29 Low Light Houseplants and Advice on How to Grow Them
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Figuring out a good watering schedule is a tricky task and the primary reason most owners see leaf drop. In fact, leaf drop is one of the most common issues with these large low light houseplants. I’ve written a separate article about the common reasons why ficus trees drop leaves. Cast Iron plants handles low light, low humidity levels, infrequent waterings, and temperature fluctuations to reach a height of about 3 feet tall when fully mature. Perfect for the homeowner who may forget to water their plants periodically, the ZZ plant handles both low light exposure and sporadic watering. Plants grow on average to just over two feet in height with thick, glossy green foliage.
Grape Ivy
Thanks to the higher chlorophyll content, they are better able to handle these conditions. Try the species Aglaonema nitidum or the cultivar Maria for that glossy deep green color while thriving with less light. The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is a traditional houseplant staple. With stunning spiked flowers and the glossy modified leaves surrounding them, it’s not hard to see why.
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False aralia (Plerandra elegantissima) is a compact, shrub-like rainforest tree that grows very slowly. You can find dumb cane planted in a five-gallon pot with song of India available from FastGrowingTrees.com. Nondescript blossoms may appear but they are no rival for the 12-inch leaves of this exceptional foliage specimen. That said, you might want to move on to the next plant, or display this one with the utmost care.
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Siam Aglaonema, or Chinese evergreen, is characterized by variegated green leaves edged with unexpected reddish pinks. It's also one of the easiest plants to keep alive as it grows in any lighting from bright to very low. While it does best when watered regularly, it can also go weeks without water. Many plants that tolerate low light may actually grow better in slightly brighter or medium light. Although often considered a holiday plant, these long-lived cacti can survive for years when well cared for.
Kimberly queen fern
Peace lily is available from Fast Growing Trees in a six-inch or three-gallon pot. Check out our guide to learn how to grow and care for fishtail palms. You can find fiddle-leaf fig plants in a variety of sizes available from FastGrowingTrees.com. In the first few years, you’ll enjoy a tabletop “mini-tree,” but be prepared for gradual growth of up to eight feet over its lifetime. Aphids, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites may be a problem if plants are stressed from too much or too little water. ‘Silver Bay’ is available from Home Depot in nine-inch growers pots.
Locate them in a temperate room in the 60 to 85°F range with 50 percent humidity. Place the pot on a bed of moist stones, group plants, or use a humidifier if necessary to increase ambient moisture. Money tree (Pachira spp.) is a humidity-loving plant that adapts well to a range of indoor conditions. Whether your money tree comes with a braided trunk or not (braiding is supposed to capture and hold luck), this beauty is a standout addition to a home. Some parts of the plants, especially the sap, are toxic for humans and pets. English ivy is toxic to humans and pets, so put it high off the ground out of reach of kids and pets.
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
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Its sturdy patterned foliage and easy care make Dieffenbachia a perfect beginner plant. Not just are members of this genus beautiful, they’re also undemanding and don’t require a sunny windowsill to thrive. In fact, they’ll do just fine a few feet away from the window as long as they do get some light.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
The tropical plant adds a vibrant green pop to inside spaces, thrives in indirect and low light conditions, and it only needs to be watered every week or two. Corn plants have moderate watering requirements and thrive in low-light situations. While they are slow-growing plants, a mature Corn plant can grow up to six feet tall indoors. These low light indoor plants prefer low to bright, indirect light situations. Pothos Tradescantia is an excellent plant to keep if you enjoy sharing propagated plants with family and friends. Preferring consistent watering schedules, Prayer plants are happy in low to moderate light; however, bright indirect light encourages them to bloom tiny purple flowers.
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Just don’t put it in direct sunlight, as the leaves will likely burn. Water the Kimberly queen fern when the soil is dry to the touch or when its fronds turn pale green. Weeping figs have a reputation for being hard to grow—and they can be finicky—but their beauty makes them worth the effort and the perfect living room plant. These low-light indoor plants from South Asia grow best in bright, indirect light. You’ll love that they only need watering when the top few inches of soil are dry.
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Although happy in low-light homes, Calathea needs brighter lighting conditions to encourage flowering. Monstera Deliciosa, also known as the Swiss cheese plant due to the holes in the leaf structure, is a larger plant that will make an instant impact in a room. Medium indirect light is preferred, and it only requires watering about once a week. In an ideal world, every room in the house would be flooded with natural light and huge windows, but this is just not the case. You may live in an urban apartment with small windows or have some rooms in your home that just don't have access to right-facing light. Alas, the easiest way to brighten up these spaces is with plants, and there is a slew of options that thrive with little to no light.
Whether you choose the large, sweeping fronds of the parlor palm or the bright blooms of anthurium, you will find low-light houseplants well-suited to your needs. Keeping your plants at least 3 feet away from a direct sunlight source will be low enough light. Spider plants can be propagated by planting the “spiderettes” they lend their name from. These baby plants (pictured below) hang from the mother plant like spiders and can just be snipped off and planted into well-draining potting soil. After planting, keep the spiderette well-watered and roots should soon start to appear.
This handsome heart-leaf philodendron has beautiful splashes of lime-yellow variegation on its otherwise green leaves to add even more life to your room! The tropical plant reflects sunlight beautifully, and it prefers bright, indirect light. It's a relatively low-maintenance plant, so it'll bounce back even if you occasionally forget to water it. Another popular houseplant, the peace lily is a favorite as it tolerates lower light conditions and produces delicate white calla-like flowers in spring and summer.
You’ll find the pot dries out more slowly during winter dormancy, and misting is not necessary during non-growth periods. As a plant matures, the leaves get larger, and yours may even surprise you with greenish blossoms, though this is rare – particularly in low light. Use a deep pot that can comfortably accommodate the roots and that has good drainage. You can prune grape ivy to maintain a compact shape, or let new shoots grow and spread.
A plant that isn’t getting enough light will also start to lose its color, and look dull or even transparent. English Ivy does well in any level of light and will thrive in that dark corner you avoid putting any of your other plants in. While the small leaves of the Polka Dot Plant are spotted with color, the Nerve Plant goes a different route.
The elegant flowering plant is ideal for budding and expert green thumbs alike, as they require very little to thrive indoors. The key to growing this orchid is letting the soil dry out between waterings and avoiding direct sunlight. As its common name implies, cast-iron plant is strong—one of the sturdiest and most carefree of all houseplants, though somewhat slow-growing. Its tough leaves, glossy and dark green, 1 to 2½ feet long and 3 to 4 inches wide, arch elegantly; the leaves are pointed at the tips. If you don’t see them among the low light houseplants at the nursery, look among outdoor shade-loving plants.
If you want to grow indoor plants without sunlight, or if you find that they’re struggling to thrive in your home, then you can always add a grow light. They are now appreciated as indoor plants, garnering attention from houseplant collectors around the world. And, thanks to their love of shade, these prolific growers are happy in low light inside homes too. These plants typically prefer bright conditions to grow their best. However, they can tolerate low light for several months, as long as they get some exposure for a couple of months throughout the year.
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