The Best Low Light Houseplants
Not every room has great light, frankly most houses don't, and that’s okay. Whether you’re working with a big tree outside your window, a shady corner, or an apartment with limited windows, there are plenty of awesome houseplants that can survive (notice I didn't say thrive) in low light conditions.
Why do I only say survive?
There's no such thing as a low light plant
HOT TAKE! (sorta)
I think a few things happened that caused people to start saying "low light plants"
- Plant stores need to sell you something if you don't have great light. So it was easy to refer to something as a "low light plant".
- Some plants can survive for a very long time in low light.
- A LOT of people do not have much light and want low light plants
Luckily there ARE lower light plants. Three in particular are the best.
1. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
ZZ plants are as hardy as it gets and is a great plant for pretty much any location in a home. I've seen them grown ginormous in bright windows and live perfectly fine lives in pretty dark corners. They have large rhizomes, which store water so they can go a long time between waterings especially in areas where they don't get a lot of light.
2. Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Also known as the mother-in-law’s tongue, the snake plant is nearly indestructible. It can tolerate low light, irregular watering, and a variety of indoor conditions. Most people I've met that killed there snake plant either kept it in extremely low light or they overwatered it. One thing I really love about snake plants is propagating them in water is super easy and they can live in water for a very long time.
3. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Probably the most prolific hanging plant, pothos are famous for its low maintenance nature and ability to grow in dim conditions. People love having them in hanging baskets are taking their long vines and letting them grow freely.
Final Thoughts
Low light doesn’t mean no plants. A lot of the time you may have a plant that is surviving instead of thriving and frankly that's okay. People buy flowers that last a week to use as centerpieces, so is it really that bad to buy a nice pothos for a darker corner and have it only last a year? Not saying I buy plants to die but if you want to bring some life to a room it's fine to do that with a houseplant. As long as you don't call it a low-light plant.
