Why A Windowsill Expander May Come In Handy For Your Houseplants

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Houseplants are a great addition to any home. They can improve your mental health, and are a beautiful way to bring nature indoors. But here's the thing: Plants need sunlight. In some cases, a lot of it. And you only have so many spots in your home that provide the type and amount of sunlight that your plants so desperately need to stay happy and healthy. Sometimes you can stick a shelf near a window, sure, but finding something the correct size and shape for your needs can be tricky — and standing shelves eat up precious square footage, which is prized real estate in smaller homes and apartments.

Enter the windowsill expander. Windowsill expanders, like the Original SillMate Window Plant Shelf, priced at $39.99, are relatively small pieces of wood, metal, or plastic that you can easily attach to an existing windowsill in order to gain more space. In this case, the extra space serves as the perfect perch for your full-sun houseplants. If your issue isn't light, but humidity, you should try putting your humidity-loving houseplants in weird places like your bathroom.

When plants lack sufficient sunlight, they can turn yellow, become leggy, drop their leaves, and even stop flowering. But before you go placing plants on your windowsill expander willy-nilly, you'll want to know the difference between direct and indirect sunlight — and which your plant needs. Depending on the window you choose, the plants that go on your windowsill expander may need to be comfortable with and even thrive in direct sunlight. This is especially true for windows that face south or southwest, which tend to receive the brightest and most direct light. Some houseplants that like direct sun include the ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata), aloe vera, jade plant (Crassula ovata), and the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi). Plants placed in direct sunlight can dry out more quickly than those placed further away from your windowsill expander, so make sure to keep an eye on the moisture level of the soil.

If the plants you already own require a little less light than your windowsill expander has to offer, try investing in some light-filtering curtains, which will give your room an ethereal glow while also protecting your plants from the sun's direct rays. Craving more houseplant feng shui? Check out the best indoor plants for every room in your house.