If your home has little natural light and you're convinced it's impossible to transform your space into a lush jungle oasis, hold on. While aloe vera and sedum may not thrive in a dimly lit room, low-light indoor plants like pothos and peace lilies can thrive in your home.
The best low light indoor plants are perfect for low light homes.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer
Although it is true that low-light houseplants do not require much care, they do need some care. For example, these plants grow best in areas with moderate direct or indirect sunlight, ideally in rooms facing east or west. If you have a room without windows or only one north-facing window, you can place the plant there. However, you will need to purchase a special grow light to ensure that the plant thrives. Finally, don't forget that low-light indoor plants require regular watering. Below, we present the best low-light indoor plants to brighten up the darkest places, along with tips and recommendations from real plant experts.
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Once a week (or when soil is 50-75% dry)
“Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just looking to add some greenery to your space, spider web plants are truly low-maintenance and easy to care for,” says Rebecca Sears, horticulturist and chief marketing officer at Ferry Morse Seed Co. “While most plants do best in direct sunlight, spider web plants thrive in low-light conditions and only require watering once a week.”
Even better, spider web plants are notoriously hard to kill, although the tips of their long leaves can dry out and shrivel up if left uncared for. In fact, it's more likely to become overgrown than not. “Spider web plants will grow vigorously if placed in the right location,” says Melvin Cubian, horticulture expert at PlantIn. Thankfully, there's an easy fix: “Try pruning off any little baby plants or spider plants and giving them to friends or planting them yourself,” Cubian advises.
Strong Points:
Safe for dogs Thrives in different levels of light
Cons:
The tips of the leaves may dry out and shrivel up. Although not toxic to cats, this plant is mildly hallucinogenic to them.
Light: Low to bright | Watering: Once every two weeks (or when the soil feels completely dry)
Sansevierias are widely known as some of the easiest houseplants to care for and hard to kill. “This plant actually likes to grow in low light areas and prefers partial shade or very shady environments,” says Sears. Make sure to give it the type of soil your plant prefers. “The pH of the soil you grow your sansevieria in is important to its health, as they prefer soil between 5.5 and 7.0 on the pH scale,” Sears continues. “If you need help determining your soil's pH level, a soil test kit can help you do this in just a few minutes.”
Strong Points:
It can survive in any light level and does not require frequent watering.
Cons:
Mildly toxic to pets and prone to root rot
Light: Low to bright light | Watering: Once a week (or when soil is 50-75% dry)
“Pothos is a very popular houseplant because it's easy to care for in a variety of growing environments,” says Sears. But pothos especially loves humidity, and Sears recommends not only watering your pothos every one to two weeks, but also misting it with water every few days to keep its leaves extra lush.
Now, the downside is that pothos isn't a very pet-friendly plant. Thankfully, there's an easy, aesthetically pleasing solution: “I recommend growing it in a hanging basket, which can be kept out of reach while still elevating the plant's appearance,” she says.
Strong Points:
Easy to care for and grows beautiful vines
Cons:
Light: Low to medium light | Watering: Twice a week (or when the top few inches of soil are dry)
Want to inject a little life into a dingy corner of your room? Boston ferns thrive in dingy corners, as do bird's nest and maidenhair ferns. “Plant them in a well-draining peat moss-based potting soil and place them in a moist spot like a bathroom,” says Cubian. They'll also thrive in tabletop pots, but this fern's unique leaf pattern is especially striking in a hanging pot, like the adorable sloth pot above.
Strong Points:
Safe for humid environments and pet owners
Cons:
Leaves dry out easily (remove dry leaves to promote healthy growth)
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Once a week (or when the top 25% of the soil is dry)
English ivy is a common outdoor ground cover plant that helps prevent soil erosion, but Sears says it's also easy to grow (and care for) indoors in low-light conditions. “English ivy grows particularly well in low- to medium-light environments, but be sure to allow the soil to dry out between waterings, or the soil will become too wet for the plant to grow,” she says.
Strong Points:
It grows in a cool, dark place and does not require frequent watering.
Cons:
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Every 1-2 weeks (or when soil is completely dry to the touch)
Don't overlook ZZ plants, another distinctive yet hard-to-kill option for those without a knack for gardening. “ZZ plants are known for their incredibly beautiful glossy leaves (so beautiful) that they're often mistaken for fake plants,” says Sears. “These low-maintenance plants grow best in indirect or low light, as direct sunlight can cause the leaves to burn or yellow.” Overwatering can also cause leaves to yellow, but leaf drop is a sign of not enough water.
Strong Points:
Easy to maintain and easy to read
Cons:
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Once a week (or when the top half of the soil is dry)
Peace lilies are known for their lush green foliage and beautiful white flowers (although they will only bloom if they get at least six hours of indirect light, says Cuvian). Another thing to keep in mind is that the plant is deciduous. “If you recently purchased one and placed it in a shady part of your home, you'll often find that your peace lily will lose its leaves at an alarming rate,” Cuvian adds. “But this is completely normal and part of its mechanism for thriving in low light.”
Strong Points:
It can thrive in a wide range of light levels and even thrives in humid environments.
Cons:
Toxic to humans and animals
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: About once a week (or when soil is 50-75% dry)
A tropical perennial, dieffenbachia has large, pointed leaves and can grow to several feet tall. It prefers bright, indirect sunlight, but can also adapt to low-light conditions. “Shade locations require little to moderate watering, as growth slows and the plant tends to drop unused leaves,” Cubian notes. To keep this plant thriving, plant it in well-drained soil with a high peat content.
Strong Points:
Easy to maintain. Grows adaptively to light levels.
Cons:
Highly toxic to pets and humans
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Every 2-3 days (or when the soil surface is dry)
Also known as the inch plant, Treizecantia zebrina is known for its distinctive purple-green color and ability to thrive in low, indirect light. As beautiful as its leaves typically are, it can also produce small flowers. Just make sure you don't touch it too much. “Treizecantia zebrina produces a sap that, if ingested, can cause dermatitis and gastrointestinal upset in both pets and humans,” warns Sears.
Strong Points:
Blooms with uniquely colored flowers
Cons:
Most Popular
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Once a week (or when the top 50% of the soil is dry)
This leafy tropical plant, which is in the same family as dieffenbachia, is similarly easy to care for and will thrive in low-light areas—though “if you want it to look bushier, consider moving it next to a bright spot,” Cubian says.
Aglaonemas have air-purifying properties that can bring life to even the darkest places, and if you're growing them indoors in low light, Cubian adds, “They don't need much water in the shade, so water them only when the soil looks dry.”
Strong Points:
It can survive in low humidity but thrives in high humidity and its beautiful two-tone leaves add a nice splash of color.
Cons:
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Once a week (or when the top half of the soil is dry)
Known for being virtually indestructible, cast iron plants are the perfect low-light indoor plant for beginning gardeners, says Sears. Though they can thrive in very low light, they are picky about a few things: They like a regular watering schedule. So you don't have to worry about keeping to a schedule, Sears recommends buying a planter with a self-watering pot, like the one pictured above. “Self-watering pots are an easy way to maintain soil moisture without having to constantly check it,” she says.
Strong Points:
It is harmless to pets and requires very little light.
Cons:
Large leaves can collect dust
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Once a week (or when the top half of the soil is dry)
If your home is feeling a bit cluttered, lucky bamboo might be just what you need. The sturdy stems are stress-resistant, so this traditional plant will hold up in low light. Simply put, this is a resilient plant. “If it loses leaves or becomes infected with root rot, simply cut off the weakened sections and replant, and it will bounce back quickly,” says Cubian.
Strong Points:
Stress-resistant and easy to replant
Cons:
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Every 2 weeks (or when soil is 75% dry)
“Philodendrons are a favorite plant breeder's choice, as evidenced by their extensive cultivar list,” says Cubian, who points out that philodendrons are similar to pothos. “To grow a philodendron, replicate a warm, humid environment with indirect light, such as next to a large window.” Don't have a large window? “They'll grow in low-light environments, but at a slower rate,” Cubian adds.
Strong Points:
It does not require bright light to survive, it will grow rapidly in medium to bright light and will grow slower in low light.
Cons:
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Once a week (or when soil is 50% dry)
Love vibrant colors but don't want to buy fresh flowers every week? Anthuriums are the answer. “Anthuriums, or flamenco lilies, are popular for their pink flowers,” says Cubian. That said, if you keep them in a dark place with no indirect light, they may not bloom. So, if you want this plant to have a particularly vibrant presence in your space, make sure to give it a few hours of indirect light per day. Where do Anthuriums Grow? “Because they're native to the tropics, a warm, cozy room is the perfect place to grow anthuriums,” says Cubian.
Strong Points:
Beautiful flowers. Grows in medium to bright indirect light, but can also tolerate low light.
Cons:
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Watering: Daily (in the center of the plant, not in the soil, unless the soil is bone dry)
Add a tropical touch to your home with a striking bromeliad. “A close relative of the pineapple, the bromeliad is a tropical plant that thrives in shade,” says Cubian. What's more, bromeliads are also attractive because they are watered at the base of the plant rather than in the soil. Plus, they thrive in rooms that often feature accent colors. “If your bathroom is warm, it's the perfect place for a bromeliad, which loves shade,” Cubian adds.
Strong Points:
Cute colors Unique automatic watering design Pet-friendly
Cons:
The leaves should be handled with care as they can cause skin irritation in humans.
Source link