If your home gets little natural light and you’ve convinced yourself that you can’t turn your space into a lush jungle oasis, not so fast. While an aloe vera or jade plant might not thrive in a dimly lit room, the best low-light indoor plants like pothos and peace lilies can happily live in your home.
The best low-light indoor plants are perfect for homes with low-light conditions.
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It’s true that low-light houseplants tend to be lower-maintenance, though they have needs, too. For instance, these plants tend to fare best in spaces with modest amounts of direct or indirect sunlight—ideally, east- or west-facing rooms. If you have a room with no windows or just a single north-facing window, you can add a plant to the space—you’ll just have to invest in a special grow light to help it thrive. Lastly, don’t forget that the low-light indoor plants require regular waterings. Ahead, here are the very best low-light indoor plants that can brighten up the dimmest of spaces, featuring tips and recommendations from veritable plant experts.
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Light: Low to bright indirect light | Water: Once a week (or when 50 to 75% of the soil is dry)
“Whether you’re an expert gardener or just want to try adding greenery to your space, spider plants are really undemanding and easy to care for,” says Rebecca Sears, chief marketing officer and resident green thumb at Ferry-Morse Seed Company. “While full sun is best for most plants, spider plants can still thrive in low-light conditions and only need to be watered once per week.”
Better yet, while the tips of the long leaves can dry out and shrivel if not tended to, spider plants are known for being hard to kill. In fact, they’re more likely to become overgrown. “Spider plants can grow vigorously when placed in the right spot,” says PlantIn gardening expert Melvin Cubian. Thankfully, there’s an easy fix: “Consider pruning the little plant babies or spiderettes and give them to a friend or plant them,” he advises.
Pros:
Safe for dogsCan thrive in various levels of light
Cons:
Tips of leaves can dry out and shrivelWhile nontoxic for cats, the plant has a mildly hallucinogenic effect on felines
Light: Low to bright | Water: Once every two weeks (or when the soil feels completely dry)
Snake plants are widely known as one of the most low-maintenance, hardest-to-kill houseplants. “This plant actually prefers to grow in low light, opting for partial shade or very shady conditions,” says Sears. Just make sure you give the plant the type of soil it likes. “The pH of the soil you’re growing your snake plant in is important to its health, as it prefers soil that’s between 5.5 to 7.0 on the pH scale,” Sears continues. “If you need help determining the pH levels of your soil, a soil testing kit can do this in just a few minutes.”
Pros:
Can survive in any level of lightRequires infrequent waterings
Cons:
Mildly toxic to petsProne to root rot
Light: Low to bright light | Water: Once a week (or when 50 to 75% of the soil is dry)
“Pothos is a very popular houseplant because it’s easy to care for in several types of growing conditions,” says Sears. But they especially love humiditiy. Along with watering your pothos every one to two weeks, Sears recommends misting the plant every few days to keep its leaves looking especially lush.
And now, the downside: Pothos aren’t the most pet-friendly. Thankfully, there’s an easy, aesthetically pleasing fix. “I’d recommend growing it in a hanging basket that will keep it out of reach while elevating the look of the plant,” she shares.
Pros:
Easy to care forGrows beautiful cascading vines
Cons:
Toxic to pets
Light: Low to medium light | Water: Twice a week (or when the top few inches of the soil is dry)
Looking to breathe a little life into a dim corner of a room? Look no further than a Boston fern, which—along with bird’s nest ferns and maidenhair ferns—can thrive in a low-lit corner. “They should be planted in a well-draining peat moss-based medium and in humid places like the bathroom,” says Cubian. While they can live a long and happy life in a tabletop pot, the fern’s unique leaf pattern looks especially statement-making in a hanging vessel like the cute sloth one above.
Pros:
Fare well in humid environmentsSafe for pet owners
Cons:
Fronds are prone to drying out (remove dry fronds to promote healthy growth)
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Water: Once a week (or when the top 25% of the soil is dry)
While English Ivy is a common outdoor ground cover plant that can help hinder soil erosion, Sears says that it can easily be grown (and controlled) in low-light settings indoors. “English Ivy grows particularly well in low to moderate-light conditions, but be sure to let the soil dry out in between watering to prevent it becoming too moist for the plant to grow,” she says.
Pros:
Thrives in cool, dimly lit spacesDoesn’t require frequent watering
Cons:
Toxic to pets
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Water: Every one to two weeks (or when the soil is completely dry to the touch)
Don’t sleep on ZZ plants, another distinctive yet hard-to-kill option for those who weren’t born with a green thumb. “ZZ plants are known for their glossy leaves that look almost too good to be true—[so much so that they] are often mistaken for faux plants,” Sears says. “These low-maintenance plants grow best in indirect light or low light, as direct sunlight can result in burning or yellowing of the leaves.” Over-watering can also cause the leaves to turn yellow, while shedding leaves can be a sign of too little water.
Pros:
Low maintenanceEasy to read
Cons:
Toxic to pets and humans
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Water: Once a week (or when the top half of the soil is dry)
Peace lilies are known for their lush green leaves and ability to bloom beautiful white flowers. (That said, they’ll only bloom if they get at lease six hours of indirect light, says Cubian.) Another thing to keep in mind? They’re known to shed. “Peace lilies often lose leaves at alarming rates when it was recently purchased and placed in a shady part of the house,” he adds. “However, this is entirely normal and is part of its mechanism to thrive under low light.”
Pros:
Can thrive in various light levelsThey fare well in humid environments
Cons:
Toxic to humans and animals
Plants.com
Dieffenbachia Plant (Dumb Cane)
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Water: Once every week or so (or when the soil is 50 to 75% dry)
A tropical perrennial, dieffenbachias feature large pointed leaves and can grow multiple feet tall. And while they prefer bright, indirect sunlight, they’re able to adapt to lower-light conditions. “They tend to grow slower and shed unused leaves in the shade, and require little to moderate watering in shady areas,” Cubian notes. To keep this plant alive and happy, plant it in well-drained soil with a high peat content.
Pros:
Low maintenanceAdaptable growth based on light levels
Cons:
Highly toxic to pets and humans
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Water: Once every couple of days (or when the top inch of soil is dry)
Also known as inchplants, tradescantia zebrinas are known for their unique purple and green coloring and ability to thrive in low, indirect light. As lovely as the leaves normally look, they can also bloom small flowers from time to time. Just don’t try to handle them too much. “Tradescantia zebrina produces a sap that can cause skin irritations and gastrointestinal issues in both pets and humans if consumed,” Sears warns.
Pros:
Unique coloringCan bloom flowers
Cons:
Toxic to pets and humans
Bloomscape
Potted Aglaonema Silver Bay
Light: Low to bright indirect | Water: Once every week (or when the top 50% of the soil is dry)
Belonging to the same family as dieffenbachias, this leafy tropical plant is similarly low-maintenance, as it thrives in low light. That said, “if you want it to make it look bushy, consider moving it next to a brighter location,” says Cubian.
Effective at cleaning and purifying the air, aglaonema can breathe life into the darkest of spaces. And if you keep the plant in a dim roomer, Cubian adds, “They don’t need much water in shady spots, so water only when the soil appears dry.”
Pros:
Can survive in low humidity but thrives in high humidityPretty two-tone leaves that add a lovely pop of color
Cons:
Toxic to pets and humans
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Water: Once a week (or when the top half of the soil is dry)
Known for being pretty much indestructible, cast iron plants are the perfect low-light indoor plant for green thumb hopefuls, says Sears. They can thrive in very little light, though they are particular about some things—namely, they like a regular watering schedule. So you don’t have to worry about staying on schedule, Sears recommends buying one with a self-watering planter, such as the one we’ve listed above. “Self-watering planters are an easy way to ensure the moisture of your soil is maintained without having to constantly check it,” she says.
Pros:
Harmless to petsRequire very little light
Cons:
Large leaves can collect dust
Lively Root
Lucky Bamboo Dracaena Tree
Light: Low to bright indirect light | Water: Once every week (or when the top half of the soil is dry)
If your home is filled with chaos, a lucky bamboo plant might be exactly what you need. Because the sturdy stem is resistant to stress, this classic plant is able to hold up well in low light. Simply put, this is one resilient plant. “If it loses some leaves or is infected with root rot, simply cut the sickly part and re-plant it, and it can quickly bounce back,” says Cubian.
Pros:
Resistant to stressEasy to replant
Cons:
Toxic to pets and humans
Light: Low to bright indirect | Water: Once every two weeks (or when soil is 75% dry)
“Philodendron are a favorite subject of plant breeders, as evidenced by its extensive list of varieties,” Cubian says, noting that they’re similar to pothos. “To grow a philodendron, replicate a humid, warm environment with indirect light, such as next to a large window.” No large window? “Under low-light conditions, it can still grow but at a slower pace,” Cubian adds.
Pros:
Don’t require bright light to liveGrow rapidly in medium to bright light; slower in low light
Cons:
Toxic to pets and humans
Bloomscape
Potted Anthurium Red Indoor Plant
Light: Low to bright indirect | Water: Once a week (or when 50% of soil is dry)
Love a pop of color but can’t get behind buying fresh flowers every week? An Anthurium is a great alternative. “Anthuriums or flamenco lilies are prized for their pink flowers,” Cubian says. That said, if you keep them exclusively in low light without any indirect light contact, they may not blossom. Therefore, if you specifically want this plant to serve as a vivid statement in your space, be sure to expose it to a few hours of indirect light per day. As for where it thrives? “Because it is from the tropics, warm and cozy rooms are the perfect spot to grow anthurium,” Cubian says.
Pros:
Pretty flowersThrives in medium to bright indirect light but can adapt to low
Cons:
Toxic to pets and humans
Light: Low to bright indirect | Water: Daily (in the center of the plant, not the soil, unless the soil feels completely dry)
Add a tropical twist to your home with a striking bromeliad. “Closely related to pineapples, bromeliads are tropical plants that thrive with shade,” Cubian says. They’re also fascinating: You water the plant’s crown, rather than the soil. What’s more, they can thrive in a room that could often benefit from a pop of color. “If your bathroom is warm, this is the perfect spot for shade-loving bromeliads,” he adds.
Pros:
Pretty pop of colorUnique self-watering designPet-friendly
Cons:
Leaves can cause skin irritation in humans, so handle carefully
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