Many friends run into problems when buying large plants: they bought a sun-loving Fiddle Leaf Fig for their north-facing balcony, and within two months, the leaves turned yellow; they moved a shade-loving Monstera to their south-facing balcony, and the leaves got sunburnt. But after coming across a netizen’s list of "plants that thrive in both sun and shade," my balcony finally has hope!
Rubber Plant: The netizen wasn't lying when they called it the "lazy person's dream plant!" A friend of mine has a Rubber Plant on her north-facing balcony with weak light, and after two years, the leaves are still glossy and dark, like they’ve been waxed. On my south-facing balcony, which gets so hot in summer you could fry an egg, it never wilts. Occasionally, the leaves get a little sunburnt, but I just move it away from direct sunlight, and it recovers. The best part is it doesn’t need frequent watering—just water when the soil is dry. Even if I forget, the leaves droop, but after watering, they perk up within hours. It grows straight and can reach over two meters without needing pruning, making it look very impressive in the corner of my balcony. Plus, it helps clean the air by absorbing dust!
Monstera: A must-have for those who care about aesthetics! I used to hear that Monstera doesn't like sunlight, but it’s actually very tough! My neighbor has one on her south-facing balcony, and she just blocks out some midday sun with a sheer curtain. The leaves are huge—larger than a basin—and split like a turtle’s shell, giving off that tropical vibe. The key to growing it is not to water too much, especially on a north-facing balcony where ventilation is poor. The soil stays too wet for too long and can cause root rot. I also occasionally wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep them shiny and reflective!
Bird’s Nest Fern: Even easier to care for than Monstera! The leaves look like large feathers, and when they unfold, they’re stunning. It’s both shade and sun-tolerant—on my north-facing balcony, the leaves stay green without turning yellow. On the south-facing balcony, as long as you avoid direct midday sun, it grows like crazy. Plant it in a larger pot, and it can grow half a meter in a year. Water when it’s dry, and occasionally give it light fertilization to help the leaves spread out more!
Dracaena: With its upright stalks and umbrella-like top leaves, Dracaena adds a lot of style to your balcony. It has excellent shade tolerance, and it does just fine on a north-facing balcony for six months. On the south-facing balcony, with plenty of sunlight, it grows faster, but be careful not to let the sun directly hit the leaves, or they might get sunburnt and turn white.
In fact, when choosing large plants, you don’t have to be restricted by the balcony’s orientation. With these four plants, both north and south-facing balconies can be thriving! The key is to adjust care based on the light: provide more shade for a south-facing balcony and ensure good ventilation and less watering for a north-facing one. Even beginners can grow these large plants lush and green, making your balcony look stunning!
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