I too have grown blooming plants in my North window....even a hoya but I admit they grow better elsewhere. My North window is not obstructed at all, and normally the shades are wide open, so it is possible. I think pothos would be a great one, mine doesnt seem to lose its variegation, I have all three types and they all thrived in a north window. I actually moved my Marble Queen to higher light, and found it is going yellow, since I have moved it back to the north window, it is getting the white back......weird eh?? The other option is depending on where your window is, take a look and see if there are any light bulbs close enough to change to a florescent bulb......I do this is my dining room so my plants can get light even in the winter, it gets dark here so early, so they need the etra light. I have had african violets bloom in a north window too, so if you like flowers, that might be an option. Hope this helps a bit!! Tracy

I love when people can narrow things down ahead of time. You have no idea how many people come in the greenhouse looking for a plant and don't volunteer stuff like what direction the window faces or how big it is or whether it's obstructed. And almost nobody knows whether they kill by overwatering or underwatering. Sassafras_springs, please come shop at my store. The obvious choices, the first and second ones I thought of, were heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) and pothos (Epipremnum aureum). Both viners, both tough, both willing to miss the occasional watering, and both are now available in a few different color versions. I'm especially fond of Philodendron hederaceum micans (though as someone has posted elsewhere on GW, it's a slow grower, and thirsty) and Philodendron hederaceum 'Lemon-Lime.' People like 'Brasil,' too, though it's rumored to be fussy, by Philodendron standards. Pothos and I have been having some issues lately (I repotted one plant and it immediately rotted out on me, and the other one is dropping leaves because it thinks it's too dry, all of a sudden), but I still really like Epipremnum aureum 'Neon,' which is bright yellow. They're all nice, though. Other possibilities: Asparagus sprengeri (asparagus fern) -- though you may not want to pick leaves out of your freshly-washed clothes, so never mind. Chlorophytum comosum (spider plant) -- these do well pretty much anywhere, but should be good in that spot in particular. Cissus rhombifolia (grape ivy) -- I've become a fan of this one lately, especially the 'Ellen Danica' cultivar (sometimes called "oakleaf ivy"). Better for a cooler room than a warmer one, and they're not as tolerant about missing waterings as the others, but they're pretty, and not something everybody else has, at least not yet. Check for spider mites before buying, and on a regular basis after buying. Ficus pumila (creeping fig) -- haven't had this one personally, and only know it from work. Ours don't seem to be hugely tolerant of drought, but it's hard to say. We don't have very many, and they don't sell well, so we don't give them a lot of attention. Or at least, I don't. Hoya carnosa -- should do quite well, though an east or west window might be better, and I wouldn't hold my breath for flowers. Still, they're nice plants. Check for mealybugs before you buy: they're very tasty plants, apparently. There are trailing species of Peperomia that I think would do well in that location, though I'm drawing a blank on anything specific. They (as a rule) like humidity and drying out between watering, so you should be compatible. Platycerium bifurcatum (staghorn fern) -- People seem to have wildly different experiences with these, and I don't know how they might work for you, but it's an outside possibility. Plectranthus nummularis (Swedish ivy) -- would prefer more light and cooler temperatures, but it would grow in that spot. Syngonium podophyllum (arrowhead plant) -- easy to grow and would be happy in that location. They're also a really good choice for hydroculture, if you want to take the guesswork out of when to water entirely.

I have just one rhizomatous - a 'Tiger Kitten' and its in a west window, but its in filtered sunlight (a tree dapples the sunlight it gets). I feel it would burn quickly if it were in direct sunlight for more than an hour or so a day. Its on a pebble tray and seems perfectly happy. It has gotten several new leaves since I got it about nine months ago. Really pretty little plant! Randi

I don't grow Hoya fraterna but I do grow the very similar Hoya coriacea, both species seem to develop yellow leaves easily. I have noticed that my plant needs to be watered quite often, as a cutting if it were stressed at all the leaves will yellow although none have ever dropped. I can only think of two approaches I would take if it were my plant. One is that there is a problem with the roots from under or over watering. The other would be that the plant is lacking a certain nutrient, I would try 1 Tbsp of Epsom salts per gallon of water to try to green the leaves up again. Also this species can grow in very bright light so maybe it is sulking because it is not getting enough light. I have my Hoya coriacea in a south facing window with very little shading and it grows well there. Mike Here is a link that might be useful: Epsom Salts and Chlorophyll