We have a little oblong container, a sunny-ish window, want to plant some seeds and see something grow . We planted some kind of vine last year (Mexican gherkins, which took right off and climbed up, clinging to the blinds, making a shade all on its own). Something a bit showy would be nice, not just 4" plants in a row, a vine? from seed?
If you want something to climb all over the window, a sweet potato will probably work. (You won’t get sweet potatoes, but you can get a whole lot of vine.) If it’s a really small container, there might not be enough soil to support good growth, though.
If you want something you can eat and that’ll smell nice if you brush against it, a lot of herbs will grow pretty well in a sunny window. You can even get kits – while there’ll be a stage at which they’re 4" plants (most will grow bigger), a lot of the kits contain several different herbs, so there’s some variety; though again, if it’s a very small container, there won’t be room for much.
If you want blooms, that might be trickier, as the light coming through a window on its own often isn’t enough to produce good bloom. Somebody who knows a lot more about ornamentals than I do might well have suggestions, however. – some petunias will bloom inside a window, I’m pretty sure.
Christmas cactus (or Thanksgiving cactus or Easter cactus). Our t-day cactus is in riotous bloom right now.
A window location with unobstructed southern exposure makes it possible to grow lots of attractive ornamental plants. Just a few suggestions:
- Euphorbia milii (a.k.a crown of thorns). Many varieties can flower almost continuously, in shades of red, pink, yellow and white. There are dwarf varieties that will stay under a foot tall. The ‘Thai’ hybrids eventually get large but have the biggest flowers, to two inches in diameter. Pretty much foolproof. Safest to let the soil almost completely dry out between waterings.
- Many cacti and succulents. For a thrill, grow Stapelia gigantea (huge star-shaped flowers that smell of carrion, but this is mostly noticeable only if you stick your nose into the blooms).
- Wax begonias (B. semperflorens) provide color over a very long period.
- Fruiting plants. Ponderosa lemon has scented flowers and huge fruits even on small plants. Dwarf pomegranate has attractive flowers and small edible fruits.
- Coleus. Many modern varieties do well in full sun. Easy.
- Exacum affine. Compact plant loaded with blue or white flowers, grow from seed.
- Many annuals including Lobelia, Browallia, Cuphea (cigar plant), geraniums (dwarf varieties are best) and Thunbergia will do well in a sunny window.
Have fun.
What great suggestions, thank you!
what kind of plants do you like? are you more prone to under-water a plant, or over-water it?
I love a pothos, myself
I have an African violet that loves its southern exposure window - I’ve had it for about 10 years now. It requires little care - just water when the soil dries out and repot when the leaves reach out farther than the edge of the current pot. I also fertilize about once a year. Mine blooms pretty much continuously, and the flowers are very attractive - light purple and sparkly, almost like they have a dusting of tiny glitter on them.
I like to grow rosemary as a potted plant. It’s unusual without being weird, it smells nice, and you can cook with it.
I’ll second Crown of Thorns. You can take cuttings, root them, and give as gifts also.