What Is a Good Trailing Houseplant for a West Window?

Growing Conditions

• West-facing windows develop the highest temperatures for houseplants, particularly during the summer months. The duration of light is just as long as for an eastern window, and the warmth is equal to or hotter than that next to a south-facing window. Any plants grown in the western windowsill must be able to tolerate intense sunlight, low ambient humidity and be able to efficiently conduct photosynthesis at temperatures over 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Trailing plants' stems may help shade the container and cool the soil somewhat, but the foliage and stems still face the brunt of sunlight and heat.

Varying Light Intensity

• Where you place the plant affects the amount of light and the temperature experienced. The most intense light and heat occurs within 3 or 4 feet of the window pane on a west-facing window that measures 3 by 5 feet. If there is a translucent curtain sheer over the window, intense light and heat is limited to within 2 feet of the glass. The farther away from the window, the less heat and intense rays affect the houseplant. More than 6 feet from a western window, the conditions may be very bright to moderately dim indirect light. From November to March, western window exposures in the United States do not bring in intense light or heat; but in summertime, the conditions become more detrimental to most plants.

Plant Suggestions

• Trailing plants that are most resilient to the full light and heat conditions in the western window may be placed 1 to 3 feet away from the panes. Any annual flower with trailing habit works well, such as a petunia, verbena or lantana. Keep annual blooming plants within 2 feet of the glass, as they need lots of direct sunlight. Creeping fig (Ficus pumila), wandering Jew (Tradescantia spp.), artillery plant (Pilea microphylla), Swedish ivy (Plectranthus spp.), hoya vine (Hoya spp.), kangaroo vine (Cissus antarctica) and burro's tail (Senecio morganianum) will all do well if immediately behind a sheer curtain, or placed 2 to 4 feet back from the window. All of these plants will falter if the window sill is hot and sunny, the soil is too dry, ambient humidity is low and the room temperature exceeds 80 degrees.

Modifying the Environment

• A sheer curtain prevents the hottest, scalding sun rays from reaching plants. Many plants will find in a western window if miniblinds or a sheer curtain allow bright, diffused light into the room. Cool room temperatures and higher ambient humidity also help offset the effects of intense afternoon sunlight and warm or hot temperatures adjacent to the window. With these modifying conditions -- especially the sheer over the window -- even begonias or hanging basket ferns will prosper in the west-facing windows in a room. An evenly moist, but never soggy soil, also prevents the heat and sun from causing wilting every afternoon.