Humidity is conducive to lush foliar growth. Water at the soil level to maintain even moisture, and mist the foliage occasionally during the growing season.
You’ll find the pot dries out more slowly during winter dormancy, and misting is not necessary during non-growth periods.
Watch out for high-nitrogen fertilizer as your plant may grow like crazy. Choose a well-balanced liquid houseplant food instead, and apply it monthly from spring through fall.
Try training a climbing species around a rich, earthy moss pole. Direct any visible aerial roots down toward the soil, or snip them off. They’re for adhering to trees in the species’ native jungle habitat.
Heart leaf philodendron is available from Fast Growing Trees. Note that philodendrons are poisonous to humans and pets.
Find all you need to know to grow your own philodendron here.
19. Pothos
Also called devil’s ivy, pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is known for being easy to grow and for producing exceptionally long vines.
There are numerous types of pothos, but a feature they all share is the heart-shaped leaves on trailing vines.
Imagine them wrapped around an entire room, softening the edges of stately oak bookshelves or sleek lighted curio cabinets.
The foliage may be green or green variegated with white or yellow. In low-light conditions, variegation may be less pronounced and leaves may shade to all green.
Like a philodendron, this climber is a fast-grower that’s easy to take care of, thriving equally well in soil or water. It, too, has aerial roots for climbing jungle trees.
These are also useful for training vines to grow upwards on moss poles, instead of hanging downwards.
Pothos grows best in organically rich, well-draining potting medium, and needs water when the top two inches of soil are dry.
Golden pothos with variegated green and yellow leaves in six-inch nursery pots are available from Fast Growing Trees.
Pothos is toxic to pets, and contact with sap may cause skin reactions in sensitive people.
Read more about growing pothos here.
20. Snake Plant
Thick, sword-like, upright leaves that reach one to four feet tall characterize the slow-growing snake plant, aka mother-in-law’s tongue.
It is a very forgiving plant, because it’s used to a hardscrabble life in its native jungle habitat, where the soil is poor and space is scarce.
Formerly known as Sansevieria trifasciata, this plant was recently reclassified as Dracaena trifasciata. You may see either botanical name on plant tags.
Low-maintenance and easy to grow, it has a high tolerance for very bright as well as very dim light, being root bound in a small pot, and dry potting medium.
The best medium to grow it in is a cactus and succulent product that is formulated for exceptional drainage.
Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings, and occasionally wipe the leaves down with a soft cloth to rid them of dust.
During winter dormancy they don’t need more than a splash of water every few weeks. Take care not to overwater as this is likely to cause rotting.
Fertilizer is not required, but if you choose to use it, dilute a liquid houseplant food to half strength and apply it in the spring or summer.
Cultivars range in color from light to dark green, white mottled, or gold edged. They do best in the 65 to 85°F range. Temperatures that are too cold may cause brown scarring.
Dark green with paler, silvery-green stripes, potted ‘Zeylanica’ snake plants are available from Fast Growing Trees in six-inch and three-gallon pots.
Snake plants are toxic to pets.
Learn all about growing snake plants in our guide.
21. Spider Plant
The easy-care, fast-growing tropical spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) has green, variegated green and white, or green and yellow leaves that grow in a clumping form, arching gracefully like spray from a water fountain.
It looks most attractive in a hanging pot.
Cultural requirements include well-draining potting soil, a room temperature of 65 to 75°F, and water when the top inch of soil dries out. Provide a pot with adequate drainage and avoid oversaturation that can lead to rotting.
It’s not necessary to fertilize, as too much can burn tender leaf tips. If you choose to feed, use gentle worm compost tea. Cold drafts are another cause of browning tips, so be sure to avoid them.
Choose green cultivars for low-light placements. Variegated types do best in moderate to bright indirect light, and will shade to green in dim settings.
A unique feature is the wire-like stems of about two feet in length that descend from the foliage to sprout baby “plantlets,” aka “spiderettes.”
These are more likely to appear in brighter light conditions, and are easily snipped to root and grow in pots of their own.
Plants that fit snugly in their pots are more likely to produce plantlets, so don’t repot large plants until you see roots poking from the drainage holes, indicating that they are becoming root bound and need more space.
Spider plants in six-inch pots are available from Fast Growing Trees.
Spider plants are nontoxic to pets.
Read our guide for the best tips to get started with growing spider plants at home.
22. Swedish Ivy
The bright, glossy green leaves of Swedish ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus) have crenate, or round-toothed margins. Trailing to lengths of two to three feet, this fast grower is well-suited to hanging baskets.
It prefers organically-rich, evenly moist potting medium that drains well, and likes to fit snugly in its pot.
Provide a temperate setting between 65 and 75°F during the day, and 60°F or above at night. It’s used to high humidity in its native tropical habitat, but tolerates typical indoor levels well.
Swedish ivy may become leggy in low light. If it is getting scraggly, pinch off the growing tip just above a leaf node at the length of your choice to promote branching growth.
Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Feed monthly with a well-balanced liquid or granular plant food diluted to half strength.
Swedish ivy is available from the Sprig & Stone Store via Amazon in a 2.25-inch pot. It is nontoxic to pets.
Learn how to grow and care for Swedish ivy here.
23. Swiss Cheese Plant
Also known as monstera or split-leaf philodendron, the tropical Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) has giant leaves that may measure 18 inches or more in length, with “fenestrations” or openings that appear as deep leaf edge serration and holes.
The leaves start out whole, and in low light, may remain whole. And while unlikely indoors, a mature plant may bear white, lily-like flowers followed by fruit.
This climber puts out aerial roots that readily cling to a moss pole. An overabundance of these above-soil roots may mean it’s time to repot. You can curb aggressive growth by snipping these roots off for a more compact specimen.
Choose a temperate 60 to 80°F location and prevent exposure to temperatures below 50°F. If possible, maintain ambient humidity at or above 40 percent. You can raise the moisture level by grouping plants, or misting the foliage occasionally.
Periodically wipe the leaves with a soft cloth to rid them of dust that attracts pests.
Monstera plants are available from Fast Growing Trees in a variety of sizes and decorative planter options.
Learn to grow your own Swiss cheese plant here.
24. Wandering Dude
Striped green and silver ovate leaves with purple undersides are a key feature of the fast-growing wandering dude (Tradescantia zebrina).
It’s also known as inch plant because the leaves are spaced one inch apart from each other, as well as spiderwort.
The best room temperature for this trailing beauty is between 70 and 80°F, and never lower than 50°F.
It prefers bright indirect light, where its variegated colors are the showiest, but tolerates lower light placements as well.
Cultivate in organically-rich, moisture-retentive, well-draining potting medium. Water when the top one to two inches feel dry, and avoid both letting it dry out completely, and oversaturation.
As a tropical, wandering dude loves humidity. If your home is especially dry, under 30 percent humidity, you can increase the ambient moisture around plants by grouping them together, or using a humidifier.
Misting with a spritz-bottle is an option, but beware – persistently dim and damp conditions may result in fungal growth.
Fertilize monthly during spring and summer with worm compost tea to reduce the risk of over-feeding and burning foliage, while boosting soil nutrients.
If your plant gets too leggy, pinch it back just above a leaf node to encourage lateral growth. In the spring, you can cut back up to one-third of the foliage for a rejuvenating prune, if desired.
Tradescantia zebrina is available from Shop Succulents via Amazon in a four-inch pot. It is toxic to pets and may cause a skin reaction in sensitive people.
Read our guide now to learn more about growing your own wandering dude.
25. ZZ Plant
Tropical ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is tough as nails, with pairs of leathery, elliptical green leaves and thick stems. It averages two to three feet tall indoors, but is capable of soaring to five feet.
Able to store water and sustain itself through a drought, your ZZ is not going to quit on you if you occasionally forget to give it a drink. Bright indirect sunlight is the best, but ZZ performs admirably in low-light and beneath fluorescent bulbs.
You’ll need a temperate location in the range of 60 to 75°F, and always above 45°F. Avoid drafts and increase the humidity if your home is especially dry.
Use a well-draining pot and avoid oversaturation. Let the soil dry out completely before watering again. The fleshy rhizomes are built to store water, and can easily rot if they are too wet.
Low-light plants grow slowly. Prune as desired, just above a pair of leaves, for a more compact form.
Plants in six-inch, 10-inch, and three-gallon containers are available from Fast Growing Trees.
The ZZ plant is toxic to pets.
Learn to grow your own ZZ plant now.
No Sun, No Problem
With 25 attractive options from which to choose, you are well on your way to establishing a low-light arrangement of greenery that will bring your indoor decor to life.
And you’re sure to enjoy reaping the added benefit of tending to plants as a relaxing stress-buster at the end of a busy day.
When selecting plants, remember that green varieties yield the best results under low-light conditions. You can try more colorful cultivars, but they may fail to produce a showy display in dim rooms.
Flowering, a rare occurrence for some of the options described above, is unlikely in low light as well.
If you live in a temperate zone, you can move your low-light houseplants outdoors for the summer. This is a great rejuvenator that restores their vibrant colors and boosts their overall health.
Here are five tips to review before I leave you to start shopping for exciting new plants that are going to liven up even the dimmest areas of your home:
- Use pots that drain well to prevent excess moisture buildup, a leading cause of pest and disease infestation.
- Water sparingly in winter, when plants are generally at rest.
- Always water before fertilizing to avoid burning foliage and roots. And if you see a white, salt-like mineral buildup on the soil surface, foliage, and pot, flush the pot with water, empty and rinse drip pans, switch to distilled water, and don’t wet the leaves.
- Avoiding wetting the foliage of low-light plants not only helps to reduce mineral buildup, it reduces the risk of fungal infection as well.
- Keep the leaves of your new favorites clean and shiny by wiping them gently with a soft cloth every few months.
Share photos of your lush indoor decor with us in the comments section below, and feel free to share any questions or suggestions you may have.
And if you enjoyed this article, you may like to read the following guides to growing houseplants next:
Nan Schiller
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