8 Best Plants for Your Sunroom
One of the best ways to maximize all the natural light in your sunroom is by decorating with indoor plants. Aside from looking beautiful, houseplants have many health benefits, such as improving air quality, reducing stress, and supporting cognitive health, amongst many others.
However, you may think you’re out of luck if you don’t have a green thumb. Well, we’re happy to say there are many sunroom plants you can easily care for, even with the busiest of schedules or lack of gardening experience.
So let’s get into the eight best plants for your sunroom!
1. African Violet
African violets are excellent for four-season sunrooms. They grow better in an indoor garden than outside, as they don’t like fighting for water or soil nutrients.
They also grow best at room temperature. Thus, the African violet will thrive if you control your sunroom temperature year-round.
African violet care includes providing bright but indirect sunlight and a humid environment. However, refrain from misting these plants as they don’t like to have wet leaves. Instead, it’s best to water African violets from a saucer. Just ensure they don’t sit in the water for a prolonged period.
2. Ivy
Because it loves bright light, ivy grows exceptionally well in sunrooms and patio enclosures. If ivy doesn’t get enough direct sunlight, the leaves will droop and be at risk of decay from pests. But all you need to do is keep it in a place with plenty of light – and a sunroom with floor-to-ceiling windows is a great option!
Additionally, ivy doesn’t require much watering. The topsoil should be dry to the touch before watering it again. Too much water will cause the roots to rot.
If you like the flowing feel of ivy, you can also incorporate string of pearls plants (Senecio rowleyanus) into your sunroom design. The strands of green pearls cascading down from a hanging plant are delightful. Unlike ivy, string of pearls plants like bright but indirect light. You also need to keep the soil moist, although not too wet. Watering every week or two is ideal.
3. Indoor Trees
If you have the space, indoor trees are a great addition to glass enclosures. Aside from requiring ample natural light and well-drained soil to prevent rotting, they are easy to care for. Simply mix the following in the pot for the best results:
- Perlite
- Potting soil
- Sand
There are many varieties of indoor trees to choose from, so bear in mind that they all have different temperature, humidity, and watering requirements. Your local florist or gardener can help provide growing directions for the indoor tree you choose.
4. Flowering Plants
To add pops of color to your sunroom, grow flowering plants. Some beautiful examples include:
- Begonias
- Hibiscus Flower
- Jasmine
- Lilies
- Orchids
- Passion Flower
While these are all good plants for your sunroom, each one may have slightly different requirements. For instance, hibiscus plants need plenty of sunlight throughout the day, or they will die. They also need a lot of water. The soil should always be a little damp.
On the other hand, begonias require acidic soil, so you need to use pH test strips to ensure the water is acidic enough for the plant. In addition, orchids thrive in high humidity, so many keep this plant in the bathroom. Therefore, it blooms well in humid three-season rooms.
5. Low-Light Plants
If you want to know how to decorate a small sunroom on a budget, consider including low-light plants. As the name suggests, these plants don’t need constant sunlight. So while they will thrive in a well-lit room, they will also do well with minimal light exposure.
Some good examples of low-light plants are:
- African Milk Tree
- Boston Ferns
- Money Tree
- Peace Lily
- Pothos
- Spider Plant
- ZZ Plant
As with indoor trees and flowering plants, their requirements will vary because there are many low-light plants. However, most need well-draining soil.
6. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most popular succulents because of its health benefits. Most known for its ability to treat skin injuries, from sunburns to open wounds, many also consume aloe vera gel because it contains the following:
- Amino acids
- Antioxidants
- Minerals
- Vitamins
Keep your aloe vera plant in a bright, sunny spot. Without enough sunlight, it can go dormant and stop growing. You also need to water the plant about every two weeks heavily. Then, when the soil dries out, water it again.
In addition to aloe vera, another great succulent to include is Christmas Cactus. It, too, doesn’t require a frequent watering schedule. However, Christmas Cactus grows best in bright, indirect sunlight. Too much light can burn the foliage.
7. Snake Plant
The snake plant is a tropical plant native to West Africa. But today, it’s one of the most common plants in living spaces worldwide. This is because it’s low-maintenance, and the sword-like leaves are nearly indestructible. This plant can survive in full sun or low-light conditions, although direct light in the morning will help improve growth.
Importantly, snake plant is toxic to cats and dogs, so don’t include this in your sunroom if you have pets.
8. Birds of Paradise
If you want your sunroom to feel like a jungle, even in the cooler and breezier Tampa winter months, Birds of Paradise are a must!
Few plants are as lush and leafy as this one. Not to mention, the incredible flowers that bloom will leave you feeling in awe. In fact, the name Birds of Paradise comes from the idea that you’ll hear the birds sing from the South African forest as the flowers bloom; that’s how spectacular they are!
While they will survive in average humidity, higher humidity levels are best. Misting the greenery can help create more humidity.
Make Your Sunroom Beautiful With Lifestyle Remodeling
While these are some of the best plants for your sunroom, there are still dozens more to explore. Many different plant species thrive in Tampa weather year-round.
If reading this article made you wish you had a sunroom, why not build one in your home? You can get a free quote from our team at Lifestyle Remodeling today and learn about your sunroom options!
