Your guide to easy low-light houseplants

Many of us feel the need to have greenery about the house, but don’t successfully manage it due to lack of sunlight.

Lots of us live in environments with scant natural light. This makes growing healthy houseplants seem like an impossible mission. We have good news, though!

There are many low-light houseplants that not only survive but downright flourish in darker situations. These tough plants are ideal for dark nooks that require a little dose of nature, like shady offices or poorly lit rooms.

Let’s explore the amazing world of simple low-light houseplants.

The best low-light houseplants for your home

Understanding why these specific plants thrive without much sunlight helps us appreciate them.

Usually native to the forest floor, where they grow organically under the cover of larger trees, low-light plants usually depend on filtered or indirect light for survival. They’ve adapted remarkably well to flourish with little light.

These plants are your perfect choice if you’ve been cursed with low-sunlight rooms.

Sansevieria trifasciata

Often called the ‘unkillable plant’, snake plants are the ultimate survivors.

Their broad, straight leaves not only look amazing, but also help to effectively clean the air. Not only that, they can survive just fine if you forget to water them occasionally. A snake plant can withstand neglect like a pro!

Put them in a dark corner and their sword-like leaves will still look amazing.

Just be careful to not overwater them. They prefer dry soil, which is ideal for those of us who sometimes inadvertently overlook our plants.

ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Novice and experienced gardeners alike love the ZZ plant with its shiny, waxy leaves.

It thrives on neglect and only needs water when the soil is totally dry. This low-light marvel can manage the most negligent of plant parents. It can also brighten the worst of interiors and is quite tolerant of low light.

The strong, nearly indestructible character of the ZZ plant is fantastic for low-light environments. It’s perfect for busy people, too, as it’s extremely self-sufficient. It’s also pest-resistant, requires no pruning and can survive for long periods without water.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos, sometimes known as Devil’s Ivy, is a vine that almost seems to be designed for low-light conditions.

Whether on shelves, in hanging baskets, or even cascading from a high point, Pothos looks amazing with its trailing green and often variegated leaves. This one requires little maintenance and thrives even under fluorescent illumination. It is a beautiful plant and one of the easiest to cultivate.

Pothos eliminates impurities that are prevalent in offices and homes, therefore cleaning the air. They’re usually added in highly polluted areas.

It is also extremely enduring when it comes to dry spells or total darkness.

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are making a major comeback, thanks to their laid-back nature and odd look.

Their arching green and white striped leaves are ideal for hanging baskets where they can dangle free. Perfect for any place, spider plants are tolerant of low light and flourish in less-than-perfect conditions.

Seeing a spider plant create plantlets, which you can propagate and present to friends or put around your house, is one of the pleasures of owning one. In addition, it also naturally cleans your environment by acting as an air filter.

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)

Loved for its elegant white blossoms and glossy green leaves, the peace lily is a classic houseplant.

If you want a little elegance in your room, this is one of the few plants that blooms in low light. Low-maintenance peace lilies communicate nicely with their carers. If they’re thirsty, they will droop slightly to indicate it’s time for a drink.

These plants are also well-known for their air-purifying properties. They address typical indoor contaminants and help to create better surroundings.

Just keep the soil moist and give them the odd wipe-down to maintain the brightness and health of their leaves.

Tips for caring for low-light houseplants

These laid-back plants still need some care, even though they’re low maintenance.

These basic ideas will help you to keep your low-light plants in perfect shape:

Most low-light plants prefer dry soil between watering. The fastest method to harm a low-light plant is overwatering, so always inspect the soil well before adding extra water.
Dust the leaves gently every now and again to ensure they look their best. Dust can prevent light from reaching them and remarkably impact their health. Use a moist cloth to clean them.
Plants often grow towards the light. Rotating them every few weeks helps them grow uniformly and preserve a balanced form.

Bringing greenery into every room

Low-light plants enhance air quality, add life and create a calming environment that will raise your mood.

From bathrooms to basements, these flexible plants find a home almost anywhere and brighten even the darkest nooks.

If you need help growing these shade-loving plants, schedule an appointment with a professional gardener.

Conclusion

Adding houseplants to your home doesn’t need to be a war against sunlight. With the right choice and care, you can turn your darkest room into a green haven. There’s always a low-light plant that will embrace the shadier parts of your home.

Whether it’s a simple ZZ plant or an extravagant snake one, your house will have a fabulous green vibe.

These plants are bred to survive dry spells and scarce light. Choose your preferred type and let your house blossom regardless of its apparent darkness.

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Get their look: Urban jungle

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A post shared by @my.jungle.at.home

This living room is like a tropical paradise! The small space is packed full of healthy, lush, tropical houseplants; it’s just tremendous – and we’re so jealous!

my.jungle.at.home shares her Dutch urban jungle home with a pair of cute scaly-headed parrots (Polly & Cücük), a chameleon, a boa constrictor and a Burmese python… as you do!

Since moving here, we’ve found it really hard to find houseplants that are able to survive in the challenging environment that is our cottage. The walls are constructed from really thick stone, the windows are small and it’s very draughty. The house is often cold and dark, especially in the winter months; not the best habitat for most houseplants.

Although most of the plants listed below need warm, bright and humid conditions, a couple of them are flexible and able to cope with a range of settings. But more on that subject soon…

Alocasia Portodora | Upright elephant ear
Philodendron scandens | Sweetheart plant
Calathea orbifolia | Orbit peacock plant
Maranta ‘Light Veins’ | Unicorn plant
Dieffenbachia ‘Reflector’ | Leopard lily
Dieffenbachia | Dumb cane
Alocasia ‘Regal Shield’

Get their look

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Alocasia ‘Regal Shield’

Dieffenbachia | Dumb cane

Dieffenbachia ‘Reflector’ | Leopard lily

Maranta ‘Light Veins’ | Unicorn plant

Calathea orbifolia | Orbit peacock plant

Philodendron scandens | Sweetheart plant

Alocasia Portodora | Upright elephant ear

Alocasia ‘Regal Shield’

Dieffenbachia | Dumb cane

Dieffenbachia ‘Reflector’ | Leopard lily

Maranta ‘Light Veins’ | Unicorn plant

Calathea orbifolia | Orbit peacock plant

Philodendron scandens | Sweetheart plant

Alocasia Portodora | Upright elephant ear

Factors to consider before using an online plant delivery service

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How much time people spend at home varies and depends on several factors like the type of work they do. While some people spend the better part of their day at work or on the road, others are indoors – almost round the clock. Remote work has always been a thing, but many people will agree that the events that took place in 2020 really made it popular.

But regardless of whether you spend the whole day at home or not, the home should still look nice right? For people who work from home, it’s especially important that the home look lively if you’re to enjoy working and spending so much time in it. Click here to learn more about how your workspace can affect remote work.

There are a few ways to go about this. One, you could repaint the area you’ve set up as your workstation with a colour with much more energy. Many people think white is the way to go, however, several studies have shown that white tends to have a negative effect on workers’ productivity. Experts recommend other punchier colours like blue, red and green.

If this sounds like a lot of work, there’s a simple change you can make that would have a drastic effect on you and your workstation. Live plants can drastically affect you and your workstation for the better. There are several benefits that come with having them around including increased productivity, better mood, reduced stress levels, improved indoor air quality and much more.

Rather than have your whole house repainted, a few flowers here and there can have as much effect if not more. What’s great is that you can purchase a wide range of species from the comfort of your home. All you need do is find a reliable plant delivery service and you’re all set. Once you complete your purchase order, the plant is shipped straight to your door. Talk about convenience!

But for first-timers, it’s easy to make mistakes buying plants via the internet or using a delivery service. In this post, we’ll go over a few factors you might want to consider before using an online plant delivery service.

Reputation

When it comes to plant delivery, reputation is a big consideration for many customers and there are a few reasons for this. One is the fact that a lot can go wrong when transporting the ordered plants. For example, the vase or pot could get cracked or broken during transit or the plant may be damaged; and this isn’t uncommon for larger specimens.

While issues like these are a part of the business, some companies and brands handle them better than others. These are the ones from whom you’d want to purchase. Aside from the fact that they’re constantly seeking ways to reduce or eliminate these problems, they have returns policies that are favourable to their customers. Visit Planted Pot to learn more.

Delivery and delivery area

This is really important as online plant delivery services usually have defined areas to which they deliver. You want to make sure that the one you choose delivers to where you live before placing an order. One would think that this should be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised just how many first-timers make this mistake. Sometimes, this information isn’t on their website so, you may have to send an email or put a call through to make your inquiry.

Let’s say they deliver to your area, that’s great. Now you also have to find out what days in the week they make those deliveries. This is also important as some plants may be delivered without a vase or much soil, this is often called ‘bare root’. If these plants aren’t replanted straight away, they’d wilt and suffer. So, to avoid such a loss, ensure the delivery is made at a time when you’re available at home.

Price

We know plants have a lot to offer to a home, but you don’t want to break the bank to buy them. There are many online nurseries that buyers can choose from and with so many options, you have the luxury of comparing prices which is a good thing if you’re on a limited budget.

The prices of plants are affected by several factors. The availability and species could drastically influence prices as some are quite rare. The pot may also add cost to the purchase as some are beautifully designed and made. But of course, some shops allow their customers to choose whether they want a special planter or not. Most people choose those specially hand-designed pots when they’re making the purchase as a gift for a special person or occasion. Visit https://www.lifescarousel.com/unique-houseplants/ to find rare and unique house plants.

Plant variety

This is also a key consideration as online plant delivery companies with a wide variety of plants on their sites are usually the more established ones. Aside from that fact, it’s just preferable to have so many options to choose from because this way, you’re more likely to find a few that are worth purchasing in your home. If you’re a big spender, you might want to be a little careful as you may end up buying more than you intended!

Final thoughts

So far, we only talked about the companies and not our home and the plants. Before buying one, you must ensure that you have enough space for it. Ample natural light is very important to most plants, so also have this in mind. Finally, you’d want to know how large the plant grows before bringing in it to avoid space problems in the future.

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6 tips to remember when decorating with houseplants

Over the past few years, indoor plants have increasingly become one of the most popular décor items, and for good reason. Alongside the fact that they can instantly brighten up any space, they also come with a range of health benefits.

From easing depression and anxiety to cleaning and purifying the air, it makes sense why you should want to have them in your home. However, there are still a few styling tips you need to keep in mind.

Below we’re going to discuss six points that you need to consider when decorating with houseplants. All right, let’s get started!

Consider your lighting

While houseplants are known to be easier to look after, you still need to pay attention to what areas of your home get natural lighting. Some types will grow best underneath windowsills, while others can cope well in low-light areas.

Luckily, the web is full of information, like these marble queen pothos care tips, for example. With some research, you’ll know exactly what plants to try growing first.

Make use of vertical space

Most people start off with small plants on their coffee table or in the corner of the room, but you shouldn’t forget to make use of your vertical space.

For example, a few hanging pots in the bathroom or climbing ivy adds depth, texture and a beautiful pop of colour in minimalistic homes.

Group plants together

If you’re unsure about how to display all your favourite plants, one simple tip is to group the same types together. The similarity helps keep things uniform while still filling in all of that leftover space.

Just make sure that you don’t go too crazy. While clustered plants can look great, you only want to take in what you can physically care for. Otherwise, you’ll be digging a lot of little plant graves.

Create a unique focal point

If you want to incorporate just a few plants, making one show-stopper a unique focal point is a great idea. It not only gets your guests talking but is perfect for those that don’t want to take care of a forest.

Think of getting something like a fiddle leaf fig or monstera. They are large enough to make a statement but still bright enough to breathe life into any room.

Avoid overcrowding

While groups of plants can look great, as we talked about above, you need to be careful with the other decorative pieces you have in your space. Too much décor can quickly make a room appear cluttered.

Pay attention to pots and hangers

Finally, the last tip to remember when decorating with houseplants is to pay attention to the pots and hangers you use. These make just as big of an impact and can tie your entire house’s theme together.

If you want to incorporate more colour, you can find ones with unique patterns, but if you want to keep things natural, macramé and hessian are excellent choices.

Final words

By following the above, you can enjoy all the great benefits that houseplants have to offer while creating a dreamy paradise in your own home… Good luck!