Plants need light to live, but some far less than others. If you want to keep houseplants in a room or home without lots of natural light, there are options that will thrive in any environment. Here are some of the best low-light-tolerant houseplants to consider:
Pothos are commonly on lists of houseplants that are hard to kill, and for good reason. These beautiful vine plants are so low-maintenance that they tend to thrive on neglect. While some varieties of pothos need lots of sun to maintain special coloring, the deep green jade pothos will flourish in any low-light environment.
Snake plants are another excellent choice for areas with low light. These plants have tall, sword-shaped leaves that help purify the air in your home. They come in several different interesting leaf patterns and can add a bit of greenery to any room in your home regardless of natural light exposure.
Ferns are understory plants in the wild, meaning they'll grow perfectly well in lower-light environments. However, ferns also require high humidity to flourish. Ferns make great bathroom or kitchen plants, as they can benefit from the extra steam and moisture. Otherwise, you may want to use a small humidifier to keep your ferns lush and happy.
ZZ Plants are another frequent addition to "hard to kill" houseplant lists. Not only do ZZ plants thrive in low light, they can actually flourish in only artificial light. They're a common choice for office buildings and other locations without windows, as they can use fluorescent and LED light to photosynthesize. ZZ plants are highly toxic if eaten by humans or animals, however, so keep them away from pets and children if you choose to grow them at home.
Maranta are also called "prayer plants" because of their changing leaf position throughout the day. An incredibly efficient plant, marantas will lower their leaves to absorb the maximum amount of light during the day and then fold upright at night to conserve energy. In addition to being interesting living decor, prayer plants are wonderful for lower light environments. Similarly to ferns, they like high humidity, so consider keeping one in your bathroom or close to a humidifier.
Born in San Pedro, California, as a first generation Croatian, I graduated from California State University at Long Beach with a degree in Mathematics and Chemistry and then earned a teaching credential from San Francisco State University. In 1960 I married native San Franciscan Jim Brown. Jim, was a high school teacher before becoming the owner/chef of La Lanterna Restaurant in Kentfield from 1985-1992. He is now retired. I combined substitute teaching in Marin County with the rearing of our four children, all of whom are grown and have settled in Marin. I became intrigued with the world of homes when we acted as the general contractors in building our own home in Woodacre and another home in the San Geronimo Valley. I began to work the carpet business, and became licensed to sell real estate in 1976. I was an associate realtor with other companies before becoming an independent broker and opening my own office in downtown Larkspur in 1991.