8 Beautiful Succulents For West Facing Windows & Gardens

Succulents are plants that can adapt well with their conditions and have minimal caring needs. However, the kind of sunlight it gets can play a deciding factor in their growth. The sunlight quality your home or garden receives varies based on the direction.

The sunlight needs of a succulent varies solely based on the succulent itself as some of them can do well with 2 to 3 hours of sunlight while others may need 4 to 6 hours of sun.  So choosing the right window and garden corner for a particular succulent pays a very important role in its overall development.

Let’s dive right into whether the western direction of your house is suitable for growing succulents or not!

Is the West-facing Window & Garden Good for Plants?

The west-facing windows & gardens get the last rays of sunlight for the day. The strength of the sun rays is not as strong as the midafternoon sun however it will be sufficiently warm. So plants having moderate to high sunlight needs of 3 to 5 hours a day will thrive best here.

The eastern side of the garden along with the eastern windows gets the earliest sunrays of the day and the western one gets the conclusive sunrays of the day. However, unlike the eastern windows, the temperature of the sunlight the western direction of the house gets is quite high.

This is because the sun slowly moves from the southern direction to the western direction later in the afternoon. The sun is at its peak during the afternoon i.e, on the south-facing side. So as an after-effect the sunlight still remains quite warm.

So the sunlight received via the western side is perfect for plants that need moderate to high sunlight on a daily basis and love warmer temperatures.

• The majority of the succulents, cactuses are suitable for this. Other plants like Jasmine, coleus, etc are also perfect for the west-facing windows.

What Plants do well in the West-Facing Windows & Gardens?

Plants that need 2-5 hours of daily sunlight do quite well in the western wing provided you dont have big high rises on that side which blocks the sun rays.  The western facing windows get the last dose of sunlight for the day and you can keep any of the sun-loving plants here. They will roughly get 3 hours of proper hot sun and two hours of weak sun.

So if you have spacious western windows in your home that get sufficient bright light you can of course place your indoor houseplants near the west-facing window pane.

Here are the 8 Succulents for West-Facing Windows and Gardens

Poinsettia

Other names: Christmas Star, Lobster Flower.

Area of origin: Central America

Scientific Name: Euphorbia pulcherrima

Even though it is one of the most popular ornamental plants out there people rarely know that it is a succulent.

Key points about Poinsettia

• There is a variety of Poinsettia available in the market, each one having its own unique set of colors. The demand to buy these succulents increases during the holiday season because its blooming period is around the festive season.
• Poinsettias have intensely dense flaming red-colored bracts which oftentimes are mistaken as flower petals but are leaves.
• To achieve this level of eye-catching colors it needs to be provided with at least 14 hours of darkness followed by intense bright indirect light on a daily basis during the fall.
• Poinsettia is one of the most popular decorative plants bought during Christmas and in the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.
• Poinsettia is one of those succulents that are commonly considered as acutely toxic. However, that is not the case. As per Poison Control, when ingested by pets or children it can lead to mouth irritations and stomach issues. The sap of the plant is poisonous so handle it with care wearing gloves and glasses.

How to care for a poinsettia

• Poinsettia is immensely susceptible to root rot due to overwatering and poor drainage conditions. So make sure you plant them in a proper drainage friendly soil mix rich in inorganic components like pumice, sand, and volcanic rocks.
• Water them when the soil is dry. Watering once in 5 to 9 days is just fine especially in their blooming period. Have drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
• They love moderate humidity in the air, so try growing other plants near it. You can also use a humidifier or try placing a tray of water near the plant.
• They enjoy plenty of bright indirect light in the late summer, in the fall, and in the winter. Rotate the plant from time to time.
• After their flowering season gets over, they will shed all their leaves and flowers. It’s completely normal. The succulent has overwhelmingly stunning looks and you can keep them cause of their bloom for the coming year.
• Make sure they get sufficient darkness at night during the post-September period otherwise better flowering won’t happen (source).

Lithops

Area of origin: South Africa

Other names: Living stones

These succulents are one of the best low maintenance plants you can ever grow!

• These succulents are known to grow in extreme conditions of malnourished soil and limited water availability.

Key points about Lithops

• Lithops are extremely slow-growing and the can put up with the full sun and even with moderate sun. They come in loads of color options from pink and yellow to grey and brown.
• Once they flower lithops generally become dormant.  Lithops produce flowers yearly however in some cases they can just produce leaves without any flowers. Flowers will be white, orange, or yellow and generally, blooming happens in early winter.
• Lithops resemble colorful decorative rocks and thrive well under little care. Lithops resemble two small stones or small animal paws clubbed together.
• They only produce two leaves every year! It is not only a slow-growing plant but also rarely grows over 2 cm from the soil. The majority of the succulent lies below the soil, there is no stem, the roots directly are attached to the leaves.

How to care for Lithops

• Lithops love bright sunlight however they dont grow best under direct bright light. They remain happy with 3 to 5 hours of indirect sun. Western windows can just provide them with the right combination of moderate yet warm dosage of sunlight.
• Be very wary of overwatering especially in their dormant season(fall or in some case from late winter to spring). They are highly sensitive to root rot like all succulents.
• How often do you water Lithops? Lithops can live on stored water for months however that should never be the case. Water them when the soil feels dry properly. Generally watering once in 6-9 days in summer and once in 12 to 20 days is just fine. When in doubt dont water. Wait for a few more days.
• They do well in cactus mix soil and repot once in 3 years.
• Lithops are commonly propagated from seeds. They can take years to mature.

Kalanchoe

Area of origin: Africa and Asia

Also Called: Flaming Katy

Key points about kalanchoe

• One of the best succulents with an enhanced period of blooming. If you wanna grow a succulent that flowers wonderfully then you should opt for this.
• They are extremely easy to care for and they can produce a variety of colors including red, yellow, orange, and pink depending on the type.
• They are mainly popular because of their outstanding flowering abilities. It can bloom multiple times a year however when the newer buds are developing make sure to

How do you care for a kalanchoe succulent?

• Does Kalanchoe like full sun? They love moderate bright light and are just perfect for the western windows. However, if your windows get quite warm it will be a good idea to not keep the succulent directly on the windowpane and a few feet inwards. They love sunlight but dont do well facing the afternoon hot sun. So putting them in the south-facing windows is a big no-no.
• Inadequate light exposure will lead to stretching and the flowering won’t be great. So make sure it gets adequate light.
• Water when the soil feels dry and plant the succulent in a drainage friendly soil. The watering frequency depends a lot on the time of the year and may need a frequent bit of watering during the flowering periods.
• Kalanchoe loves hotter climates as that helps in better blooming. They do really well indoors and dont do well under extreme temperatures. Flowering happens during the winter and to encourage flowering for the next season make sure the succulent is receiving equal amounts of bright light and darkness after the fall (so 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of sunlight).
• Darkness is needed for bud development, so make sure to keep it covered or in a closet during the night so that it gets complete darkness. You dont need to do this all year, just from October to March.

Around 6 to 7 weeks of this alternate light and darkness treatment is needed for optimal flowering bud development. Once the development occurs and buds enlarge, night darkness does not remain an issue. So roughly it takes 6 weeks for initial bud development and another 6 weeks for the flowering to occur.

• Fertilize it during the spring and never during the winter period as it is dormant during that time.
• Once it flowers you can move it to a slightly larger pot as this will encourage the succulent to be bushy. Prune the branches is you wish during the start of spring as that will lead to better growth.

Cotyledon tomentosa

Area of origin: South Africa

Also Called: Bear Paw”s

Key points about Cotyledon tomentosa

• Another of the beginner-friendly succulents out there. These are one of the cutest succulents you can every grow. They are really adorable and require very little care from time to time.
• Bear paws have quite fleshy leaves resembling bear-like paws hence the name.
• The growing period is during the fall and remains dormant in the summer. So they kinda prefer cooler temperatures for better growth.
• Can maximally reach a height of 30 cm in containers and produces orange-colored flowers in the spring.

How to care for Cotyledon tomentosa

• Loves loads of indirect sunlight and does well both under full sun and partial shade. Loves 4 to 6 hours of bright light. They do well in western facing windows as well as south-facing ones.
• Leaves are very prone to falling off due to small jerkings or touch so avoid touching the succulent leaves.
• Only water them when soil is dry, it has got fleshy leaves so can store water for weeks. This is true, especially during the dormancy period. They are very sensitive to overwatering so very careful regarding the watering. In the winter try watering as less as possible as that is their dormancy period.
• Use a cactus mix soil that drives faster so use a little extra bit of sand in it and avoid watering the leaves and only aim for the soil while watering. As mentioned the leaves are very much responsive to little stress.
• Also, they are not at all cold hardy so make sure to keep them in rooms that never become too chilly(never put them below 30-degree Fahrenheit).
• Propagation is successfully done more via stem cuttings than via leaves. If you are using the leaves make sure the base of the leaf is still intact otherwise if the leaf is damaged it won’t give rise to roots. Let it callus over for a few days before planting them.

Haworthia cooperi

Area of origin: South Africa

Also Called: Pearl plant, cushion aloe

• Haworthias are absolutely adorable and one of my favorite succulents! They have small fleshy leaves and are extremely easy to grow. They can pretty much take care of themselves when the basic needs are fulfilled.

Key points about Haworthia cooperi

• Does haworthia need sunlight? The best thing about Haworthia is that they are one of the highly adaptive succulents. They are extremely adorable and can be grown in decorative containers like mason jars or glass containers. However, in those instances make sure the pot has an adequate drainage system in place otherwise the succulent can die.
• Cooperi forms small rosette leaves in clusters. As they grow up the leaf kinda starts spreading out more.
• The unique feature of the plant is it grows in clusters. That makes it look really attractive.
• They are extremely slow-growing and grows up to a height fo 4-6 inches. There are over 100 varieties of Haworthia and one differs from another mainly in the leaf structure.

How to care for Haworthia cooperi

• Haworthia thrives in moderate to low light conditions. They will be more than happy with the late afternoon sun.
• Use a cactus mix or you can use your own homemade the soil rich in coarse sand, pumice, and pebbles.
• How often do you water haworthia Cooperi? Always wait for a few days before watering again. Avoid watering the leaves and only aim for the soil. Always let the soil dry before watering. Roughly you can water once in 5 to 8 days in summer. Reduce watering in winter to twice a month.
• Propagate during the start of spring using the offsets produced from the mother succulent. Just use a sterile knife to separate it from the soil and make sure not to damage the roots.

Aloe vera

Area of origin: Asia

Aloes are grown indoors for centuries and maybe even for thousands of years.

Best Thing about growing Aloe Vera

• Aloe is probably the most popular succulent out there! They are easy to care for and are adaptive to both high light as well as low light.  If you are just getting started with plants and wanna stick to the hassle-free process of decorating your home or office with greenery then stick to this.
• Their flashy pale green leaves help in providing a soothing touch to the indoors.
  What is aloe vera good for? Moreover, the leaf gel is super useful for skin and hair care!  Even though the gel can be quite useful it must never be ingested. When ingested the leaves can cause diarrhea, nausea, and other stomach-related issues. So in case, you have pets or small children take extra caution.
• The best thing is Aloes are available in a variety of shades and designs. This includes Blue Aloe, Lace Aloe, etc. But all of them more or less aligns with the same caring practices.
• Aloe rarely flowers especially when growing indoors however you should always provide them with the bright possible indirect light available and water them.

How to care for Aloe Vera

• Do aloe plants need direct sunlight? Aloe loves getting bright indirect sunlight for 2 to 4 hours a day. They dont do well under full sun and in those cases, the leaves will turn yellow or brown. Owing to this they are popularly grown in rooms having moderate to low light conditions. Hence south or west-facing
• Use a well-draining potting mix and have a pot with a hole at the bottom.
  How often do I water my aloe plant? Water the succulent once in 5 to 9 days in summer and once in 10 to 17 days in winter and they will do just fine. Keep a lookout for the soil dryness to decide the watering timing for the succulent.
• Propagation is easy and can be done using the small offsets growing around the plant. Make sure to separate them with the roots undamaged and then let it callus for a few days before planting them in a new mix.

Crassula Ovata, The ‘Skinny Fingers’

Area of origin: South Africa

Also Called: Gollum Jade

This is just another variety of the crassula genus. Growing Jade plants in the house are regarded as a token of good luck by many. The leaves of the Jade plants are fleshy and unique.

Key points about Crassula ovata

• As the name suggests, the leaves look like thin fingers!
• The branches are very small and the leaves grow densely giving the plant a bushy vibe.
• The edges of the leaves can turn red when receives enough sunlight enhancing the succulent”s impressive look further.
• Produces white or pinkish flowers during the winter, however, can go without flowering as well.
• Maximally reaches a height of 3 feet. Can somewhat put up with cold temperatures but not with too chilly conditions.

How do you care for a finger Jade plant?

• Do jade plants need sun? It can tolerate full sun however its best to grow them under partial sun. The afternoon hot sun can put scar sun the plant so so the warm west facing garden shade or the window shade is just ideal for them.
• Put them in well-draining soil and water moderately in the hotter months but after fall just water once or twice a month. Always check the soil dryness before watering.
• Extremely slow growing dont need fertilizers that much. However, you can use an organic one during the spring season.
• Before the blooming season, prune the succulent, get rid of the leggy and unhealthy looking leaves and branches. This will help the plant to be in shape and will promote better growth.
• Propagation can easily be done via stem and leaf cuttings after callusing them for a few days. You can also use seeds and the offsets growing around the mother plant for this.

Donkey”s Tail

Can succulents grow in the West Facing Window without any issue?

Succulents that love moderate to high sun grow best on the western wing. These succulents will be quite happy receiving 3-5 hours of the late afternoon sun and conclusive sunrays of the evening.

• Succulents that need 3-5 hours of bright and warm indirect light every day will thrive superbly on the western facing windows (As long as there are no huge constructions guarding the view and stopping the sunlight from coming).

Low light friendly succulents can do well here however they can be susceptible to the warmness of the sunrays. They typically do great with the fresh sunrays of the eastern windows and also put up with the northern windows.

On the contrary, if the succulent loves full sun and your western windows get moderate sunlight you can try putting them on the southern windows.

• So the place you need to position your succulent depends upon the particular type of succulent you have and the kind of sun you get from each direction.

If your south-facing window is blocked by high rises growing succulents in that location won’t be beneficial even though those windows get the best sun. In the end, the main goal is to provide succulent with suitable sunlight so that it remains healthy. 

However, succulents are well known for being adaptive to their growing conditions. You can always try and experiment with them. You can keep low light friendly succulents some distance away from the south-facing windows that get maximum sun and they will do just fine.

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