If you are trying to put together the perfect sunroom then you are going to need to make sure that you have a great plant selection. The plants you choose for your sunroom will depend on exactly how much sunlight the room gets, how you will be arranging the plants, and if you like high maintenance or low maintenance plants.
9 Best Plants For A Sunroom
Hibiscus
Hibiscus plants are ideal for indoor growing and sunrooms because they prefer smaller containers. If you have to move the plants around to optimize the amount of sunlight they receive you will find that those smaller containers are quite convenient due to the plant weighing less than a lot of other plant options.
Hibiscus plants prefer having around 6 hours per day and like warm weather. However, if it becomes too hot you can give them some shade in the afternoon during the hottest weeks of the summer.
When the temperatures are cool the Hibiscus does not require as much water. However, when the Hibiscus is blooming it may require watering nearly every day. Still, it is important to not overwater the plant because overwatering the plant can kill it.
Begonias
Begonias are a popular type of houseplant that is grown both for its foliage and for its flowers. There are different types of Begonias that are popular so you need to make sure which type you have in order to understand the best way to care for it. While they are mostly similar, some small differences can impact the health of your plant.
Begonias enjoy mostly bright, but indirect light. If you are going to give them direct light then they should be placed where they can only receive early morning sunshine. That, or a spattering of sunshine through a treetop or other plants.
Watering is where owning Begonias becomes more difficult. They enjoy moist soil that drains well, however overwatering can kill your Begonias. They are also susceptible to a variety of problems such as fungi and root rot. Always water below the leaves at the base of the plant, and it’s better to water too infrequently than too often.
Boston Fern
Boston Ferns prefer cool places with indirect light. If you are going to keep a Boston Fern in your sunroom then the ideal location would be along an interior wall away from the windows where it will not receive any direct sunlight. In addition, they are great hangers, so you can get creative with where you put them.
As mentioned above, Boston Ferns prefer indirect light and shade. This means that you want to keep them on the interior of the room or along an interior wall where they can receive indirect light but will not be in the sunshine directly.
The watering requirements of a Boston Fern are probably the most specific of any of its care requirements. Boston Ferns thrive in humid conditions and need to be watered often. The container for a Boston Fern will have a lot of peat moss in it that should be soaked a few times per month. In addition, you should spray your Boston Fern and water its foliage on a routine basis.
Spider Plant
The Spider Plant is one of the most popular and easiest to grow houseplants available. Spider Plants are quite resilient and make a great choice for beginners. You would be surprised how much abuse a Spider Plant can sustain and still survive. They are also prolific in terms of propagation and the “spider babies” they produce.
Spider Plants enjoy bright, but indirect light very similar to the lighting conditions required by the Boston Fern. This makes them ideal for the interior of the room, away from windows and perhaps even along an interior wall. They are also popular plants for hanging which gives you some creative options for locating them.
Spider Plants prefer well-drained soil but like to be watered well. You should actually let a Spider Plant begin to dry out between waterings to make sure that they do not become too soggy. If your Spider Plant stays too soggy between waterings it can lead to root rot.
African Violets
African Violets produce beautiful flowers and foliage, however, a lot of people shy away from growing them at home due to the fact the plants can be so finicky. There are a lot of specific requirements that must be met to keep your African Violet healthy and thriving. These requirements apply to positioning, lighting, watering, and fertilizer.
African Violets should receive approximately 8 hours of light per day and should be positioned in such a way that they can receive that light while also receiving some of it as just a spattering. However, the darker your foliage, the more direct light the plant can receive. It is also important to rotate your plant’s container so that it does not reach for light.
The water should sit for 24-48 hours before watering your African Violet. This allows the chlorine to dissipate while letting the temperature of the water rise to more closely match that of your plant. You do not want to leave your African Violet in standing water, however, you never want to let it dry out. The soil should always be a varying degree of moist. In addition, never get water on the foliage or the flowers. Always gently water at the base, careful not to splash the plant.
Succulents
There are a lot of different types of Succulents that have a wide variety of requirements in terms of how much light and how much water they receive. So you want to begin by choosing a variety that best fits the needs for growing indoors and how much, and what quality of light they will be getting in the zone you live.
Succulents growing indoors should be positioned in front of the window that is going to provide them with the most light possible. They should get several hours of bright light every day and if you can not provide them with that, you may need to supplement with artificial light.
Succulents like to dry out between waterings. Most people implement the “soak and dry” method when it comes to watering their Succulents. They need to be able to drain so that the roots can dry out quickly, then you soak the roots with water and wait. Once the roots have dried out completely and were allowed to remain dry for a few days, they are ready to be soaked again.
Peace Lily
Peace Lilies can be great plants because they are a bit easier to take care of than some of the other flowering plants on this list. They are also popular because they are said to be one of the best plants for cleaning the air in your home. They can get rather wide and tall for houseplants, roughly 2-3 feet both tall and wide. In addition, they usually sit in larger containers on the floor rather than hanging or on stands.
Peace Lilies enjoy moderate indirect sunlight the most, and should never be left in direct sunlight during the summer months. The hot sun can burn the leaves of the Peace Lily if left unchecked. In general, Peace Lilies should be left near North or East facing windows.
Keep your Peace Lily container evenly moist, watering along the outside edges of the container. It is appropriate to let the very top of the soil dry between waterings, but underneath the soil should always remain moist. In addition, let the water sit out for 24-48 hours before watering so that chemicals in the water have time to dissipate.
Passion Flower
Passion Flowers are known for being difficult to grow, and there are a number of varieties to choose from. They can have prolific growth and will try to attach themselves to other plants, wires, and structures. Pruning is mandatory with Passion Flowers if you want to grow them indoors or in containers.
Passion Flowers require full sun, and depending on the zone you live in if the summers get hot, the Passion Flower may require some shade in the afternoon.
Passion Flowers like to be well watered and enjoy having moist soil at all times.
Cacti
I know what you are thinking, “Didn’t we already cover succulents?”. Well, yes, we did. However, not all succulents are Cacti, and while most Cacti are succulents, not all of them are. So they are all very much similar but sometimes different. Now that is out of the way, Cacti can make great low-maintenance plants to fill out your sunroom.
Cacti love sunlight, depending on the variety. In general, it is safe to assume your Cacti will enjoy getting as much light as possible, however, make sure that the Cacti have been hardened off and are able to survive in that sunlight. If you let your Cactus sit around out of the sunlight for a long time and then suddenly put it back, it may damage it.
During the spring and summer months, you can water your Cactus whenever it begins to dry and it won’t be an issue. However, during the winter months you should rarely water your Cactus. If you water them too much during the fall and winter months the plant can begin to rot.
Benefits of Sunrooms
Here are some of the benefits of sunrooms:
- Avoid seasonal depression
- Get more vitamin D
- Boost your mood
- Reduce stress
Pros and Cons of Sunrooms
Pros of Sunrooms
- Increased home value
- Health benefits
- Hobby area
- Natural light reduces heating cost
Cons of Sunrooms
- Source of pests or insects
- Plant upkeep, care and maintenance
- Hard to keep cool in the Summer
- Can be expensive
Tips For Caring For Sunroom Plants
Here are some tips to keep your sunroom running well.
- Check for pests. Routinely check for pests to keep any problems under control.
- Maintain airflow. Get a ceiling fan or an osciliating fan for your sunroom to cycle air.
- Get a plant humidifier. You will find most plants like a humid environment.
- Setup a watering station. You will want an area to store water for your plants.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having a sunroom comes with many benefits and you have a wide variety of plants to choose from. If you want a low-maintenance sunroom you can line the windows with succulents and cacti, and then get ferns and spider plants for the interior of the room.
However, if you have more time to invest in your sunroom, you can get more exotic and picky flowering plants that will take a little bit more dedication to keep healthy.
No matter what setup you choose, I feel like the health benefits of having a sunroom are well worth it.
