Best Plants for Low Light Conditions – Low Light Plant Ideas for Your Home

Plants That Can Thrive with Minimal Sunlight

If you live in an apartment with little natural light or work in an office without windows, you’re probably wondering what types of plants you can grow. Fear not – there are quite a few beautiful options that will survive and even flourish with minimal sunlight. In this article, I’ll cover 10 plant varieties that require very little sun and provide tips on caring for them so they stay green and healthy.

Snake Plants (Sansevieria)

1. One of the toughest indoor plants is the snake plant. From my experience keeping snake plants, these can go weeks without sunlight and still be completely fine. Their thick, ribbed leaves can store water very efficiently.
2. I’d put snake plants near a north-facing window or anywhere they get just a few hours of indirect light per day. They’re pretty much impossible to kill unless you drown their roots in water.

Here’s a real-life case – I once forgot to water my snake plant for over a month while I was on vacation. When I returned, its leaves were still green and plump. Its ability to go so long without water or sun makes it a great option for low-light situations. Just water it every couple weeks and you’re all set.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos vines are some of the lowest light plants around. I have several growing happily in very shaded corners of my home that see sunlight for only an hour or two daily. Pothos have thick, heart-shaped leaves and grow as trailing vines perfect for draping over shelves or allowing to climb poles.

They can tolerate total obscurity but will grow faster with some daylight. I give my pothos a nice long drink of water whenever their soil becomes dry to the touch, usually every 7-10 days. Their leaves will start to droop and wrinkle if they need a drink. Pothos are extremely hardy and bounce back fast from the occasional dry spell.

Peperomia

Peperomias come in a wonderful variety of leaf shapes and textures, making them an attractive choice for low-sun areas. I have over a dozen different peperomia varieties in my collection! Despite needing very little light, their leaves exhibit beautiful patterns and colors. Some favorites are Peperomia obtusifolia with its dark maroon undersides and Peperomia hope with cute rounded leaves.

These plants appreciate humid conditions. I occasionally mist my peperomias’ foliage with a spray bottle of water. However, from my experience, they’re fairly drought tolerant too. I water them every 10-14 days, when the topsoil becomes dry. Due to their small size, peperomias make excellent desk or bookshelf plants for low-light offices.

Chinese Evergreens (Aglaonema)

Chinese evergreens come in different leaf patterns too – from plain broad leaves to lacy cuts and edges. I find them to be very stylish accent plants for shaded areas. They grow well in medium to low indirect light and don’t require much attention at all. Chinese evergreens are great for busy plant parents who struggle to keep up with a rigorous care schedule.

In my experience, these tolerate dry spells very nicely. Their leaves will start to droop only when the soil has been bone dry for a long time. Chinese evergreens can go 10-14 days between waterings depending on humidity levels. They also do beautifully in bathroom environments with higher moisture. All in all, very low maintenance companions for low light spaces!

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

If you’re looking for a true “you practically can’t kill it” plant, the cast iron plant could be your best bet. From what I’ve observed, these thrive in very shaded locations underneath heavy tree canopies in gardens. They get their common name from being able to tolerate severe neglect – like long periods without water, poor light, cold drafts, you name it.

I keep a cast iron plant on my north-facing windowsill that sees indirect light for just a few hours per day. Due to its slow growth, I give it a big drink about once every 2-3 weeks. This plant is happy to wait until its potting soil is completely dry before getting watered again. Its thick, straplike leaves give a nice tropical flair to low-light indoor spaces.

Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

With its cute coin-shaped leaves and rapid growth habit, the Chinese money plant has become quite trendy. Nevertheless, it remains one of the easiest indoor plants to care for – even in low light conditions. I have one thriving on my kitchen counter under fluorescent lights.

These plants appreciate humidity, so I periodically mist the foliage. But they seem to tolerate dry indoor air fairly well too based on my experience. I water my Chinese money plant whenever the topsoil feels dry, which works out to every 7-10 days. It pumps out new leaves constantly and looks gorgeous tucked into a shaded corner or hanging basket. Definitely a great pick for low maintenance!

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

If you give a spider plant medium to low indirect light and occasional water, it will reward you with beautiful hanging tendrils of grassy leaves and tiny white blooms that develop into baby plantlets. Spider plants are actually pretty amazing – those plantlets can root and start new plant colonies all on their own!

I currently have a spider plant suspended from the ceiling in my kitchen that seems happy as a clam getting dappled light. Whenever the soil becomes dry 1-2 inches deep, I give it a thorough soak in the sink until water drains out the bottom. Then I let it drain completely before returning it to its spot. Spider plants are practically indestructible – a sort of plant roach if you will. They can handle pretty much anything thrown at them.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

With its waxy dark green leaves that have a lovely shine, the ZZ plant looks super stylish in my opinion. It’s also super low maintenance – they can go quite a while between waterings in dry indoor conditions based on what I’ve seen. ZZ plants adapt beautifully to shady locations with just a few hours of sunlight each day.

I keep one ZZ thriving on my coffee table with no direct light. I water it only when the top few inches of soil become bone dry, which is usually every couple weeks give or take. Its thick stems and broad leaves allow it to store water efficiently. The ZZ plant is undoubtedly one of the toughest and most resilient houseplants around. Very highly recommended!

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

If you want to brighten up a gloomy corner, a peace lily could do the trick. Its beautiful white blooms and glossy leaves add a lovely moisture-loving touch. Peace lilies like their roots to remain constantly moist but not soggy-wet. They signal when thirsty by drooping their petals and foliage.

I keep one peace lily thriving in a shady nook with about 2 hours of diffuse light each afternoon. To water it, I submerge the whole pot in a basin of water until it becomes thoroughly saturated. Any excess is drained out. Peace lilies appreciate high humidity too, so I mist their leaves occasionally. They bounce back quickly from dry spells once rehydrated.

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Who doesn’t love the whimsical stalks of lucky bamboo? While they don’t flower, their elegant upright or curving canes look beautiful. Lucky bamboo thrives in low light and normal household humidity. They can tolerate very infrequent watering based on my experience.

I have a grouping in a north-facing bathroom that receives dappled light for just a few hours per day. I fill their vase with water to the top of the rocks whenever it appears low. Then I let the water level decrease gradually before refilling. Those bamboo stalks have been growing strong for over a year with very minimal care. Very low maintenance yet attractive plants!

So in summary, if low indoor light levels have you stumped on houseplant options, fear not. Snake plants, pothos, peperomia, chinese evergreens, cast iron plants, spider plants, ZZ plants, peace lilies and lucky bamboo can all do beautifully with just a few hours of indirect sunlight each day. Give them infrequent waterings tailored to their needs and they’ll reward you with lush greenery all year round. Happy planting!

Plants That Thrive With Minimal Sunlight

FAQ

1. What kinds of plants can grow with minimal sunlight?

   There are several varieties of plants that don’t need very much light to thrive. Some plants that do well in shady spots include ferns, hostas, shade-loving flowers like impatiens, and some types of herbs like parsley. Mosses and lichens also flourish with very little sunlight.

2. How much sunlight do low-light plants need?

   Low-light plants basically only need around 2 hours or less of direct sun per day. Sort of like the shade you’d find under a tree. Some common types that do okay with limited light are pothos, snake plant, chinese evergreen, philodendron, and zz plant. They can withstand dim indoor lighting or spots that get sunshine for just a short time in the morning or evening.

3. Will plants survive with almost no direct sunlight?

   Most plants need at least some sun to photosynthesize and survive. However, perhaps a plant could manage to live with hardly any sunshine if it gets enough artificial light. But who knows – maybe the lack of real natural light might affect its health and growth in other ways in the long run. The jury is still out on whether heavily shaded spots could seriously stunt a plant or not. More research may be needed!

4. What kinds of low-light indoor plants are easiest to care for?

   Some of the very lowest maintenance indoor plants that can handle low light include the lucky bamboo, spider plant, and peace lily. They thrive on neglect! The bamboo is unique because it grows in water, not soil. The spider plant produces cute little plantlets on the ends of its leaves. And the peace lily helps clean the air with its ability to absorb toxins like formaldehyde. These may be top choices for someone with a black thumb!

5. Why would someone want plants if they have little natural light?

   There are many reasons someone without tons of sunlight may want to keep low-light plants. Perhaps the amazing sensation of green life can lift the spirits. And studies show plants may lower stress and boost moods. Houseplants also improve indoor air quality by absorbing toxins from things like new furniture or paint. On the other hand, plants can make a dim room feel warmer and less dreary. They are a simple way to beautify any setting, even with limited light.

6. Are low-light plants necessarily less colorful?

   Surprisingly, that’s not always the case. While many shade-loving plants have green or dark foliage, there are exceptions. Some that maintain brilliant hues with minimal sun comprise the polka dot plant, rosemary, and purple waffle plant. The polka dot plant has white-dotted green leaves that almost look artificial. And rosemary comes in shades of blue and purple. The purple waffle plant lives up to its name. So with the right selections, you can decorate just as vibrantly on a tight light budget.

7. What are some unconventional places people keep plants?

   Folks find innovative spots to garden that go beyond the ordinary. You may encounter flowers lining dark staircases, a fern clinging to a north-facing windowsill, or succulents populating an office cubicle. Stranger still, some maintain potted greenery on their balconies, porches or patios in near total shade. Furthermore, savvy plant parents utilize grow lights in basements or attics lacking natural illumination. While these unconventional settings test plant limits, with a little extra effort, even marginal areas can serve as tiny indoor habitats.