Incorporating natural greenery into every part of a home, even areas without abundant sunlight, is common. Many people believe all houseplants require bright windows, but this is a misconception. Certain plant species have evolved adaptations allowing them to thrive in conditions far dimmer than a sunny windowsill. These resilient plants offer a solution for decorating interior rooms, hallways, or offices that receive minimal natural illumination. This guide explores how to identify low-light spaces and introduces the best plants suited for these challenging environments.
Defining Indoor Shade and Low Light
The term “shade” outdoors means an area blocked from direct sun, but it still receives a high level of ambient light. Indoors, “low light” is a much dimmer environment, typically defined as a location far from any window, or a room with only a small, north-facing window. A simple method to assess light levels is the “shadow test.”
Hold your hand about 12 inches above white paper in the plant’s intended spot during the brightest part of the day. A sharp, well-defined shadow indicates bright light. A fuzzy but recognizable shadow indicates medium light. A genuinely low-light area is one where the shadow is faint, barely discernible, or requires turning on an artificial lamp for reading. A medium-light spot in the summer can easily become a low-light spot in the winter due to the sun’s lower angle and decreased intensity.
Recommended Plants for Dimly Lit Spaces
Several common houseplants possess specific adaptations that allow them to endure and grow slowly in dim conditions. These plants generally originate from the understory of tropical forests, where they naturally receive only filtered light. Their resilience makes them ideal selections for less-illuminated corners of the home.
Cast Iron Plant
The Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) earned its name from its nearly indestructible nature, making it an excellent choice for neglect and low light. Native to the forest floors of Japan and Taiwan, it naturally thrives in high-shade environments. Its dark, glossy, deep-green foliage is efficient at capturing minimal light and tolerates the lowest light levels of popular houseplants.
Snake Plant
The Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata) is adaptable and survives in poor light by increasing chlorophyll production within its leaves. This adaptation maximizes the plant’s ability to use limited light energy for photosynthesis. Growth will become significantly slower, and variegated varieties may lose their striping and revert to a solid, darker green.
Pothos
The Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a resilient, trailing vine known for its hardiness. In low light, the plant conserves energy by slowing its growth rate dramatically. For the dimmest locations, solid green varieties, such as the ‘Jade Pothos,’ are preferable. Lack of light causes variegated types to lose their distinct patterns.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), originating from East Africa, tolerates neglect and low light. This plant stores water in large, potato-like rhizomes beneath the soil, which helps it manage long periods of drought. While it survives in low light, its growth will be moderate to slow, and its stems may become elongated as they stretch toward the nearest light source.
Peace Lily
The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is one of the few low-light tolerant plants that can produce a bloom. Its large, broad, dark green leaves maximize the surface area for light absorption in the shaded, tropical understory. While it tolerates low light, it requires slightly brighter, indirect light to produce its characteristic white flowers. In deep shade, it focuses its limited energy on maintaining foliage.
Adjusting Watering and Feeding in Low Light
The primary change in plant care in a low-light location is adjusting the watering schedule. Photosynthesis, which creates the plant’s food, is driven by light energy. When light is limited, the plant’s metabolic rate and overall growth slow significantly, meaning it consumes much less water.
This reduced water uptake drastically slows the rate at which the soil dries out. Overwatering is a greater risk in low-light conditions because perpetually moist soil creates an environment where fungal pathogens thrive, leading to root rot. Root rot is the most common cause of death for low-light tolerant houseplants.
The solution is to dramatically reduce the frequency of watering, not the volume. Allow the soil to dry out almost completely before watering again, which can take several weeks or longer in the winter. Checking the soil moisture with your finger or a soil probe is more effective than sticking to a fixed schedule.
Fertilization must also be scaled back or eliminated entirely during periods of low light. Since growth is restricted by limited light, the plant does not require high levels of nutrients. Applying a standard dose of fertilizer can lead to a buildup of unused mineral salts in the soil. This salt accumulation can damage the roots and cause brown tips on the foliage.