House Plant Recommendation
Wolfsheadish
Posts: 10,400 Forum Member
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Can someone please recommend a house plant that needs little sunlight? I have a north-facing room that needs some greenery but it gets little sunlight, especially in the summer time. Thank you! 
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Most ferns would also do well, they like those conditions too.
Do what the victorians did, you need an aspidistra.
These are the perfect plant for a dark room, but they dont come cheap.
As a general rule, the darker green the plant leaf, the less sunlight they need.
Just need cooled boiled water to water them.
No, you need rainwater.
Very different to boiled tapwater
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=aspidistra+plant&_dcat=1510&Item%2520Subtype=House%2520Plants&rt=nc
However, the cheaper ones are pretty spindly things and would probably take several years to grow into decent plants. According to one website: "The most discouraging aspect to aspidistras is their frustratingly slow rate of growth. They can take many years to achieve an appreciable size."
The one at £5 in Aylesbury (for collection only) looks like a pretty good plant, but I suspect it'll end up at a higher price.
I'm a bit tempted by aspidistras, but I can't decide whether they're attractive or deadly dull, because I don't think I've ever seen an actual plant but only pictures.
LOL I will tell our orchids to stop blooming then, we have some nearly 10 years old bloom for months every year. So can't be doing anything too bad with our boiled tap water.
They are very much worth the time and effort - they are the classic "dark room" houseplant and have always been a talking point.
I think everyone has heard of "aspidistra" but never seen one.
Peace Lillies are ok, but they are not as substantial or architecturally interesting as an aspi.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aspidistra-plant-/161050257104?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item257f57e6d0&nma=true&si=tNyibdedUP1PfEznBVdN1pfRsXg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
I agree that aspidistras are awesome
You can even get aspidistra flowers, which - "poke out of the ground and stay at soil level, this is because they are pollinated by slugs and snails out in their natural habitat!"
http://the-plant-directory.co.uk/house-plants/house-plants/aspidistra-elatior-cast-iron-plant-in-13cm-pot
It arrived on Tuesday and is fine — pretty much like what's shown in the picture but with a few more leaves. It's just a bit on the sparse side at the moment, though, and should look better in a year or two.
If it ever does produce flowers, I hope they don't get pollinated, because I don't much want slugs and snails in the house!
It's certainly a hard plant to get hold of! Mine came from a family run place local to my area, and I haven't seen it in any shops since. I have a book with a photo actually and it only has 4 leaves, but it looks really elegant because of the way the leaves fold. It looks symmetrical if that makes sense.
Hi Wolfsheadish, I just re-read your help request! I'm thinking now an Aspidistra might not be so good for a window setting after all as they can get quite big!
I once grew a Kris Plant in a north-facing window, you can get those for a fiver from Homebase and they grow quite fast.
You could also look at Moth Orchids if you want some colour. They dislike direct sun light too so a north-facing aspect should be ideal as long as the room is warmish. These are usually about £10 and you can get them anywhere these days.
Good luck