A British paper alleged that the Dutch were too poor to afford curtains, therefore they crowded their windowsills with plants, but this is not true.
The book Flowering House Plants by Mineke Kurpershoek (1997) provides an interesting illustrative combination of house plants for various windowsills, with information on the origins of the plant, a description, and how to care for it.
Referring back to the allegation about the Dutch made by the British paper, Kurpershoek states that "house plants have always been an important part of Dutch interior design, and now they have become just as popular in Britain."
Although the trite and tested combinations such as "azaleas, cyclamen, primulas and begonias" are wonderful additions to a home, says Kurpershoek, "the selection is much wider than this." The book offers advice on caring for house plants "and the best effect on north, south, east and west-facing windowsills."
North-Facing Windowsill
According to Kurpershoek (1997: 54), plants that enjoy a lot of light, but not direct sun would do well in a north-facing window. "In the wild many of these plants grow under trees or bushes or on the fringes of a tropical rainforest," says Kurpershoek.
Some of the plants identified for this type of windowsill by Kurpershoek (1997) include the Arthurium (painter's palette and flamingo flower), and the Clivia (or boldly called the Kaffir Lily).
Arthuriums are vibrant plants that flower for months on end; found in bright red, orange, pink and white with red spots, they are suited to warm surroundings with relative humidity, says Kurpershoek. The Kaffir lily is a glossy evergreen plant that can tolerate dry air, but it requires a cool environment and minimal water from October onwards.
A Windowsill Facing East or West
Windows facing due east or west receive limited sunlight throughout the day; however, since more light penetrates through raising temperatures closer to sunset, there are various plants that can tolerate these conditions, states Kurpershoek.
The Saintpaulia (African violet) and Abutilon are among the plants mentioned by Kurpershoek that would thrive in a window facing east or west. Originating from Tanzania, the African violet is an "easy house plant with attractive violet-shaped flowers that come in a range of colours," says Kurpershoek. "The white, yellow, orange or red weeping lantern-shaped flowers... that hang decoratively" called the Abutilon is a Central and South American plant species.
Kept in a warm place, the Abutilon needs a lot of water and "would appreciate a spell outside in the summer," suggests Kurpershoek. On the other hand, the African violet can tolerate warmth, but it requires moist compost and feeding once a month with plant fertilizer.
South Facing Windowsill
A window facing south can be challenging as "very few plants can take exposure to full sun all day long," says Kurpershoek. It is important to find out if the plants selected require some protection to the sun, humidity and hot weather, explains Kurpershoek.
The tropical South American plant, Pachystachys (lollipop plant) is one of the plants selected by Kurpershoek for a south facing window. There are two varieties available in the shops - the "Pachystachys lutea, with yellow bracts and small white flowers - and P. coccinea, with green bracts and red flowers," says Kurpershoek.
They require a lot of water in summer and occasional feeding with house plant fertilizer, however, it is important to remember that the plant likes high humidity, advises Kurpershoek.
Flowering house plants can turn a drab house or apartment into a vibrant setting... maybe it's time to choose house plants among these firm favourites.
Further Details:
Flowering House Plants, Mineke Kurpershoek. Rebo Productions, 1997. Photographer: Nico Vermeulen. ISBN: 1901094642 9781901094640
*also published on suite101.com