LifecanbetoffIf like me, you live in a home with limited natural light, you might well be thinking that there’s no point in getting houseplants. However, there are several indoor houseplants suitable for low light conditions.
I’ve never been massively green-fingered, but have in the past couple of years started to build up my houseplant collection, and much to my surprise – they survive! Even in my dark flat.
There are also other benefits to having plants in your home, including purifying the air quality of your home, improving your mental health and they also help to improve your productivity! Great for all this time we’re spending at home at the moment. There is also the possibility of growing your own herbs, even if you don’t have a garden you can grow them right on your windowsill.
Houseplants for low light conditions
Devil’s Ivy
Devil’s Ivy aka Golden Porthos is considered to be one of the most popular houseplants in the world. This is down to it being incredibly versitile in terms of its conditions, but also, very easy to look after!
In the wild, in the forests of south-east Asia, this plant would be found growing up the trunks of trees in quite deep shade, therefore that makes it an ideal plant for rooms with low light. It prefers a bit of moisture in the air so it makes it a perfect plant to have in your bathroom or kitchen.
Devil’s Ivy is a perfect hanging plant too and can be trained to grow up a wall (much as it would a tree trunk).
An ideal beginners plant (I’m surprised I don’t have one!) it has simple needs, surviving well in most light conditions and requires infrequent watering.
Spider Plant
Another great beginner houseplant. The Spider Plant (Botanical Name: Chlorophytum) is a small plant, named so due to its spiky overhanging leaves that look like spider legs. It survives best in indirect sunlight spots and requires weekly watering. Apparently, it produces a small white flower.
The Spider Plant is also fairly inexpensive to purchase. With its drooping leaves it looks great in a hanging pot.
The Spider Plant is pet safe (cats and dogs), meaning it won’t harm your pets if they chomp on the leaves!
Calathea
Calathea is a genus of plant that belongs to the Marantaceae family and has several species within its family.
My particular favourite is the Pinstripe Calathea (Calathea ornata Sanderiana) which has large glossy leaves with white stripes and a pinky/red undertone giving it a real edge as a houseplant. It’s a large growing plant that can be a real statement piece in your home.
This plant requires a little more care than the previous two mentioned, needing regular watering to keep its soil damp, leaves cleaning to keep their shine and warmer areas. However, it is shade tolerant so can survive in low light rooms, but will do better through filtered light and the leaves will thrive in these conditions.
Monstera Deliciosa
My personal favourite, the Monstera Deliciosa or Swiss Cheese Plant is a big plant famed for its split leaves.
I purchased mine from a discount bin in my local garden centre so didn’t have very high hopes for it, but it surprises me every now and then with a new leaf. I’m still learning where it thrives best, and at the moment, it appears to get regular leaf growth – though few of them develop the splits!
The leaves grow into a large heart shape and the splits form as the leaf matures. Whilst it can survive well out of direct sunlight, it thrives in bright indirect sunlight. I find it very easy to care for, but it grows quickly and can need repotting to meet its requirements.
This is a popular, statement indoor houseplant.
Snake Plant
The Snake Plant is a unique looking plant that has sword like leaves that are quite striking! They are a hardy plant that do best in moderate to bright light areas but can adapt to low light areas.
Again there are several species within this genus, each with a different style leaf. They are great air purifiers and are therefore perfect for in the bedroom.
Kimberly Queen Fern
Couldn’t miss off a houseplant named after yours truly could I?
The Kimberly Queen Fern, also known as the Sword Fern or Boston Fern is a species of fern. The fern is one of the oldest plants in the world. It is perfect for purifying and regulating humidity in your home. It works well out of direct sunlight. This is another pet safe plant.
Where to buy?
There are several options when it comes to buying houseplants. My Monstera was purchased at my local garden centre which has a great range of plants and pots.
I purchased a yet unidentified (if you know let me know in the comments) plant from B&Q. Unidentified due to the label with it naming it as “foliage” with some basic care instructions. Therefore, purchase from here with caution unless you’re far more versed with plant species than I am!
I have this plant in my bedroom and it has done so well since moving it from a shelf in front of the window in my hall. It now sits out of direct sunlight and seems to prefer it much more there.
There are also several options for purchasing plants online. I particularly like Hortology or Beards and Daisies (not affiliate links or sponsored post) both of which have a great range of all houseplants and really helpful care instructions. Beards and Daisies even offer a subscription service, I might even subscribe to the pet friendly one from next month!
However, being a houseplant parent is not a cheap hobby! By the time you’ve purchased the plant and a snazzy pot, you’re in for a few quid and of course, it becomes a habit!
Which would you choose?
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of the houseplants that are available on the market out there. These are ones that will cope in low light shaded rooms or spots in your home – and ones in particular that suit my own personal circumstances.
I used to love keeping orchids, but they just don’t thrive in my home anymore, but it doesn’t mean I can’t have a houseplant obsession! I also have a few succulents, which look great on my home office desk.
Are you looking for other ways to purify your home? Read my review of the Smellacloud Nimbus 2.0 diffuser.
Peace out!
Jangles x
Your unidentified plant looks like a leopard lily
Your unidentified plant is a dumb cane. Also known as differenbacchia (sp?)