20 Low-Light Houseplants You Can Grow Practically Anywhere

Table Of Content

• ZZ Plant
• How To Care For Ric Rac Cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger)
• Red Anthurium

Cute and compact, this slow-growing succulent forms attractive rosettes of fleshy green leaves accented by bands of pebbly white speckles. Ideal for low-light terrariums or any windowsill where it won’t receive direct sunlight. One of the easiest houseplants to grow, this tropical vine comes in a variety of foliage colors and patterns.

ZZ Plant

These low-light houseplants are sure to add life to even the darkest corner in your home. Let’s say your house is like mine, and you just don’t get a lot of direct sunlight. The biggest hindrance in growing these low-light houseplants is overwatering. But as long as you wait until the soil is dry before re-watering the plant, you should see great success. They grow perfectly fine in low light, but if you want them to bloom, they need bright, indirect light for a few months out of the year.

How To Care For Ric Rac Cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger)

Prayer plants will even get tiny flowers on them when they’re happy, which makes them even better in my opinion. This is a very common problem, and one of the first sign that a houseplant needs more light. A plant that isn’t getting enough light will also start to lose its color, and look dull or even transparent. When plants don’t get enough light, they will first start to get long and leggy. They might even start to lean towards the light if there’s a window or other light source nearby. The graceful shape and dense foliage make it a beautiful architectural accent.

Red Anthurium

This low-maintenance plant is believed to bring good luck and can adapt to low-light and fluorescent lighting conditions. More experienced plant owners may use a sandy, peat-based soil and a pot with good drainage. This romantic houseplant is incredibly easy to care for and will develop long vines if left to grow unhindered. Place the plant on a bookcase or shelf to encourage the vines to drape.

20 Low-Light Houseplants You Can Grow Practically Anywhere - Bob Vila

20 Low-Light Houseplants You Can Grow Practically Anywhere.

Posted: Tue, 16 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Spider Plants are remarkably adaptable, adjusting to areas with less light well. They may lose a bit of their color and sheen, but they will not suffer any major health issues when deprived of the perfect lighting conditions. They are relatively quick growers and don’t require much maintenance, making them perfect for beginners. Spider plants also seem to live forever, even with a little neglect.

Air plant

There’s no such thing as a “no-care” houseplant, but snake plants are about the closest thing you can get. Keep it out of the direct sun, water it regularly (but don’t overwater it), and it will thrive for you years to come. The snake plant, also known as mother-in-law's tongue, is a hardy plant that can withstand pretty much anything you throw at it. It can go for months without any light and almost no water, but for best upkeep, water it every 2-3 weeks. It's part of the succulent family and can help purify the air in your home. These plants are homebodies, preferring to spend their time in the lower light levels of interior rooms or those with smaller windows.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

The soil should be evenly moist but not soggy during the growing season, and you can cut down on watering during winter. Fertilize it every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season, April to September. Another plant with a deceptive nickname, ponytail palm is not a palm. Its fountain-like leaves and swollen trunk base make it intriguingly attractive. Outdoors, in full sun, ponytail palm will grow to 30 feet tall, but in low-light conditions in a pot indoors, it grows to about 4 feet tall.

Many species do look remarkably similar though and so make wonderful complements of each other when dotted around the house. Calatheas, a previous entrant on this list, are commonly known as Prayer Plants. However, much like the mix-up with the Pothos common name, they are not technically true Prayer Plants.

Once mature, the plants can reach 4 feet tall and wide and are hardy to 26° F. The tender new foliage can be susceptible to snails and slugs—handpick the pests and sprinkle bait around crown base or keep it indoors as a low light houseplant. This tropical perennial plant is well loved for its upright, glossy foliage that is vaguely reminiscent of cycad fronds. 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. Sansevieria is similar to cast iron plant in its ability to survive almost anything, including low light levels and drought. The snakeskin-like foliage is typically flat or slightly concave, but you can also find interesting cultivars with twisted and tubular leaves.

In nature, these vine-like plants love to climb trees with their aerial roots, so provide a moss pole or other support to accommodate their ascent. Read on for 19 tall houseplants that can live in low-light conditions. Calatheas do well in east or west windows with about 50 percent humidity. Spray them daily or place pots on a tray of pebbles and water. Its round, shiny leaves are a blend of purple and black, but it’s the vibrant burgundy zigzag lines on each leaf that set this plant apart from all others. For added interest in your collection, try combining different shapes, colors, and sizes of low-light houseplants.

Although the leaves are usually deep green and glossy, you can find newer cultivars adorned with splashes of gold, yellow or cream. Nothing so brings life into a room in the winter months as greenery. I would like to see some more information regarding houseplants and their suitability for homes with pets, cats in particular. It would also be great to know if indoor potted plants would benefit from being relocated outdoors seasonally.

Graceful and easy to care for, parlor palms (also marketed as Bella palms or Neanthe palms) can grow in a variety of spaces in your home. They aren’t just for the corners of dimly lit rooms or for tabletops, bookshelves or office desks (though they look great there as well). While they like bright, indirect light, they adapt to lower lighting conditions, which makes them great for a hall or entryway. Spider plants, much like Pothos, are appreciated for their ability to withstand low light conditions, super easy propagation and suitability for hanging planters. They are great beginner plants that don’t require a lot of care to thrive.