Garden: Planting for the First Time

[yewberry]

Here's a website with info on plants which grow well in low light:http://www.gardenista.com/posts/urban-gardening-diy-shade-tolerant-windowsill-herbs-to-grow-in-your-apartment

 
The kind of winter dark we get here in the PNW (nearly 100% cloud cover that can last weeks) isn't like elsewhere in the country where, sure, it can be gray for a few days, but will eventually clear.  The article mentions "only 3 hours of direct sunlight a day".  This doesn't occur with any kind of regularity here.  Because of this , it's virtually impossible to keep Mediterranean herbs happy indoors in this climate without supplemental lighting.

Brina

[Aiwelin]

The kind of winter dark we get here in the PNW (nearly 100% cloud cover that can last weeks) isn't like elsewhere in the country where, sure, it can be gray for a few days, but will eventually clear.  The article mentions "only 3 hours of direct sunlight a day".  This doesn't occur with any kind of regularity here.  Because of this , it's virtually impossible to keep Mediterranean herbs happy indoors in this climate without supplemental lighting.

Brina

 
Even where I live in the midwest, which gets a decent amount of sunlight in the winter, my poor Mediterranean herbs didn't make it over the winter in front of my south-facing sliding glass door.  I'm still sad about my rosemary, it had gotten so big and beautiful over the summer and then slowly perished from lack of sunlight

[yewberry]

Even where I live in the midwest, which gets a decent amount of sunlight in the winter, my poor Mediterranean herbs didn't make it over the winter in front of my south-facing sliding glass door.  I'm still sad about my rosemary, it had gotten so big and beautiful over the summer and then slowly perished from lack of sunlight

Rosemary especially hates it indoors in the winter.

While I'm pissing about the PNW, I'll mention what an awesome climate this is to grow Mediterranean herbs outdoors.  It's spectacular.  Especially if you have sandy soil.  And I do.
 
Brina

[LadyoftheLake]

Rosemary especially hates it indoors in the winter.

While I'm pissing about the PNW, I'll mention what an awesome climate this is to grow Mediterranean herbs outdoors.  It's spectacular.  Especially if you have sandy soil.  And I do.
 
Brina

If you live in the inland PNW you have a whole other climate.  It, too, is perfect for growing Mediterranean herbs.  Right now I am harvesting and drying Rosemary like crazy because I know the plant probably won't survive a winter in the house.

Back to the OP's question, if you aren't looking for an edible plant, there are some houseplants that thrive in the kind of low light conditions you have.  And if you just need to have plants around you, they might work for you.  My houseplant book lists Draceana and Philodendron as being very low light plants.  But it also says Philidendrons can be harmful to pets.

I do think the suggestion of sprouts was fantastic.

[yewberry]

If you live in the inland PNW you have a whole other climate.

I always mean to say maritime PNW, but most people don't know the difference unless they live here.
 
Brina

[LadyoftheLake]

I always mean to say maritime PNW, but most people don't know the difference unless they live here.
 
Brina

So true.  When you say PNW, everyone thinks 'rain, rain, rain'.  And for the coastal parts, that is absolutely true.  But the rest of us would LIKE to have some of your rain!:)