12 Favorite Low Light Houseplants

Which plants are native to low light?

One of the issues many people have with their indoor plants is a lack of humidity.  So, to help counter balance that issue, a trick to keeping many lower light plants alive and healthy is to keep them in your bathroom!

Indoor plants is an oxymoron. The most important thing to know about plants: they prefer to live outdoors. You will never see a botanical description that starts with “native to north-facing windowsills” because the concept of “houseplants” is something humans made up.

So when we talk about the best indoor plants for “low-light conditions,” what we really are trying to identify is the plants most tolerant of living in a dark apartment with one wall of windows (or possibly, one window).

The good news is plenty of plants can thrive in a dark apartment. They may not love it, but they will adapt—especially if you coddle them with extra light from time to time (if possible bring them outdoors to enjoy warm weather in a sheltered, shady spot).

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ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia
The ZZ Plant is one of the most forgiving of houseplants plants. It can take quite low light and even does okay with minimal watering. It grows very slow, so you really can purchase this plant and let it be for a while.

ZZ is a favorite indoor plant in offices because they do well under fluorescent lights. This is a great air purifying plant for beginners.

Snake Plant

Snake Plant is happiest in bright light but can tolerate low light levels indoors as well which makes them AWESOME for those darker corners of your home!  Water just once or twice a month during the winter and weekly during warmer months.. These are long-lived, easy-care houseplants. They also come in a wide range of colors – white, yellow, and green striped to green leaves splashed with lighter colors.

Check out my post about Snake Plant care.

Did you know I wrote an ebook all about How to not kill your Plants?  It has a helpful checklist for the 6 steps to keep your plants alive + thriving.  In addition is has a deep dive on 7 trending “it” plants and 5 plant printables to hang in your home.  Buy it below.

Pothos

The Pothos is an extremely easy houseplant. They are fast growing, flexible with their light requirements and almost impossible to kill.  These are trailing plants that just keep on growing. Pruning the plants will keep them fuller at the base and each cutting can be rooted in water to create more plants.  They are very tolerant of all types of light conditions, even artificial indoor lights.

Check out my post about Pothos Plant care.

Pinstripe Calathea

Calathea grow well in medium to low light. However, the lower the light, the less frequently they will flower. They are gorgeous leafy plants with typically dark green leaves and then silver or pink colored pin stripes. The underside of the leaf is a beautiful purple.

They grow up to 3 feet tall. Calathea add beautiful texture and color to rooms with less light. They are slow growers and super easy care.

Spider Plant

Spider plants are a great plant for low light rooms.  They don’t need much direct sunlight and when they start to wilt slightly, you can water.  They make wonderful hanging plants for that dark corner in your home.

Marimo Moss Balls

Marimo Moss Balls should be kept in a location where they will receive low to medium indirect light. They can turn brown if they are getting direct light.

Check out my post about Marimo Moss Plant care.

Bamboo Plant

Bamboo plants enjoy bright indirect light, but they can tolerate lower light conditions.  The lower the light amount, the slower they will grow.  If you see your plant starting to get yellow leaves, then you know it needs just a touch more sunshine.  However, be careful because too much sunlight can give them a sunburn.

Peperomia Plant

Peperomia do not like lots of sun or lots of dark, so if you have a location that gets moderate indirect light, that is ideal for them!  These plants even do well under fluorescent lights making them an ideal choice for the office. They come in a variety of colors and leaf shapes. Their tight size makes them perfect for small quarters, such as bathrooms.

Check out my post about Peperomia Plant care.

Dumb Cane

In Dumb Cane plants are quite tolerant of shade which makes them a good plant for low light rooms in your home. Filtered light is particularly important in the spring and summer, when the dieffenbachia houseplant is producing new, tender leaves that are subject to sunburn if the light is too bright or shines directly on the plant.

Check out my post about Dumb Cane plant care.

Prayer Plant

Prayer plants do well in medium light, but can tolerate lower indirect light.  I have actually noticed my plant is much healthier looking when I have it in lower light.  Our New Mexico sun is very intense and if he gets too much direct light, then it’s leaves start to get scorched.  Morning sunlight is fine, but it’s best to avoid that more intense afternoon sunlight.

Check out my post about Prayer Plant care.

Mistletoe Cactus

Mistletoe Cactus really prefer a bright indirect light.  They are very sensitive to too much sunlight and a shady outdoor spot works fine, too if you have warm enough weather.

You will know your plant is getting too much direct sunlight if you start seeing the stems turn a reddish color, that means it is being sun burnt.

Check out my post about Mistletoe Cactus plant care.

Dwarf Umbrella Plant

Dwarf Umbrella plants are another plant that loves indirect sunlight, but will still function quite well with much less sunlight.  The less sunlight your plant receives, the slower it will grow.  I’ve had my Dwarf Umbrella plant in our bathroom for almost two years and he’s been doing just fine!

12 LOW LIGHT PLANTS

• ZZ plant
• Snake Plant
• Pothos
• Pinstripe Calathea
• Spider Plant
• Marimo Moss Balls
• Bamboo
• Peperomia
• Dumb Cane
• Prayer Plant
• Mistletoe Cactus
• Dwarf Umbrella Plant

Need some more plant care posts?  You’ll love these :

11 Hard to Kill Houseplants
Best Plants for your Bathroom
Best Sunlight Levels for your plants
Best Indoor Plant Pots
Keep your Plant Alive checklist
How to clean your Houseplants
Water Propagation for Plants
Best Online Shops for Indoor Houseplants
Glossary of Important Indoor Houseplant Words