Top Plants to Brighten Up Your Home with Minimal Sunlight
If you find yourself with limited sun exposure in your home, don’t fret – there are still plenty of gorgeous greenery options to brighten things up. As someone who’s dealt with my fair share of shady spots, I’ve tested a variety of low-light loving plants to see what thrives. In this article, I’ll cover some top picks that perform well in less-than-ideal sunlight along with care tips from my experience. By the end, you’ll know just what to pick to keep your interior oasis lush with barely any sunny days.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
- One of the hardiest houseplants around, the snake plant can survive on very little sunlight – we’re talking just one window facing north. Its thick, sword-like leaves can go weeks without water and still look fresh.
- I’ve had mine for over 5 years through multiple moves with no issues. They’re practically impossible to kill! Place them in any corner and pretty much forget about them.
- The classic snake plant comes in various heights with yellow or gray vertical stripes. But there are also nice variegated cultivars nowadays if you want some added visual interest.
Pro tip: Let the soil dry out completely between waterings, then give it a thorough soaking. Overwatering is the main cause of snake plant demise.
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Funny story – I once left this plant for a whole month while on vacation in a very dim room. When I returned, it looked just as lush as before I left! The cast iron plant truly lives up to its name. It can handle very low indirect sunlight and neglect like no other. Some key traits:
- Leathery, glossy green leaves emerge from the soil giving a bushy effect. Sets a nice tropical vibe without much fuss.
- Tolerates low temperatures too, so you don’t need to worry over heating/AC. I’ve found it thrives in many indoor conditions.
- Water when the top inch of soil dries out. Fertilize weakly every few months for best growth.
Trust me, this one is impossible to kill by accident. Goes to show you don’t need a bright spot to keep houseplants happy.
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
For some colorful variety, Chinese evergreens fit the bill gorgeously. Their patterned leaves come in shades of red, pink, cream and more. Here’s the deal:
- Enjoys medium to low light but the brighter foliage varieties need a bit more sun to maintain coloring.
- Water when the soil is slightly dry and make sure to use containers with drainage holes to avoid root rot issues.
- Can go months without fertilizer but applying a diluted solution every few waterings boosts new leaf growth.
The variety ‘Maria’ has been a popular pick for years with its dark green ovals surrounded by cream. Others like ‘Siam Aurora’ put on a real show. I dig their retro tropical flair without high maintenance.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
If a true zero-effort plant is your goal, look no further than the ZZ plant. Mine has thrived for over two years with barely a thought. Here’s the lowdown:
- Thick waxy leaves mean it can go weeks without water – perfect if you’re prone to forgetting.
- Tolerates very low to medium light. I’ve placed mine in all kinds of shady spots without issue.
- Mine hasn’t been fertilized once but you can give it a diluted houseplant food every few months for optimum wellness.
The dark green oval leaves have a nice rounded shape and coarse texture. Low maintenance to the max while still looking lush and lively. An all-around champ for minimal effort spots.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
On the brighter side of low-light plants lies the beloved peace lily. While it favors medium to high humidity, this one performs well in lower conditions too. Some key deets:
- Graceful white blooms emerge from its dark green leaves, especially after a good watering. Just add a splash of drama.
- Likes to stay consistently moist so water when the top inch dries. I water mine about once a week to keep it perky.
- Avoid direct sun which can scorch its leaves. Bright, indirect eastern light suits it best in my experience.
Such a trooper! I have one thriving away in my dim kitchen for over a year now. Easy to please as long as you keep soil moist.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
You can’t go wrong with a classic pothos for trouble-free low light. Unlike some others, it actually thrives in very low conditions too. This one’s a no-brainer:
- Vining habit makes it perfect to trail along bookshelves or let cascade from hanging pots.
- Glossy green or variegated “N’Joy” leaves always look so fresh no matter the spot.
- Wait until soil is dry to water and it’s very forgiving of missed waterings.
That’s why you see pothos thriving in offices everywhere. Just plop it in dimmest area and watch it thrive. A proper indoor jungle vine that asks nothing in return – doesn’t get much easier than that!
Whew, that about covers some top-tier low light plants to brighten gloomy corners. Hopefully this gave you a bunch of great options to choose from for your home. From my experience, as long as you find a plant suited to the available sun and meet its care needs, just about any shady spot can be transformed. Don’t be discouraged by a lack of sunny windows – with the right pals, even minimal light can nurture happy houseplants. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Best Plants for Minimal Sunlight
| Plant | Light Needs | Watering Needs | Height | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snake plant | Low light | Let dry between waterings | 2-4 feet | Very hardy, thrives with neglect |
| Pothos | Low to bright indirect light | Let dry slightly between waterings | Trailing vines up to 10 feet | Tolerates low humidity |
| Chinese evergreen | Low to medium indirect light | Let dry slightly between waterings | 1-3 feet | Colorful leaves, toxic to pets |
| Peace lily | Medium to low indirect light | Let dry slightly between waterings | 1-2 feet | Indicates when to water, toxic to pets |
| Spider plant | Bright indirect light | Let dry slightly between waterings | 1-2.5 feet | Produces spider-like plantlets, air purifying |
FAQ
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What plants do good in low light?
Pothos, Snake Plants, Chinese Evergreen, Zz Plant, Peace Lily, Spider Plant, and English Ivy are some plant varieties that can survive and even thrive with a small amount of light. They basically don’t need a ton of sunshine to look good.
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What type of low light plant grows fast?
Pothos is one plant that can grow quite rapidly even without much sunlight. It will send out long vines that can trail down and look sort of amazing. Snake plants also spread their stiff leaves fast in low light. You’d be surprised how fast spider plants pump out new baby spiders.
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Is peace lily good for low light?
Peace lilies do very well in low light. They are sometimes called the “drama queen” of houseplants because their leaves will droop when they need water, but perk right back up after drinking. I’ve heard they can even handle very low, indirect sunlight from across the room.
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Which plants like shade?
Different types of ferns, Malaysian trumpet vine, bleeding heart vine, impatiens, and coleus can all succeed in shaded spots. On the other hand, some flowers that usually bloom in full sun – such as impatiens and begonias – may do equally well in shade if the area still gets a few hours of filtered light daily.
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What plants grow well indoors with no sunlight?
Getting no direct sunlight makes it very hard to grow any type of plant indoors. Perhaps the only ones that might kind of survive long-term with artificial light alone are certain types of snake plant and pothos. But most experts agree that no sunlight at all is just too low of light even for very shade tolerant varieties.
Some sources say English ivy can also adapt well to very low indoor light conditions. But others question if it’s truly possible for any plant to be totally OK without any natural light. I mean, they do need to photosynthesize, right? Is there such a thing as a plant that can subsist on artificial light alone? Maybe science will figure it out someday.