Best Plants To Grow In Low Light

1. Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum, or more commonly known as the Spider Plant, is a bright green color and often has white stripes in the center of the leaf.

The Spider Plant receives its nickname from its long slender leaves that spread out towards the sides of the plant similar to the appearance of a spider’s legs. Adaptable to various lighting and watering conditions, the spider plant is perfect for new plant owners. 

Spider Plant Lighting Requirements: Adaptable to various sun conditions the Spider Plant prefers indirect sunlight, making it perfect for a home with low light conditions.
Spider Plant Water Requirements: Water your spider plant using ½ a cup of water or until the first inch of soil is moist every 7 days.

Rule of (Green) Thumb: During the summer months, the spider plant produces tiny white flowers along with baby spider plants often referred to as ‘pups’ that grow around the original plant.

2. Snake Plant

The Sansevieria, more commonly known as the Snake Plant or Mother-in-Laws Tongue, is a drought-tolerant plant with textured leaves resembling snakeskin. 

For those with a busy lifestyle, this plant is a great low-maintenance addition to any home or office. 

Snake Plant Lighting Requirements: Although the Snake Plant prefers indirect sun/partial shade, this plant can still thrive in low-light conditions of full shade rooms.
Snake Plant Water Requirements: Be sure to water your Snake Plant with ½ a cup of water or until the first inch of soil is moist once every 21 days.

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3. Chinese Evergreens

The Chinese Evergreen also known as the Philippine Evergreen has oval-shaped green leaves that are marbled with a white/cream color often down the center of the leaf.

The Chinese Evergreen is a popular houseplant due to its ease of care. It is one of the most resilient houseplants as it can withstand poor light conditions, dry air, and drought.

Chinese Evergreen Lighting Requirements: The Chinese Evergreen plant thrives in low light to medium light conditions. 
Chinese Evergreen Water Requirements: Water your Chinese Evergreen once every 7 days with ½ a cup of water or until the first inch of soil is moist.

Related:

Grow Lights 101

4. Bird's Nest Fern

The Birds Nest Fern is an epiphytic evergreen plant that has bright green foliage rising from a central rosette. The leaves of this fern are long and spear-like in shape and appear to have slightly wrinkled edges with one prominent central vein going down the center.

With minimal requirements, this plant is a perfect addition to your low light indoor garden! 

Bird's Nest Fern Lighting Requirements: Native to the Amazon rainforest, the Bird’s Nest Fern prefers low light shade or partial light that mimics the canopy of the forest.
Bird's Nest Fern Water Requirements: Water your plant when the top inch becomes dry with about a ½ a cup of water or until the top inch of soil is moist. Do not water directly into the center of your fern, as it can cause mold growth. Instead, water the soil around the plant.

An Epiphytic Evergreen is a plant that grows on top of another plant but does not take any nutrients from the host plant, instead it uses the other plant to climb up it and receive additional sunlight and rain if necessary. 

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5. Monstera

The Monstera, also known as the Swiss Cheese Vine Plant is a unique and fun plant to have in your space!
 
With its unique slits and holes in its leaves that resemble swiss cheese, this plant popular and well-sought after.

Monstera Lighting Requirements: Monstera can thrive in low light to indirect sun/filtered sun conditions
Monstera Water Requirements: Water your plant weekly, giving the soil time to dry before watering again. Be mindful of the temperature, as your plant may need more water on hotter days.

6. Elkhorn Fern

The Elkhorn Fern, also commonly known as the Staghorn Fern, is an easy to grow and maintain plant that exhibits unique leaves.

Growing in all sorts of directions, this plant can be potted or hung on the wall. The Elkhorn plant is often used as a bathroom decoration due to its minimal lighting requirements. 

Elkhorn Fern Lighting Requirements: The Elkhorn Fern will thrive in low to indirect sunlight. If sun exposure is possible, ensure that your plant is positioned where direct sunlight is obstructed through a sheer curtain or the sun rays are not able to directly hit the plant.
Elkhorn Fern Water Requirements: Water your plant with ½ a cup of water or until the top inch of soil is moist once a week, allowing the soil to dry out before watering again.

7. English Ivy

The English Ivy is a unique plant that is commonly found in Europe. English Ivy is green in color and sports small geometrical shaped leaves with three lobes. It climbs, hangs, and grows prolifically with the right conditions.

English Ivy Lighting Requirements: The English Ivy grow best in low light to partial shade
English Ivy Water Requirements: You should water your plant whenever the pot of soil is almost dry with about ½ a cup of water or until the first inch of soil is moist.

Rule of (Green) Thumb: It is believed that this plant's aggressive nature could fight against erosion of hillsides.

8. Marimo Moss Ball

The Marimo Moss Ball also known as the Kokedema or the ‘poor man’s bonsai’ originates in Japan and is known for the unique way that it grows. This plant grows exclusively in water. As long as you keep the water out of sunlight and prevent it from boiling, these plants are pretty easy-going. 

Marimo Moss Ball Lighting Requirements: The Marimo Moss Ball prefers low light to medium light conditions. 
Marimo Moss Ball Water Requirements: The Marimo Moss Ball is consistently submerged in water. Change the Marimo Moss Ball's water every two weeks with fresh tap water. It is best to let the water sit out for two to four hours to allow it to come to room temperature.

9. Peace Lily

The Spathiphyllum wallisii is more commonly known as the ‘Peace Lily’ or the ‘White Sails’ due to the curved white hood that protects the golden flower underneath.

This popular plant is native to the tropical rainforest of Colombia and Venezuela and thrives in indoor conditions that replicate this environment.

Peace Lily Lighting Requirements: Your Peace Lily should be placed in a location where it receives low light to filtered sun.
Peace Lily Water Requirements: Water your Peace Lily once every week with ½ a cup of water or until the first inch of soil is moist. In warmer weather, your plant will need to be watered more often. 

Rule of (Green) Thumb: Use filtered, room temperature water for your Peace Lily, as it is sensitive to high levels of fluoride that are found in common tap water.