Top 10 Plants for East-Facing Windows (with Pictures)

When people come to our nurseries to buy indoor plants, we always ask them a few questions so that we can suggest plants that are suitable for their indoor setting. Of importance to note is that not all windows receive the same quality and amount of light throughout the day.

For example, East-facing windows receive direct sunshine in the morning and indirect light throughout the rest of the day. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, we recommend plants that prefer bright indirect light for East-facing windows.

Some of the best indoor plants for east-facing windows are the heartleaf philodendron, moth orchid, Japanese fatsia, fiddle leaf fig, hoya plant, calathea, umbrella tree, dracaena fragrans, Boston fern, and parlor palm. These plants prefer bright direct morning sun and indirect light all afternoon.

How many hours of light do east-facing windows receive?

East-facing windows receive around 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight in the morning. However, as the day progresses, it will receive indirect sunlight, less intense than the direct morning sunlight but still provides adequate light for your plants.

Remember to keep your plants a few feet away from the window that’s receiving direct sunlight to prevent the sun from scorching your plant’s leaves.

Best Indoor Plants for East-facing Windows

Here are some of the best west-facing window plants to grow:

1. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)

Heartleaf philodendron is a popular houseplant native to Central and South American tropical rainforests. As the name implies, this plant has heart-shaped leaves that are normally dark green. However, other species have variegated green, yellow, or white leaf patterns.

It is a low-maintenance plant that prefers bright, indirect light, making it an ideal choice for east-facing windows. It can also withstand reduced light levels but may result in slower growth and yellowing in philodendron leaves.

Here are the growing requirements for heartleaf philodendrons:

Soil-type	Pot using well-draining soil with acidic to neutral pH.
Humidity	Moderate humidity, about 40%.
Temperature	Ideal temperatures are between 60 and 75°F.
Watering	Water slightly once every two weeks.

2. Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp)

It is a popular flowering houseplant native to Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands. It is highly prized for its beautiful, showy blooms in various colors, including white, pink, purple, and yellow. 

The plant prefers indirect light and can tolerate up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily. However, it’s essential to avoid exposing them to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day cause it might scorch their leaves. 

Additional growing requirements for moth orchids include

Pruning	Prune regularly to remove old blooms and dead leaves.
Humidity	Moderate to high humidity levels of 50% to 70%.
Temperature	Maintain temperatures of between 60 and 85°F.
Watering	Water orchids once every 7 days when they appear thirsty.
Fertilizer	Nourish with quarter-strength fertilizer once a week, Then reduce when the orchid blooms.

3. Youth on Age (Tolmiea menziesii)

Youth on age, also known as the piggyback plant, is a common indoor plant that thrives in a cool and indirect sun-lit location. I recommend placing it less than 3 feet from an east-facing window to encourage it to grow healthy.

It derives its common name from the sprouts that grow on top of the present leaves.

Tolmiea menziesii is a relatively easy plant to care for, making it a popular choice for beginners. It prefers bright, indirect sunlight for about 8 hours.

Growing requirements for youth on age include

Temperature	Average temperatures of between 60 and 85°F.
Watering	Water only when the top inch of soil is dry.
Fertilizer	Feed the plant every 2-4 weeks with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.

4. Japanese Fatsia (Fatsia Japonica)

Japanese Fatsia, also known as Fatsia japonica, is a tropical evergreen shrub native to Japan and Korea. It is a popular houseplant and garden plant due to its attractive foliage and easy care requirements.

The plant requires about 6 hours of direct sunlight to flourish. Therefore place it a few inches from an east-facing window to utilize the morning sunlight.

Care requirements for Japanese fatsia include:

Soil type	Japanese Fatsia prefers slightly acidic compost-rich soil
Temperature	The fatsia prefers average room temperatures of 60-75 ℉.
Watering	Water deeply once every two weeks.
Fertilizer	Feed your plant 1-2 times a month during spring and summer with a general houseplant fertilizer.

5. Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)

Fiddle leaf fig is a slow-growing houseplant with long, beautiful vibrant green glossy leaves that grows upto 18 inches long. It is an easy-to-maintain plant that adds green aesthetics to your indoor space.

The fiddle leaf fig only requires an average of 4 hours of sunlight; hence morning sun from the east-facing window is perfect. This morning sun helps to prevent the dropping and browning of its leaves. 

Soil-type	Pot using well-draining, well-aerated, lightweight soil with a pH of 5.5 and 7.0.
Temperature	Maintain temperature between 65℉ to 75℉ for the fig.
Watering	Water once every ten days.
Fertilizer	Feed your plant with an organic fertilizer.

6. Hoya plant (Hoya carnosa)

Hoya carnosa, also known as wax plant or Hindu rope plant, is a tropical houseplant native to South and Southeast Asia. It is valued for its waxy, fragrant blossoms and lovely, twisting vines.

They prefer bright indirect light for 6 hours daily. Therefore, place your hoya plant 5 feet away from the east-facing window. 

Additional care requirements for the hoya plants include

Soil type	Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil, about 6.1 to 7.3pH.
Temperature	Maintain the range of 60- 80℉.
Watering	Water once every week during spring, then reduce the quantity during winter.
Fertilizer	Feed your plant once a month from spring till early fall.
Pruning	Prune your hoya during spring.

7. Maranta (Maranta leuconeura)

The prayer plant, also known as maranta, got its name from its ability to fold its leaves like praying hands during the night and unfold during the day. It is a fantastic houseplant with a height of upto 12 inches, making it suitable for any indoor environment.

Place your prayer plant 3-5 feet away from an east-facing window to avoid scorching the leaves of your plant.

Care requirements for prayer plants:

Soil type	Thrives in moist, well-drained soil
Temperature	Perfect temperatures (60-80℉).
Watering	Irrigate once or twice a week.
Humidity	Preferred levels are 60%.

8. Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla)

The umbrella plant (Schefflera) is another great addition near your east-facing window. It adds an aesthetic appeal to your indoor environment with its huge leaves with a glossy texture that attractively reflects light. 

You can place your umbrella plant 3 feet away from your east-facing window or just in front of the window but with a shear curtain to avoid scorching the plant’s leaves.

Additional growth requirements for umbrella tree:

Soil type	Well-draining potting soil.
Watering	Water deeply once every week.
Humidity	High humidity levels of between 60% to 80%

9. Calathea

The plant has some of the most stunning leaves worldwide. They have brightly marked upright, four-sided leaves in an alluring display of colors attached on long, erect stems. That’s why it’s sometimes called a peacock, zebra, and rattlesnake plant.

Calatheas are great east-facing window plants that prefer indirect bright light settings available during the afternoon.

Growth requirements for calathea:

Soil type	Moist but well-draining soil.
Watering	Weekly watering is ideal.
Humidity	High levels of 60% to 80%.
Fertilizer	Feed with liquid fertilizer once every month.
Temperature	An ideal range of between 60℉ to 75℉.

10. Boston fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata)

The Boston fern is a common home-setting houseplant that shows off its drooping fronds in a hanging basket or an elevated plant stand. It has a couple of gorgeous varieties with long, elegant, and decorated tiny leaves. 

In addition to its aesthetic value, the Boston fern is an excellent air purifier and has been proven to remove harmful toxins from indoor air, such as formaldehyde and benzene. 

Additional care requirements for a Boston fern include

Soil type	Fertile loamy organic soil.
Watering	Water sparingly once per week..
Humidity	Preferably 40% to 50%.
Fertilizer	Fertilize sparingly once per week using water-soluble all-purpose fertilizer.
Temperature	An ideal range of between 65℉ to 95℉.

Conclusion

Finding the right plants for your east-facing window can bring new life into your indoor gardening space. By considering the unique growing requirements of each plant, you can create a thriving indoor garden near your east-facing window.