No Sunlight? These Plants Don’t Need It! These are indoor plants for low light conditions. Just what you were looking for!
But What Are They?
Do you dream of a lush jungle?
Do you work in a dark office but want some greenery around you?
Worried about the air quality in your inside environment?
Is your house or apartment so dark that all of the houseplants you’ve brought home have died?
Many varieties of plants can live and thrive on very little sunlight.
These plants for low light conditions will easily fit into your life as they almost take care of themselves!
Let’s find out what they are and get you on the road to living with plants.
Bromeliads Love Low Light Conditions
Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) are prized for their beautiful foliage. The colors range from red, green, purple, orange, yellow-banded, stripes, and spots.
Their foliage grows in a natural rosette shape. They are one of the plants for low light conditions.
The wide leaves are shaped like swords and grow around a central “cup.” The “cup” catches water in the plant’s natural habitat.
Bromeliads readily adapt to regular home or office conditions. They can grow anywhere, even in artificial lighting.
- Growth: Can grow to 1 foot tall.
- Light: Medium to dark light
- Water: Very tolerant of drought conditions. Place water in the center “cup” of the plant.
- Soil: Use fast-draining potting soil
- Fertilizer: Use very little.
- Planter: Plant in a shallow pot.
- Pests: Very few.
- Air Quality: They release oxygen and remove air pollutants during the night.
- Bromeliad Choice – Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow
Chinese Evergreen (Silver Queen)
One of my favorite of the 17 best plants for low light conditions is the Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema). This plant originated from the tropics and subtropics of Asia.
It is one of the easiest plants you can grow inside. It tolerates poor light, dry air, and drought. You can look like a plant expert with this plant in your house!
- Growth: Can grow to a maximum of 3 feet tall.
- Light: Medium to low light conditions or indirect sunlight.
- Water: Moderate watering
- Soil: Well-draining soil mix of potting soil, perlite, and sand.
- Fertilizer: Use balanced water-soluble houseplant fertilizer once or twice per year
- Planter: Use a well-draining pot.
- Pests: Spider mites, scale, mealybugs, and aphids. Use insecticide soap to control.
- Air Quality: Removes formaldehyde.
- Chinese Evergreen Aglaonema
Creeping Fig
This Fig (ficus pumila) plant originated in China and Japan.
One of the plants for low light conditions, it has small, heart-shaped leaves and is grown for its foliage. Prune this plant well and often!
- Growth: Trailing growth to 3 feet.
- Light: Avoid direct sunlight. Tolerates low lighting conditions.
- Water: Soak the soil to water, then let dry out. Empty the water saucer.
- Soil: use any good potting mix.
- Fertilizer: Feed a diluted liquid fertilizer once a month.
- Planter: Use a hanging planter that is the same size as the root ball.
- Creeping Fig Vine – Climbing Ivy
Dracaena Marginata
Dracaena (Asparagaceae) is a group of 50 assorted species of plants that come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
The dracaena family of plants is used indoors in all kinds of commercial buildings, and they are some of the most durable foliage plants available.
Dracaena plants are in the list of plants for low light conditions. Bonus: they offer a small footprint for the in-home garden.
Dracaena Marginata is the most versatile houseplant in the family. It is also known as Dragon Blood Tree and Red Edged Dracaena. It looks a bit like a palm, but it isn’t!
You can see the Marginata in bush, straight cane, staggered cane, tree form, and character forms. The leaves with red to purple stripes along the sides are sitting on top slender canes.
- Growth: Will grow up to 6 feet tall
- Light: These species can tolerate low light: Nidularium, Vrieseas, Guzmania.
- Water: Avoid overwatering! Try to water from the bottom. If watering from the top, just once a week when the soil is dry. Let the soil be slightly damp after watering.
- Soil: Use any well-draining potting soil with peat moss.
- Fertilizer: Feed only during the growing season, twice per year.
- Planter: Use clay pots with drainage holes. Repot only every two to three years, as they like having their roots confined.
- Pests: Mealybugs. Spray with insecticide soap to control.
- The leaves can turn brown on the tips due to fluoride in the water. Try using distilled water.
- Air quality: Removes formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.
- Dracaena Marginata Colorama
Golden Pothos
Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum), also known as golden pothos, is a trailing vine with pointed leaves that are shaped like hearts. It is native to the Solomon Islands.
There are several varieties with different colors of leaf variegation. Often mistaken for Philodendron, the Pothos has larger waxy leaves.
- Growth: Can grow to 6 to 10 feet long.
- Light: Bright, indirect light but can thrive with dark or artificial lighting
- Water: Let the soil dry out completely between watering. It will tell you when to water.
- Soil: Use well-drained potting soil.
- Fertilizer: Feed monthly with a balanced houseplant fertilizer.
- Planter: Repot in a container one or two sizes larger.
- Pests: Usually pest free, can get infested with mealy bugs. Spray with insecticidal soap.
- Air Quality: Removes formaldehyde, trichloroethene, toluene, xylene, and benzene.
- Golden Devil’s Ivy Pothos
Japanese Sedge
Most Japanese sedges are outdoor plants, but one sedge (Carex Morrowii) makes a wonderful houseplant.
It has narrow, grassy leaves that are striped pale green and white forming a fountain of foliage. This sedge looks like grass without being grass.
- Growth: Will grow to 1 foot tall.
- Light: Will tolerate low lighting conditions.
- Water: Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- Soil: Use a good potting mix.
- Fertilizer: Feed with a standard liquid fertilizer every four weeks in spring and summer.
- Planter: Any planter works.
- ‘Evergold’ (Japanese Sedge) Grass
Maidenhair Fern
These Ferns (Adiantum genus) are part of a genus that contains over 200 varieties of ferns.
The maidenhair ferns are considered hardy ferns rather than tropical ferns, but they can be particular about their growing conditions.
- Growth: Will grow to 1 foot tall with graceful fountain effect.
- Light: Shady conditions. It can thrive under almost no light.
- Water: Keep the soil barely moist and mist the leaves a couple of times daily.
- Soil: Use a well-draining potting soil.
- Fertilizer: Feed with a very weak liquid fertilizer twice a week.
- Planter: Use a pot with drainage holes and put that pot into a decorative pot.
- Maidenhair Fern
Parlor Palm
The Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) was first discovered in the rainforests of Southern Mexico and Guatemala. I
t has become one of the most popular indoor palms grown in most temperate countries. You’ll find these palms growing in small clumps, looking like palm-like shrubs.
- Growth: As a houseplant, it can grow to 2 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
- Light: Bright, indirect light.
- Water: Don’t overwater!
- Soil: Use sandy soil with loam and clay.
- Fertilizer: Feed once or twice during the growing season with a weak liquid fertilizer.
- Planter: Use a three-gallon pot about ten inches across.
- Pests: Prone to aphids, mealy bugs, scale, and whitefly. Spray with insecticidal soap.
- Victorian Parlor Palm
Peace Lily
Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum) are native to tropical rainforests of America. They are not true lilies (lilium spp.) but are a member of the same family (Aracheae) as Calla Lilies.
The white flower features a hood-like sheath which resembles a white flag of surrender. Hence, the “Peace” name.
The Peace Lily is in the NASA Top 10 Household Air Cleaning Plants. It is very resilient, so if you forget to water it, it will spring back quickly once it gets some.
- Growth: It can grow to 4 feet tall and wide with big, bold leaves.
- Light: Prefer light partial shade and can tolerate artificial light.
- Water: When the plant droops slightly, once a week. Spritz the leaves in summer.
- Soil: use good potting soil.
- Fertilizer: is not needed. But, for larger blooms, you can use a 20-20-20 house plant fertilizer at one half or one quarter recommended strength once per month.
- Planter: This plant is tall and wide, so a large floor planter is best. Repot every 1-2 years.
- Pests: Keep under control by regularly wiping the leaves.
- Air Quality: Removes benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and ammonia.
- Peace Lily Plant
Peacock Plant (Calathea)
The Peacock Plant (Calathea makoyana) originated in Brazil. It is known for its beautiful foliage and is also called “Cathedral Windows.”
A tall, slender tropical plant, it can become a colorful addition to your home or office.
- Growth: Can grow to 2 feet tall.
- Light: Low to moderate light.
- Water: Keep the soil consistently moist. This plant likes high humidity. Give it frequent showers. Mist the leaves and place bowls of water around the plant.
- Soil: Use a good potting soil that holds moisture and provides good drainage.
- Fertilizer: Feed with a high-nitrogen fertilizer.
- Planter: Use pot with drainage holes and place on a saucer filled with pebbles.
- Pests: Keep the leaves wiped to reduce pests.
- Calathea Medallion Peacock
Peperomia
These are the cutest little plants for your office! Peperomia (Piperaceae genus) originated in South America rainforests.
They are popular as houseplants as they are tolerant of a wide range of conditions, and they have attractive foliage.
- Growth: Can grow to about 12 inches high and 8 inches across.
- Light: Low to moderate light.
- Water: Don’t overwater. Instead, keep steadily moist.
- Soil: Use a loose, well-drained potting soil.
- Fertilizer: Feed only in the growing season with diluted liquid fertilizer.
- Planter: Use a smaller pot, as it likes being slightly rootbound.
- Peperomia ‘Rosso’
Philodendron
Philodendron (Araceae genus) originated from the South American rain forests. This is another of the plants that can grow in the dark!
There are two kinds that are used for houseplants: the climbing varieties and the self-heading (non-climbing) varieties.
- The climbing varieties are used as hanging plants.
- The self-heading varieties are used as upright foliage plants on the floor or table. The P. scandens (sweetheart plant) is the most dependable of the species.
- Growth: Can grow to 8 feet tall.
- Light: Low light conditions to moderate light.
- Water: Keep the soil moist at all times.
- Soil: Use loose, rich potting soil.
- Fertilizer: Feed regularly with slow-release pellets or liquid fertilizer.
- Planter: Use a pot with drainage holes. Repot as the plant outgrows the container.
- Pests: Not prone to insects.
- Air Quality: Valued for cleaning the air in your home or office.
- Heart Leaf Philodendron
Prayer Plants Love Low Light
The Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)is native to Brazil, Asia, and Africa. It is a unique houseplant, and one of those plants that can grow in the dark.
The prayer plant has large patterned colorful leaves that lift up and fold together each evening as if praying and open up again the next morning.
- Growth: Can grow to 1 foot.
- Light: Low to moderate light.
- Water: Likes high humidity. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- Soil: Use well-drained soil.
- Fertilizer: Feed with acid-houseplant food, diluted to ½ the recommended strength.
- Planter: Use a pot with drainage holes.
- Pests: Prone to aphids, mealy bugs, and spider mites. Spray with insecticidal soap.
- Red Prayer Plant
Snake Plant
The Snake Plant (Sansaveria trifasciate) is a succulent that is native to West Africa, Madagascar, and southern Asia.
It is an architectural plant with upright leaves that is used for interior design.
There are around 70 different species of Snake Plant. Mother-in-law’s Tongue is a variety of snake plant that has a yellow border on the leaves. Snake Plant is very easy to grow.
- Growth: It can grow from one to up to 8 feet tall.
- Light: The snake plant needs bright, indirect light, but is a plant which likes low light conditions.
- Water: Since it has succulent leaves, the snake plant has mild watering needs. Keep its soil slightly moist and do not overwater.
- Soil: A standard potting mix with good drainage is good enough.
- Fertilizer: Use a general-purpose fertilizer a couple times per year.
- Planter: Snake plants are top-heavy with very strong roots. Use a planter with a wider bottom made with strong material.
- Pests: Fungus gnats that are harmless. The best way to control these is not to overwater! They can be handled with a natural, organic pesticide.
- Air quality: Removes benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.
- Snake Plant, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue – Sanseveria
Spider Plant
Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are very adaptable and very prolific. They thrive under low light conditions and are truly one of the best 17 plants for low light conditions you can find.
The plants form grass-like clumps with long slender stems hanging two to three feet below the container.
Spider plants are named for the baby plantlets, or spiderettes, that form on their dangling stems.
- Growth
- Light: bright, indirect light. They will scorch in direct sunlight.
- Water: Water liberally in the summer, allow to dry out between watering. Do not let the soil become too soggy.
- Soil: they prefer a fast-draining, well-aerated potting mix.
- Fertilizer: use a 3:2:1 ratio fertilizer once a month.
- Planter: grow in a hanging pot or in simple baskets. Replant every other year.
- Pests: Control aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, and spider mites by rinsing the plant or using a miticide or vinegar.
- The plant might get brown tips, the result of fluoride in your water. Control this by thoroughly watering to rinse out the salts. Allow to drain out.
- Air Quality: Removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene.
- Ocean Spider Plant
Sword Fern
The Australian Sword Fern (nephrolepsis obliterate) is a new cultivar of sword fern. It is more compact than its counterpart the sword fern and makes a better houseplant. This fern is one of those plants that can grow in the dark.
Known for its large, almost-upright fronds, this plant never leaves a mess. The Australian Sword Fern likes low light conditions. and is the perfect Victorian style plant for you.
- Growth: Can grow to 2 feet.
- Light: Low to medium light.
- Water: Let dry before watering. Brown fronds in the center mean it is overwatered.
- Soil: Use well-drained soil.
- Fertilizer: Feed with a diluted balanced liquid plant food.
- Planter: Use a pot with drainage holes, and place on a saucer with wet pebbles.
- Pests: Prone to aphids, mealy bugs, and spider mites. Spray with insecticidal soap.
- Air Quality: Removes formaldehyde.
- Fern Kimberly Queen
Umbrella Papyrus
- Growth: Depending on species, they can grow from 20 inches to 3 feet tall.
- Light: Very adaptable, can grow in any light. If too dark, it will send out new shoots.
- Water: Likes lots of water. Use a drip pan that is always filled up.
- Soil: Use potting soil with a high loam content.
- Fertilizer: Only feed occasionally during growth periods.
- Planter: Use a large pot with a drip pan underneath. Keep the drip pan full of water.
- Pests: Not prone to pests. Watch out for moldy potting soil. if you find some, move the plant to a brighter spot.
- Umbrella Palm Plant – Rooted (not seeds) – Cyperus Alternifolius, Papyrus
Collect Plants That Can Grow In The Dark
Now you have recommendations for the 17 best plants for low light conditions.