The right indoor plants can spruce up a dull room, freshen the air, add a pop of color and make your home healthier to boot. But what if you don't get enough sunlight in your apartment or home, does that mean it's impossible for you to grow plants indoors? Absolutely not!
We've got you covered with this handy guide on the best low-light plants you can easily grow in the comfort of your home or office! Each of these low-light plants is also a great starter plant for new plant parents who don't have a lot of experience with growing greenery.
What does Low-Light mean?
Low light means no direct sunlight will reach your plant. It could be a few feet away from your light source (sunny window), or the sunlight is being blocked by a nearby building (partially shaded windows). Rooms with north-facing would also qualify as low-light places.
Read our Houseplant Lighting 101 to learn more about indoor plant light requirements.
Before we give our favorite low-light indoor plants, please take note that low-light loving plants still need light, meaning they won’t thrive if you'll shove them in a dark corner or a room with no windows at all.
Calathea
The Calathea, or prayer plant as it is commonly called, comes in a wide variety of vibrant colors ranging from green to red and orange. The leaves of this plant fold together at night (as if it's praying) and unfold during the day.
The prayer plant can be placed in medium to low light situations and doesn't require a lot of watering. They do best with soil that is slightly moist, but not too wet.
Money Tree
The Money Tree is an indoor ornamental tree that is believed to bring financial luck as well as eliminate obstacles and bad luck making it perfect for homes and offices.
It has shiny, leathery leaves that are like fingers, produces small white flowers in the summer, and usually has a "braided" base. This plant loves moist soil, and lots of indirect sunlight, so it's best placed against a south-facing window with a couple of other plants for shade.
Monstera
Monstera, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, is a favorite among plant enthusiasts and newbie gardeners because it is easy to care for, and tolerates all types of lighting conditions including low-light conditions. This plant is perfect for adding a big, bold, tropical feel to your home and helps purify the air.
It does best in bright indirect light—don't place it near a window unless there's something such as curtains or blinds between it and the window. It thrives on humidity and needs moderate watering, so keep the soil slightly moist at all times.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are among the most popular and easiest-to-grow houseplant. Not only are they adaptable, but also beautiful, with their long, slender leaves that make them perfect for hanging baskets and other containers.
If you're looking for a plant that is easy to grow, tolerant of neglect and doesn't need a lot of light, then this is the way to go! These plants prefer indirect light and will do fine in a space like office room, living room, a bathroom that don't get bright light. The spider plant does well when watered infrequently but deeply so that the soil is thoroughly drenched.
Peace Lily
The peace lily is a common houseplant because it prefers low, requires minimal care, and brings in beauty with its deep green glossy leaves and spade-shaped flowers which last for about two months. This shade-loving tropical native is extremely easy to grow and one of the easiest plants to propagate.
Peace lilies prefer moderate to low light, so keep them away from south-facing windows in summer and west-facing windows in winter. They'll do well next to a north-facing window or under an artificial light. The soil around your peace lily should be kept consistently moist but not soggy or wet.
Philodendron
The Philodendron is an easy-to-grow, low-maintenance houseplant that thrives in average household conditions. The Philodendron is a classic, old-fashioned vining houseplant with its heart-shaped leaves and a trailing growth habit.
Philodendrons are one of the most forgiving and low maintenance houseplant which is why newbie gardeners love them too! They are tolerant of poor light, infrequent watering and neglect. They thrive in medium to low light and prefer to be kept dry between waterings. Most varieties need gritty, well-drained soil and prefer to be kept evenly moist.
Snake Plant
The snake plant is one of the easiest houseplants to grow, and it's also one of the best for improving household air quality which is why it's considered to be a "breatharian" plant because it produces oxygen at night when it isn't getting any sunlight. They have sharp, pointed leaves that resemble fangs with yellow or white marking on the leaves.
The snake plant is virtually impossible to kill. It is an ideal low-light houseplant that doesn’t require much maintenance. In fact, Snake plant have some of the lowest light requirements of any houseplant- they prefer low light, but will grow in medium light as well and can even tolerate full sun for a few hours each day! They can survive for long periods of time without water too!
Yucca Cane
If you're looking for a houseplant that doesn't require a lot of maintenance, the yucca is an excellent choice. Yucca cane plants, also known as Adam's needle, are a hardy variety that tolerate low light and neglect (though they grow much better in brighter, indirect light). In addition to basic light requirements, yucca plants need a well-drained soil with plenty of moisture. This particular plant is also known to be resistant to spider mites, and mealybugs.
Yucca plants have stiff, woody stems with clusters of sword-like leaves (resembling the tip of a needle) that range from dark green to grayish blue which make them a great accent piece in your home or office.
Other plants that thrive in the shade:
- Bird's Nest Fern
- Arrowhead Plant
- Chinese Evergreen
- Rex Begonia
- Pothos
- Watermelon Peperomia
- ZZ Plant
- English and Algerian Ivy
Do you own any of this low-light indoor plants? Or are you still planning to get your hands on one? What was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
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