The light in your house determines how your indoor plants fare. The intensity of light in each room will vary, depending how far back a plant is from the light source (window). The best light, obviously, is found directly in front of the window, and at just 6' away from the window the light intensity falls by 80 percent. The light on either side of the window is also less intense. Indoor-gardening expert Tom Christianson explains that the brightest light is found on the southern side of a house and the next-brightest on the west. Eastern exposures provide less light, and northern exposures the least. Fortunately, some plants can survive in eastern and northern exposures:
Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) (figure A), the classic parlor palm of yesteryear, is native to the South Pacific. The leaves can grow as long as 9'. If grown outside, they require partial shade and if indoors, indirect light, although they perform best in a southern or western exposure. If grown in a low-light environment, give them less water and fertilizer. Water when the soil is dry 1" below the surface, and keep the fronds free of dust. Dracaena prefers bright, indirect light but tolerates low-light situations. It requires excellent drainage and will suffer from a build-up of salts (from fertilizer and water softeners) in the soil. Purge the soil of salts periodically by running a continuous low-flow steam of water through the pot for 20 to 30 minutes. Never allow the plants to stand in water. To provide added humidity, fill the saucer with gravel. Keep the leaves clean by frequent dusting. Aglaonema (figure B) requires a uniform moisture level, warm temperatures and bright indirect light. Plants may be grown in the same pot for years. Fertilize all low-light plants at half-strength.
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