Expert: Darlene K. Kittle - 10/21/2009

Question
I live in Minnesota in a townhome that only has sunlight on one side of the house for only a few hours a day.

i want a plant in my basement in a area that is not by any windows (almost an interrior corner).  are there any plants that can work in a place like this?

i should say i only have two plants now (both using the one window in our upstairs livingroom) and im natorious for not watering....

thanks!

Answer
Kate.

The only way you can grow houseplants in that location would be if you use flourescent lighting suspended frome the ceiling. You need either 2 two tube fixtures or 1 four tube fixture on a timer set to have them on for 14 hours a day. You can use 2 cool white flourescent bulbs and 2 warm white flourescent bulbs in the fixture(s), you do not need special grow light bulbs.

Go to the following site and it will give a list of plants for low and medium light that will grow well under lights like this.  You can click on the names and it shows a picture of the plant. I am not affiliated with the site, I just found it and thought it was a good site due to the pictures. Good luck with your plant project.

Darlene