The Best Plants for a Low-Sun Condo Porch

Begonia

• The begonia is a perennial flower grown for its striking, colorful flowers. Provide begonia with rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Water begonia when the top 2 inches of soil dries, and feed the plant every two weeks with a flower food during bloom in spring and summer.

Caladium

• The caladium is a tropical, tuberous perennial plant with arrow-shaped foliage; it comes in a wide variety of eye-catching color combinations. Provide caladium with a rich soil, and water the plant when the soil surface dries. Feed caladium every two weeks during the spring and summer with a well-balanced fertilizer.

Coleus

• The coleus is a tropical plant grown for its vibrant, colorful foliage that comes in many variegated patterns. Feed coleus every two weeks with a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Grow the plant in rich, well-draining soil, and water coleus when the soil surface dries.

Ferns

• A variety of ferns thrive in containers, including Boston and asparagus ferns. Provide ferns with rich, well-drained soil. Feed ferns monthly with a well-balanced fertilizer, and keep their soil evenly moist at all times.

Fuchsia

• The fuchsia is a small shrub grown for its showy, multi-colored blooms that cover the plant from late spring until frost. Provide fuchsia with rich soil that is kept constantly moist but not soggy. Feed fuchsia every two weeks during the growing season with a flower fertilizer. Pinch the plant's spent blooms on a regular basis.

Hosta

• Hostas are grown for their stunning variegated foliage and delicate, bell-shaped flowers. This perennial plant thrives in containers filled with rich, well-drained potting soil. Feed hostas monthly spring through fall with a well-balanced fertilizer. Check the plants for snails on a regular basis.

Impatiens

• Impatiens are perennial and annual flowering plants that come in a wide variety of flower patterns and colors. The plant blooms from early spring through summer. Provide impatiens with continually moist soil, and feed the plants monthly with a flower fertilizer.

Lobelia

• Lobelia is an annual flowering plant that is covered with small light-blue to violet flowers during the summer months. Provide the plant with rich soil, and water lobelia when the top inch of soil dries. Feed lobelia spring through summer with a flower fertilizer.

Pansy

• The pansy is an annual flowering plant with velvety blooms; it comes in a wide variety of color combinations. Provide pansies with a well-drained soil, and feed the plants every two weeks with a flower fertilizer. Water pansies when the soil surface dries.

Philodendron

• Philodendron is a vining plant that looks especially attractive in a hanging basket. Often grown as a houseplant, this tropical plant thrives in shady conditions outdoors. Provide philodendron with a loose, well-drained potting soil. Water the plant when the top 2 inches of soil dries, and feed philodendron every two months with a well-balanced fertilizer.