Plants that only require low light can be placed in east or north windows, foyers, stair landings or anywhere that doesn’t get direct sunlight. Keep in mind though, that if you can’t read a book because it’s too dark in a certain area, it’s probably too dark for your plants to live as well. That being said, there are a lot of plants that require only a little light. Keep reading to learn more about them.

Indoor Plants That Need Low Light

Here are a few of the most common indoor plants for low light conditions:

 

Cast-Iron plant – The cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) has dark green leaves that grow to be up to 3 feet long. It’s a lush plant that requires a cool to average temperature, and a slow-growing plant so you should let the water dry out between waterings. It also doesn’t require a lot of fertilizer.

Chinese evergreen – The Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) has a couple of varieties. There is the plant with the 2-foot-long dark green leaves marked with white (Maria) or the yellow-green leaved plant with darker splotches (Silver Queen). They like an average temperature with no cold drafts, so don’t put it in the foyer by the front door.  You should let the soil dry out between waterings and cut back the older canes to promote new growth at the base for a lusher plant.

Dracaena – Dracaena has many species, most of which are slow growing plants. The most familiar is the Madagascar dragon tree (D. marginata). It has long thin leaves that come out of the main stalk like a fountain. They like average temperatures and medium humidity. Let the soil dry between waterings and fertilize it infrequently.

Mother-in-law’s tongue – The mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata), also called snake plant, has been a favorite among houseplants forever. Vertical blades grow to 18 inches for this plant. It likes cool to hot temperatures and doesn’t need to be fertilized frequently.

Peace lily – The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is the plant you see all over the mall. There’s a reason for this. The dark foliage grows on 1- to 4-foot plants and looks good without much work. Plants tolerate lower humidity, and the soil needs to dry out between watering. What better plant for the mall!