place with poor lighting that you want to decorate with indoor plants.

For this Shade-tolerant plants are perfect, which will happily settle on a bookshelf, a special stand in the hallway, or even on the floor away from the window, filling the house with beauty and comfort.

Features of shade-tolerant plants

Before acquiring shade-tolerant plants, you should consider that completely without light no plant can do without. Therefore, shade for hardy pets is considered to be a place at a distance of 2 meters from northern windows and 3 meters from well-lit windows.

Experienced gardeners recommend placing a shade-tolerant plant where you can easily read a newspaper during the day. You should also know that flowering plants in shady places often do not bloom and even grow poorly. Therefore choose for the far corners of the room Decorative foliage plants are recommended.

All shade-tolerant plants have varying degrees shade tolerance.

The most patient species can thrive on a distant shelf, while some other plants require occasional exposure to a bright spot. All this must be taken into account when choosing a plant for a poorly lit room.

The most popular shade-tolerant plants

Let's look at the ten most shade-tolerant plants for the home, their names:

  1. Aspidistra
  2. Hamedorea palm
  3. Aucuba japonica
  4. Philodendron climbing
  5. Epipremnum pinnate
  6. Sansevieria
  7. Palisota
  8. Alocasia
  9. Fittonia

Aspidistra

Aspidistra- one of the hardiest plants. It is resistant to cold, can go without water for a long time and grows well in the darkest corners.

For such commendable durability, the aspidistra is called "Iron Lady" And "cast iron flower".

The plant grows slowly - 5 leaves per year, but gradually grows to a large floor plant. very unpretentious. The plant reproduces by dividing the rhizomes during transplantation.

Hamedorea

Chamaedorea- an amazingly beautiful palm tree with airy feathery leaves. Despite its southern origin, the plant prefers to live in partial shade and does not tolerate bright sun.

B is not capricious, but very demanding. Main health condition and the beauty of chamedorea - warmth, daily spraying and regular rotation of its pot around its axis so that luxurious leaves grow in all directions.

If you plant several chamedoreas in one container, after a while you can get thick palm thickets.

Aucuba japonica

Japanese aucuba (Aucuba japonica)- a beautiful native of the Land of the Rising Sun, where she is called "golden tree" for unusual golden inclusions on green leaves.

Aucuba grows up to one and a half meters in height and can delight with its beauty for decades.

Plant loves shade very much, and in bright light it needs to be provided with partial shade. Aucuba prefers moderate humidity and watering and can easily tolerate sudden temperature changes.

By pruning the plant, you can create a lush bush of rare beauty. Aucuba propagates by seeds and cuttings.

The only drawback of aucuba is all its parts are poisonous. It should be looked after with great care.

Philodendron climbing

Philodendron scandens- an unusually beautiful perennial vine with heart-shaped tender leaves on stems reaching 2 m in length.

The plant easily adapts to various conditions and grows well on the north side. very simple and does not require special skills.

Feature of the plant is a set of aerial roots that develop in the axils of the leaves. With its roots, philodendron grows to any wet surface, forming absolutely amazing shapes from the stems.

Epipremnum pinnate

Epipremnum pinnatum- a very popular plant among gardeners. It is so easy to care for that it is sometimes called "indoor weed".

Epipremnum can often be seen as hanging plant with dense lush foliage.

Epipremnum easily tolerated dry air. It requires moderate watering and good feeding. It doesn’t hurt to occasionally wipe its leaves with a damp cloth. Epipremnum propagates by cuttings.

Ivy

Ivy (Hedera)- a spectacular evergreen vine, the lush greenery of which falls in decorative cascades. Surprisingly, the owner of such a noble appearance is not at all whimsical and can live even in the shadows.

The plant can adapt to almost any lighting, however should be considered that variegated varieties need light a little more than their monochromatic counterparts.

Ivy grows easily, producing very long shoots. It all comes down to the fact that you need to occasionally wipe its leaves with a damp cloth and replant them in a new container as they grow. It should be watered no more than twice a week. Besides, don't scare the plant drafts and temperature changes.

If there is a drawback to ivy, it is that the plant is poisonous- its juice causes skin irritation, so you need to wear rubber gloves when caring for the plant.

Sansevieria

Sansevieria, aka "mother-in-law's tongue", aka "pike tail"- This is an unusual plant, which is a bunch of beautiful leaves.

Sansevieria purifies the air from harmful substances emitted by furniture and artificial floor coverings, and, as is popularly believed, removes evil energy from home.

The unpretentious plant is not capricious when encountering drafts and dry air, and is also able to live both in the shade and in a sunny place. Moreover, the variegated forms of sansevieria are not afraid of direct sunlight.

Sansevieria is also interesting because it flowers open at night, fragrant and spreading around itself vanilla aroma. The plant needs to be watered rarely - only once every two weeks. Sansevieria does not suffer from dry air and easily tolerates 30-degree heat - it can even grow next to heating devices.

Palisota


Palisota
- a native of Africa, attracting attention with its large shiny leaves and red berries during the fruiting period.

The spectacular spreading bush is not at all demanding to care for. Palisota can thrive both in diffuse sunlight and in the shade.

The only difficulty is in care- this is the need to regularly spray the luxurious “hair” of green leaves. Palisota is often used to create beautiful flower arrangements.

Alocasia

Alocasia- a real queen of the tropics, capable of impressing even a seasoned gardener with the bright colors of the leaves. This spectacular plant has not yet gained the popularity it deserves, but is confidently moving towards it, winning the hearts of flower lovers with its exotic beauty and unpretentiousness.

Alocasia can grow in diffused light or partial shade. Interestingly, the tubers of some species of this plant eaten. And Chinese medicine uses alocasia as a component of medicines. There is only one thing that upsets me - alocasia is poisonous. Therefore, you need to be careful and place the plant away from children and animals.

Fittonia


Fittonia
- This is a plant of amazing beauty with leaves pierced with many light veins. Growing Fittonia is difficult, but possible. It really needs warm and humid conditions. But this plant can thrive in partial shade.

However, breeders are not asleep, creating new varieties of Fittonia that are not so demanding of air humidity. Primary requirements Fittonia - regular spraying and abundant watering in the summer.

The plant has many species with varied leaf colors. Composition of several fittonias in one pot - an unusually spectacular spectacle.

As you can see, even for a shaded corner of the house you can choose a suitable plant. And the choice is by no means limited - the huge variety of shade-tolerant plants includes not only the indoor flowers listed above, but also many others. All that remains is to make a choice according to your own taste - and in your house a new “green friend” will settle in.