The best low light indoor plants will grow happily in a low light index without losing vitality. We’ve run across several good candidates for low light conditions.
These all have the added advantages of being easy care and beautiful.
We’ve included an even dozen in our list. Here is a variety of plants that grow in low light so you can have a good selection and find just the right one for your home or office.
They are available in lots of colors and styles that provide a stunning focal point for your room or simply a colorful texture in the background.
Each plant in our list of low light houseplants has it’s own personal care guide so you can get all the care information for each plant you are interested in.
The term low light is subjective. Your local climate and how your indoor natural light moves throughout the day in your home impact the plants you grow. So do the seasons.
Low light is NOT No Light:
ALL plants must have at least some light from the sun or artificial grow lights for about 6 to 8 hours a day in order to feed themselves. If you have a completely dark windowless room and want some living green plants in it ,try making a focal point of a plant with an overhead grow light.
You can easily change out a lightbulb in a can light or lamp. You can also put up track lighting with grow lights to improve the light in a very dark room.
All indoor rooms are less light than even shaded areas in most outdoor locations. Supplemental lighting is inexpensive and can also be used for drama and focus.
If you live in the Northern states, especially the rainy Pacific Northwest like we do, you have about six months of shorter, darker days to get through with a very low light index. So do your plants.
It helps in the dark winter months to use supplemental grow lights to get through those short dark days with healthy plants.
If you are not sure what a light index is and want all the technical details of plant lighting this article is very helpful. For more information on choosing the best lighting for your plants, read this article.
Low Lighting Impacts on Plants:
There are MANY plants that will live well in lower light to moderate light conditions. (Our list is only a starting point)However, there will be a trade off for putting plants with Variegation patterns and leaf fenestrations in very low lighting.
Variegations on plants require moderate to bright indirect light to optimally express themselves. If you place a Marble Queen Pothos, for example, in very low light it will grow well. But the new leaves it grows will eventually lose the marbling and revert to solid green leaves.
Reverting happens because all plants require photosynthesis to survive. Plants cannot photosynthesize without some light. Variegations on plant leaves do not photosynthesize. In order to feed itself the plant will turn solid green.
Variegated forms of low light indoor plants will all need some occasional moderate indirect light, artificial lighting or dappled light for part of the day to show their variegated patterns.
However, Even the variegated plants in our list will tolerate low, or artificial light, and still grow.
Leaf fenestrations (splitting of the leaves) are impacted by light conditions. The Mini Monstera, Deliciosa Monstera, Thai Constellation, are examples of plants that are prized for their spilt leaves.
These plants will grow in low light. But they will grow new leaves without the leaf fenestrations. If they have variegations, like the Thai Constellation, they will probably revert to green leaves.
Plants grown in low light conditions will grow slower since they have less photosynthesis.
Plants grown in low light will not use water as much as they do in brighter light since they are feeding themselves less.
Here’s a quick list of how some plants are impacted by long term Low lighting:
- Loss of leaf fenestrations
- Loss of leaf variegation
- All around Slower growth
- Plant requires less watering
Is there a Plant that needs NO light?
All plants require some light to photosynthesize. This is how they feed themselves. But there are plants that require ALMOST no light to survive. A ZZ Plant, Snake Plant or Cast Iron plant may be your best options for a really dark bedroom or office. Or try English Ivy or green pothos for vines that live in almost no light.
Best Low Light Indoor Plants:
As a general rule plants that grow in the understory of tropical forests are good choices for low light conditions. Why? Because in nature they have adapted well to living under the thick tree canopy.
This is why you so often find lighting recommendations for tropicals that require low to moderate indirect light. Harsh strong sun rays will burn the leaves of many tropical plants.
Tropical plants enjoy high humidity. This makes them great candidates for low light bathrooms and kitchens.
Some of the plants on our list are variegated with lovely, interesting leaf patterns and they will keep those leaf patterns even in fairly low light. The Calatheas are good examples of this. I grew mine in a north facing window all through a dark Fall, Winter and Spring with no loss of leaf variegation. Fair warning. They ARE a bit fussy.
Our list includes plants that grow as low light indoor hanging plants. Looking for low light bathroom plants, cute and bushy table top , or floor plants, and even a large low light indoor plant tree? Check out this list.
Best low light indoor plants
Best Low light indoor plants make very good plants for offices and beginner plant owners. All of these plants thrive in low or artificial light and are generally durable and easy care.
Spider Plant is a great plant for beginners. It also filters the air and survives quite well in lower lighting conditions.
Tradescantia Zebrina vines have only a few basic requirements to remain a happy durable plant.
This lovely vine is a perfect beginner houseplant.
Zamioculcas plant is commonly known as the ZZ plant or Zanzibar Gem.
This plant has glossy medium length leaves that vary in color and shape depending on variety. The ZZ plant is an easy to care for plant that can survive in lower light levels and infrequent watering.
This Care Guide will teach you how to keep this houseplant happy all through the year.
The polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is a cheerful addition to your home. Its cute freckled face provides a colorful accent.
Polka dot plants come in several colors. They all grow as bushy plants that make a cute table top plant. These easy care plants will also grow outside in warm climates.
This Care Guide will teach you how to keep this plant happy all through the year.
Sansevieria snake plant is commonly known as the Mother-In-Law's tongue or St. George's Sword.
This plant has long leaves that vary in color and shape depending on variety. The snake plant is an easy to care for plant that can survive in lower light levels and infrequent watering.
This Care Guide will teach you how to keep this houseplant happy all through the year.
Pachira aquatica is a stately tree Plant that offers a touch of tropical elegance. It is popular with Feng Shui decorators.
Positive energy, stress reduction and good luck are all associated with the money tree or Guiana Chestnut.
This small tree has glossy dark green leaves, and a brown trunk and stem. It can grow 6 to 8 feet tall indoors.
You often see this easy care plant is offices since it does well in low indirect light and artificial light conditions.
The stems are often braided which adds that unique and classy look to the overall look with the leafy palm like top.
Spathiphyllums in general have only a few basic requirements to remain a happy durable plant.
This lovely flowering plant is a perfect low light beginner houseplant.
Aspidistra elatior plant is commonly known as the Cast Iron plant or Bar-room plant.
This plant has long medium length leaves that vary in color depending on variety. The cast iron plant is an easy to care for plant that can survive in lower light levels and infrequent watering.
This Care Guide will teach you how to keep this houseplant happy all through the year.
- Peperomias will tolerate low light conditions. Watermelon peperomias are cute and can handle your low light conditions. So will many other varieties of this easy care plant.
All Pothos are amazingly adaptable and durable plants. You can grow all of them in low light. The variegated forms do appreciate moderate indirect light to fully show their colors.
The golden Pothos is one of the toughest and least picky of the group.
The Philodendron Birkin is easy care and loves low to moderate indirect light. It has a interesting color variation that might show off better in moderate light but it will tolerate low light quite well.
The Brasil Philodendron is a stylish plant with interesting variegations.
This Lovely plant grows as a vine and does well in a hanging basket, or trained on a trellis or pole. It does just fine in low to moderate light conditions.
This Care Guide will teach you how to keep this tropical Aroid happy all through the year.
One of my personal favorites. The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is a beautiful low light vine with interesting leaf fenestrations. It enjoys low to moderate indirect light and is easy to keep happy.
Calatheas
All Calatheas prefer moderate to low indirect light. Set them in a north or east facing window for the best leaf colors. If they fade move them a bit. They may need brighter light. But they may need to be be moved further away from it too. Experiment!
Beautiul dark leaves with bright pink. Stunning plants.
Maranta are beautiful, exotic plants with wide appeal. These plants are well known for their beautiful leaves that fold up straight after dark like praying hands.
Once you find the perfect growing conditions for your Maranta it will perform well for you.
Learn what they need and give it to them. Their lovely foliage (in some cases they even flower) are so worth the effort!
All Maranta plant care is similar. No matter what type you own this care guide will apply.
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Recent Posts:
Bala
Tuesday 28th of March 2023
Guide for my living room which is suituble plant for living room
Diane Williams
Wednesday 29th of March 2023
Hi Bala, Browse through our houseplant section and find some great ideas for the best plants to suit your needs. We have some good choices in our post on Best plants for Beginner Plant Parents, Pothos are always a nice choice if your looking for hanging plants. Spider plants, tradescantia. If your living room is large, well lit, and needs a taller plant that makes a statement, try the money tree, Yucca plant , or Ficus Benjamina.. I hope these ideas are helpful. There really is a plant out there that will work in your living space. I hope you enjoy searching it out. Best of luck!
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