Finding plants for your windowsill has never been easier! Even if you have a small space, adding greenery won’t take up much space and improves your mood and air quality. No matter your style, you can choose a plant that works with your aesthetics while improving your well-being.
Selecting the Right Plants for the Windowsill
First, evaluate the space in which you’re planning to place a plant. Consider the amount of sun it will receive in all seasons, the temperature of that spot, and the amount of space available. Selecting a plant that will thrive in that location can be the difference between enjoying the plant’s benefits and getting frustrated as it slowly withers.
Next, ask yourself what type of maintenance you are likely to provide. Do you often travel for two weeks at a time without anyone tending your home? Are you a doting or forgetful person prone to extra watering? Plants require different maintenance, so choosing one that fits your personality and lifestyle is best.
Lastly, consider the aesthetics of your space. Do you enjoy wall hangings and want a vining plant to match? Perhaps bright colors are your style, so a flowering plant would fit perfectly. If you have a Southwest-style home, succulents would be cohesive with your decor.
Top Plants for Small Windowsills
Succulents and Cacti
Succulents and cacti are a great option. Their slow growth means that they won’t overtake your space and can remain on your window sill. Succulents (which include cacti) have low water requirements, which makes them great if you’re prone to forgetfulness or travel frequently. Many succulents are happy to be watered once a week or once a month, depending on the plant, substrate, and season. Succulent plants come in a variety of shapes and sizes–from small and compact Haworthia to trailing burro’s tail sedum.
Herbs
Many herbs thrive indoors and in small spaces. They also provide pleasant aromas and can be used in cooking. Fresh basil, cilantro, parsley, and dill are simple to grow from seed and can be used fresh or dried. Most herbs naturally have compact growth, so they won’t take over your indoor space. Sage and rosemary are two of my favourites, and do well in high-sun spaces. If your climate permits it, you can move your plants outdoors seasonally, which typically increases growth.
See our Houseplants with Benefits / Apartment Homesteading article here for more tips and ideas about growing herbs in your small space.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plants are beginner-friendly plants with air-purifying qualities. They’re easy to care for as they don’t need a lot of water and aren’t too choosy with their light requirements. They come in all-green and variegated varieties. One of their notable attributes is their unique way of reproducing: they send out long shoots with tiny clones. These can be removed and rooted to expand your collection or shared as a gift.
Hoya
There are many species of Hoya plant, and most do well indoors. They are semi-succulent epiphytic plants (naturally grow on trees or other plants rather than the ground) that grow vines and have flower clusters similar to that of milkweed. Hoya carnosa may be familiar, as they were popular several decades ago and are easily propagated by cuttings. I have one that originally belonged to my great-grandmother and is still going strong. They like to be rootbound and survive a long time without fertilizer. Different species have their own leaf shape and flower colors but follow the same growth pattern.
Philodendron
Philodendron plants also come in numerous species with differing looks and growth patterns. Philodendron cordatum is a vining species that can tolerate low light and will visibly let you know when it needs water. They grow relatively quickly and can be trained up a trellis or your wall if you’d like a cascading look to your green space. Other Philodendron species have more of an upright growth pattern with leaves that can come in red, pink, orange, or variegated. They prefer humidity but do well in most homes.
Orchids
While they have a reputation for being finicky, many orchids are actually quite suitable for windowsills, especially those with indirect light. They require a bit more attention to watering and humidity levels but can reward you with stunning blooms.
African Violets
These are great for windowsills that receive moderate to bright indirect light. African violets prefer consistently moist soil and high humidity, but they don’t like direct sunlight, making them perfect for an indoor setting where light can be controlled.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
While it prefers bright, indirect light, it can tolerate lower light levels, making it versatile for different apartment windows. It also helps clean the air and can bloom beautiful white flowers even with minimal light.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
This vining plant is incredibly easy to care for, thriving in low light and requiring only occasional watering. Its trailing vines can add a beautiful cascade of greenery to any space. Pothos are poisonous to pets, so they may not be a good choice if you have curious pets.
Aloe Vera
Besides being useful for burns and skin care, aloe vera is a hardy succulent that thrives in bright, direct sunlight and requires watering only when the soil is completely dry.
Dwarf Citrus Trees
These miniature trees are specifically bred to thrive in containers, making them ideal for indoor environments like apartments. They require a bright, sunny spot—preferably a south-facing windowsill where they can get at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. With proper watering, humidity, and occasional fertilization, dwarf citrus trees can produce fragrant flowers and edible fruit.
However, patience is necessary, as the trees may take a few years to mature and bear fruit. Proper pruning will also help maintain their size and encourage fruit production.
Tips for Successful Windowsill Gardening in Small Spaces
Just like any plant care, proper potting and drainage is key to a happy plant. Pots should always be well-draining. There are many types of self-watering pots or glass bulbs to consider if you need to extend the time between watering. The substrate you choose will depend on the plant and your watering habits.
Look up your plant’s light requirements and know the signs of sunburn. Consider a sheer window covering if you have a hot southern exposure window with plants that prefer lower light. If you primarily have succulents, you’ll want to keep them in the brightest window. If you live in a cold climate, make sure your plants are far enough away from the window that they won’t get damaged from the cold during winter.
Pruning and Care for Your Plants for the Windowsill
Most plants will thrive if you provide light, water, and appropriately timed fertilizer. However, your personal aesthetics and space can lead you to pruning and other maintenance. It never hurts to remove dead leaves or spent flowers. Pruning vining plants tends to prompt the plant to grow bushier rather than longer. If you are topped out on space and don’t want your plant to get any larger, you can remove up to ⅓ of a plant’s roots each year and repot into the same pot to maintain the size. This causes the plant to put energy into regrowing roots rather than growing more leaves, vines, or branches.
One way to save space and enjoy a variety of plants is to grow them in the same pot as one another. This can also make a really cute display. Make sure you select plants with the same light and water requirements. Planting succulents together is a pretty safe bet.
Creative Display Ideas for Small Windowsills
As my plant collection has grown (both in terms of the number of plants and their size), I’ve gotten creative in making more space in my southern-facing window. I’ve built floating shelves, bought hanging planters hung on a towel rod, and made simple macrame-style plant hangers out of twine. Tiered plant stands, and those that double as storage solutions are another great option and come in any style you might be looking for. You can read more about vertical gardens here or our desktop garden article here.
Mini gardens and terrariums are another fun way to have green space that doubles as decoration. Terrariums are enclosed systems that are great for humidity-loving plants. If perfectly balanced, you can introduce plants, moisture, and even insects and then seal the container while it maintains itself in symbiosis for, potentially, years to come.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Plants are resilient, but some can be fussier than others. Knowing your individual plant’s needs and the signs of distress helps find a solution before it’s too late. Common issues include watering problems, pests and diseases, and lighting issues.
Watering Your Plants for the Windowsill
Understanding your plant’s water needs is critical. I find it helpful to know where the plant originally grew and try to imitate that environment as much as possible. It’s a common belief that since cacti and succulents have low water needs, you should only water a small amount.
However, these plants typically come from deserts, where it rains hard and then has drought-like conditions. So you want to water thoroughly but ensure the soil dries out quickly. If you overwater, your plant may suffer from root rot. Once the roots are rotting, the plant won’t be able to absorb water and nutrients and often start shriveling up. Unfortunately, this can lead you to water even more frequently since the plant looks thirsty.
Pest and Disease Challenges
Just like any living organism, plants can suffer from pests or diseases. Fortunately, treatment is usually possible. When plants are healthy, they are often able to fend off pests and recover from common diseases on their own. Spider mites, thrips, mealy bugs, and aphids are common pests that you might find. You can eradicate them with an alcohol spray, neem oil, a systemic insecticide, or predatory bugs such as ladybugs. Identifying the problem is the first step. Then, quarantine the plant and do some online research on how best to treat the problem.
Lighting for Your Windowsill Plants
Lighting challenges are also common, especially if you live somewhere with vastly differing seasonal sunlight. Plants will typically push out smaller leaves, become more “leggy” as they reach for the sun, or grow darker leaves to increase the chlorophyll to convert sunlight to energy. Adding a grow light, particularly in winter, may be appreciated by your plants.
Plants can bring joy and brightness to your space. Like any living being, they need some time to adapt and prefer not to have major changes during times of stress (for instance, avoid repotting if your plant is recovering from sunburn). Don’t be too hard on yourself if you lose a plant occasionally! Each one is an opportunity to learn and think about how you can adjust your future behavior or try a different plant.
Links to More Plant Articles
The Growing Trend of Micro Homesteading
Desktop Garden – Guide & Informational Review
