Glaring bloomers
Sunny windowsills aren’t a no-go zone for all flowering plants, writes
Some like it hot but there are few plants capable of withstanding the heat of a sunny household windowsill. Cacti may be able to tough it out, and some succulents can tolerate the temperatures of the sun’s rays magnified through glass. There are also a few ornamental grasses that, given some care and attention, will happily grow in the glare from a cloudless sky.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many blooms to be seen. But with a bit of judicious planning, certain flowering plants can thrive without scorching or shrivelling in the heat of the midday sun.
Remember to water them and, if necessary, shade them from extremes, and the likes of certain pelargoniums can provide months of bloom in the hottest of hot spots. But for real show-stoppers, look no further than a couple of bloomers from the south where they are normally seen at their rampant best outdoors. In the UK, in decent-sized containers, they can still put on a show in a conservatory or, with some judicious pruning, on that red-hot windowsill.
Hibiscus, the China rose, is one of the wonders of the horticultural world. It revels in the sun, and, given the perfect conditions, will stage a sumptuous show. In the house it won’t bloom as wonderfully as it would outdoors, but given plenty of loving care (including a bit of shading from the magnified rays of the sun) and pruning, it can flower for weeks and remain happy and healthy for many years.
Keep the air around the plant’s leaves moist, ensure it gets plenty of light and