Why not install a solar shde that will control the amount of light but let you keep the view. The issue is that lush growth does not happen in direct powerful sun.That is why often in office s they use fake plants in sunny windows. Please do not do that. I would go to a good garden center that sells house plants since that trunk is not directly in front of the window you could maybe find something that works .

while solar shades sound ideal, Im I’m not always home to lower them, the current shade is a very expensive custom Shade Store shade from the previous owners that I would like to keep and not spend more on, and I find it kind of depressing to block this view at all. It is just an incredible view.

While the trunck is off to the side, this area receives about 5 hours of extremely direct, south facing light. I have been to plant stores and what they recommended have died there. I’m hoping some on Houzz will have better suggestions.

Maybe something outside the houseplant box, like an olive tree.

Just googled and they seem to come up with similar lists!

https://www.thespruce.com/best-houseplants-for-sun-4147670

https://smartgardenguide.com/houseplants-for-direct-sunlight/

https://plantophiles.com/plant-care/high-light-houseplants/

I would look for a large Jade plant. When we lived in CA the house we bought had a large planter with a Jade plant. It sat on the patio facing west and south, baking all day in the CA sun. We left the plant when we sold the house, so at that point it was probably 20 years old and thriving in a pot in the blazing sun! I gave it major pruning every few months to have some of the stems show and have it look bonzai tree-like.

Photo of a large one at a nursery.

https://www.reddit.com/r/houseplants/comments/fevfs8/this_monster_of_a_jade_plant_at_my_local_nursery/

If the nursery's suggestions aren't working and you're specific about the type of plant you want, consider alternatives to placing an actual plant on the trunk. For example, perhaps hanging a large botanical framed print above it and placing a floor plant in the opposite corner where the sunlight isn't so severe may give you the look you want; or hanging a valance or drapes with a botanical print and placing a low planter in the center of the table, etc.

List the plants you tried that didn’t work, so the same ones aren’t suggested.

Snake plants are pretty indestructible. Have you tried one? Manhattan isn't really that sunny, I suspect the direct sunlight is only going to be an issue for part of the year.

I'm also going to do the annoying Houzz thing where someone raises a red flag about something you didn't even mention. I would be concerned about how the sun might impact the finish on your lovely table.

@deegw, the sunlight damage is a given, even in windows that don't get direct sun. Anyone that has owned hardwood floors with an area rug, knows what happens when you lift up that rug after living in the house for a year ... a noticeable difference in the fading of the exposed wood. All furniture and upholstery will also be affected in the same way.

Which is the reason that when we built the current house, I wired all the windows for low voltage power and now have automatic cellular blinds on a schedule. Very important for the west facing windows in my dining room. They all open at 7 am and close at 2 pm as the sun starts to come through the windows. I got tired of running around the house opening and closing blinds in my previous house!

Plants that have been suggested that didn't work were philadendron and peace lily, both of which I love. They were not in this exact location but on the left side of the window behind the wingback, which I believe gets the same light. The philadendron lasted for about 6 months. Maybe it is promising? Maybe it wasn't the light that killed it? I'm a decent gardener but have a true black thumb when it comes to houseplants. I think of them more as furniture and sculpture, perhaps that is my problem.

"Manhattan isn't really that sunny"

I have a 12th floor completely unobstructed south facing view. It is incredibly sunny in here, the sunniest place I have ever lived. I'm not complaining. I love it. No season affect disorder here. If the down side is I can't find a plant I like, I'll take it!

"I would be concerned about how the sun might impact the finish on your lovely table."

Super valid concern. I think over time it is certainly going to bleach it out. And I may need to have it refinished or just live with it. It is a beautiful antique I got at auction. The view from the window is insane - gardens, full bridge view,, eagles and hawks soaring, boats going down the river. It is such a wonderful place to sit and work, eat, play games, hangout with family. With age I'm getting a bit better about allowing particular pieces to get a lived in look and not being too precious about them. It completely goes against my nature!

Suggesting you put the bench with back to window...move the table out so it lines up with the mirror.

I would put the trunk somewhere else...foot of bed?. Now you have two corners to start climbing plant which will give you a great indoor garden effect, low maintenance. All you have to do is used little clear tacks to encourage climbing. A plant that I can't kill (a miracle) pothos. It wants to climb.

https://www.allaboutgardening.com/pothos-climb/

Claim is this pothos is 30 years old and I believe it.

I’m shocked a peace lily didn’t work. I have three of them that get direct Texas sun.

I’m a very talented landscaper/gardener, but have a hard time with indoor plants, too.

Hopefully you find the perfect one — I agree that a lush plant would look great there. You said you prefer broadleaf, but I’ve had good luck with Areca palms in south facing windows, as well as various varieties of Dracaena.

You might ask neighbors what they grow.

Many of the old drop leaf table in our houses over the years. Easy to do....clean with Pledge furniture polish or for a bit more work, use bowling alley was on it and buff it when dry.

Jilly, From what I have read, peace lillies like indirect and not direct light. But you've had luck and they were suggested by a very reputable place. Maybe I should try it again. I have asked a few neighbors who said they cannot get anything to survive in this window. I don't want to accept defeat!

I have since purchased a water meter. Maybe it is not the light, perhaps I wasn't watering them correctly? They all have looked fantastic and then taken a sudden turn. I try to not overwater as I know that can just as bad a under watering.

- Bird of Paradise

- Janet Craig

I would get a passion flower vine (or several) and train it up support structure

You can get a nicer container and support structure than this, including a circle

But if you are in or near NYC you can go to a nursery and buy a full sized plant of whatever you like along with a container and have it delivered.

Surely the windows have UV protection? Dracena marginata or variegata should do well, or ficus.

I had a Ficus Tineke in a south facing window in Phoenix, AZ, and it just loved that sh*t. Also consider also a Bird of Paradise or Dracena marginata. Good luck! enjoy the new digs!!

Midwest, south facing window with a Peace lily thriving. They do take water frequently. If they droop you are too late! Try not to let that happen to keep them happy.

Maybe a Meyer Lemon Tree?

Or a fig tree? Fiddle leaf?

White Bird of paradise - Strelitzia nicolai .

Wow, Im loving the white bird of paradise suggestion. So tropical. I looked it up and It really fits the bill of being able to take bright direct sunlight on their leaves for many hours. I think this might be the way to go! I have a fun shopping trip ahead of me to what is left of the floral district. I also have a car and can get to some great nurseries is NJ and West Chester. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have this terra cotta pot from a dearly departed philadendon. Hopefully I can reuse it for the bird of paradise.

6 hours of piercing bright, direct sunlight?

==>>

im not sure your supposition is correct.. there is no such thing as direct sun thru what is presumably a modern double pane window.. which probably has some sort of gas in between the panes to limit the light..

and.. your in the corner.. and not really in the window... its indirect in the corner ...

so.. my bottom line.. you dont need to choose a plant based on direct sun ... just choose a houseplant ....

btw.. all houseplants tolerate lower sun levels.. and that is why they are houseplants... no houseplant requires DIRECT SUN ... mostly because you cant get direct sun in side a house...

you are correct to ID the variables... but dont fixate on the wrong one...

btw.. usually.. in the window.. its the sun.. heating a pot that is too small for the plant in it.. leading to watering issues.. which cause leaf damage.. its not necessarily the light itself that damages the leaves.. its the improper watering in the light provided... that is the usual problem...

all that said.. .you are on the right track with the plants discussed ..

ken

Meyer lemon tree? Or lime tree?

ETA: I too would move the trunk and just use the floor/

You can also have a rubber plant, ficus elastica in that spot. It can take a lot of sun and heat. Ken is right about the amount and nature of sunlight you likely get at the spot. Your problem could be the terracotta pot. They are porous, breath, and therefore dry out way faster than plastic or ceramic pots. While terracotta would prevent root rot in case of overwatering to some extent, it will let the plant die of dehydration if you are underwatering.

Thanks for the helpful info about heat and evaporation vs burnt leaves and terra cotta vs plastic containers. I got the terra cotta at the recommendation of a nursery that said it would be good for making sure roots don't rot. But, they didn't point out what you mentioned, which seems key, especially since I also have NYC steam radiator heat, which blasts in the winter and I only have a modicum of control over.

If I regularly check the soil with a water meter, and water as directed according to the metered level, do you think it will be ok to use the terra cotta? I might need to water more often, it sounds like. If I don't use the terra cotta planter I will have to get rid of it because I have nowhere to store it and I'd hate to have to buy a new container, but if it is wisers I guess I should.

Unfortunately, I also have no other place for the trunk. It saw my grandfather's and I want to keep it. Ah, apartment life is a game of tetris.

The websites I have been reading have referred to direct light for house plants as those that are in a west or south facing window that have no obstructing buildings, no curtains, nothing in the way, and light directly hits the plant for at least 4-6 hours a day. I have not read anything along the lines a glass pane making light indirect. If that were how it is judged wouldn't all houseplants have indirect right and then there would be no need to distinguish between direct and indirect, which all houseplant guides seem to do? What a big different that would make and I'd have many more options available.

 That is out my area of expertease

When the sun shines into that window, do you ever notice that the mirror reflects it onto the opposite wall? That could cause damage to the plant (just a thought).

Terracotta would be okay if you keep on top of watering. Sunlight falling on a plant through the window is different from that falling on the plant outside (I think some UV light is blocked by the windowpanes) but is certainly not indirect sunlight (in which case there can never be direct sunlight indoors). Still, a plant not directly sitting on the windowsill or right in front would get less sun than one on the windowsill. When sun goes overhead, it would not be direct sun on a plant on one side of a window. Anyhow, a lot of houseplants will take plenty of sunlight when properly watered and acclimated to the sun gradually. You should come up with wish list and then ask here if that would work or not.

Another plant you can try is Corn Plant, Dracaena Massangeana. They usually say indirect light, but we had one that was next to 2 windows and under a skylight, and it loved the bright light.

The ones you see at nurseries are usually "small" plants. The one we bought when we lived in the northeast was around 8 ft tall and had 5 trunks. I have never seen another one that large! We had it for 7 years and had to leave it behind when we moved too far away to take it with us.

https://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/dracaena-fragrans

 I'm going to  grow lemons again  I know my approach is different than  most  for I will push lemons to grow  in  the border  between 6b and7a

People don't get how sunny Manhattan apartments can be. Even north-facing ones often have reflected sun off of adjacent, south-facing buildings, it matters. Some apartments have floor to ceiling windows, matters. Why not a spineless Yucca?

Spineless yucca sounds like a great insult. You spineless yucca! Does look like a good candidate for my needs but spiky plants are not my thing. They make me feel prickly and uncomfortable. Might start another post to see if other people have as visceral reactions to certain kinds of plants as I do. I hated houseplants and refused to have them in my home until I was staging my house for sale 2 years ago and a friend helped me see the scultural and color delight they bring to a room.

Try plastic.

I'm not sure water meters are all that reliable? No plant expert, but I was warned away from them and was told to use my finger or a pencil.

Between the sun and a Manhattan apartment’s heating system, you’re asking a lot of a poor plant. I am not being facetious - buy a fake tree. You won’t have to worry it will die in either the blazing summer or the overheated winter.

I lived for many years in sunny Manhattan apartments. People just make general statements.....

I know people are opposed to fake plants but there are some really top quality ones out there. I used to have some low light tolerant house plants in a corner of my living room. Three different ones grouped together. I can't recall why now but maybe one died and I replaced it with a similar fake one, kept two live ones. Eventually, (spider mites maybe?) I replaced a 2nd one with a nice quality fake and then the 3rd. I think the combo of fake and real helped keep it from looking so fake. The largest one was fake, the smaller ones more affordable to replace when they failed to thrive. I think people would see the real plants and assume all were, because just recently, one of my good friends who visits often was shocked to learn they are all fake. Just an idea for you.

Oh, and I dislike spiky and sparse plants, too.

I have kept a hibiscus alive for 2.5 years.

hi! This is quite interesting. I too am very moody about which house plants I like and which I dislike.

I had some reactions. Do you know why these other plants didn't make it? Did the neighbors say why their plants died? (I think people tend to blame themselves, when really the plant was sold in a pot with "heavy" soil. That soil is just very hard to work with. This page has some good links, if you want to know more about soils and containers. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5570006/al-s-tapla-greatest-hits#n=16)

I am a tiny bit skeptical that the sun was the problem. I mean, not to be rude. But you are living in this room, so I guess there is some AC?

I vote for dracaenas and ficus. Keep trying!!

Oh also ... as far as flushing the soil, which is a necessity for container plants ... although, some people just use a turkey baster to suck the excess out of the dish, though, I have never tried that - that is for if you cannot any way get it to a sink ... you might want to think ahead about the weight of the container and soil.

But really I think for a good flush, it's gotta be the sink. We'll see what others think of this issue. On the positive side, I have seen decent size plants come out of pots that are not that large.

Plus of course you'll need some heavy duty coasters and saucers in any case, since this plant is going to be on a valued furniture item. Apologies if this is totally obvious though.

What does it mean to flush a plant? I'm not familiar.

" am a tiny bit skeptical that the sun was the problem. I mean, not to be rude. But you are living in this room, so I guess there is some AC?"

No AC in this room. It is a roaster. A few months ago we got a window unit in the room next door so some cooler, more livable air spills over, but the sun in there is insane. Again, I'm not complaining. In the winter I chill on the sofa with my eyes closed and the direct sun hitting me and pretend I'm on the beach in Florida.

Well, Al/Tapla can explain it much better, in his posts on Container Soils. I really recommend looking at some of his links in the Container Gardening forum. But the short version is, the reason we have to flush plants in containers is that, if we don't, chemicals/salts build up in the soil, and they eventually kill the plant.

Further, many soils retain moisture in a way which makes it hard for the roots - roots have to get some air down there, apparently. It has to do with particle size. (Tapla again explains all these things better.) So if your plant is in a heavy soil, and it doesn't get flushed, it won't be happy for long. Since I met Al, I have killed many fewer plants.

People who work in plant stores may not be aware of these things, so often people end up having their plants die - but it really isn't their fault. It's a learning curve that they weren't expecting. And the kind of fertilizer we use matters too.

Another thing that can happen is, with a lot of heat, sometimes there can be a sudden fungus that will kill a plant's roots quickly. I've had that happen. So maybe that might have happened to your plants.

Or, did they actually get "crispy?" How hot are we talking? You know come to think of it, I don't really know what temperature would kill a plant anyway. I do know that Al recommends not fertilizing after it goes over 85. (I forget why though.)

It can all be a bit tricky, really. However, I predict that if you poke around those Container Soil threads, then you will be able to find something that will do well there. I don't think there is anything wrong with a fake plant, I just think they aren't as much fun.