We all want to turn our own four walls into an oasis of calm and serenity. There are many clever tips for doing that. This also includes magnificent green plants with lots of foliage. On the one hand they bring a fresh touch to the interior, on the other hand they clean the room air. In addition, the green roommates create a real jungle feeling at home. But what houseplants would do well in your home if the rooms don’t get much sunlight during the day? We have the answer to this question and today we will show you our favorite low-light indoor plants that are easy to care for. These require little sunlight and can also thrive in dark rooms or corners of rooms. They also get by with little water and are considered to be absolutely easy to care for. Therefore, the shade plants are perfect for all beginners in plant care. Despite the growth conditions just listed, the green room dwellers delight us with beautifully formed leaves and lots of greenery.
In this article, we will show you exactly which green roommates are among the easy-care houseplants for little light.
Even in low light, the natural charm of these plants does not diminish.
Easy-care houseplants for little light – what do you mean by that?
The indoor plants for little light are still called shade plants or green plants for dark rooms. When we say they can get by with little light, that doesn’t mean they thrive with absolutely no light. We must not forget that without light, photosynthesis would not be possible. However, some indoor plants do not tolerate direct sunlight and therefore prefer to stand in dark corners of the room. If they get too much light then their green leaves will discolour and in most cases turn yellowish. Or the plants get sunburned! Besides, it doesn’t mean at all that in a dark room their beauty diminishes. But on the contrary! They show us their magnificent evergreen foliage and often surprise us with their imaginatively shaped leaves. These plants contribute a lot to a unique jungle feeling in the room. That is why they are often placed in dark corners of the living room, in the hallway or stairwell, where there is no direct daylight.
Perfect for dark rooms or those facing north.
Our 5 favorite low-light indoor plants that are easy to care for
The following 5 shade plants adapt well to poorly lit room conditions. Most are native to the rainforest and can get by in the home with little light and care. However, slow growth is typical for them. They have beautiful leaves, but these are by no means strikingly patterned, just lush green.
The elephant foot inscribes itself perfectly in a rustic ambience.
The elephant’s foot is number 1 on our list of low-light, low-maintenance houseplants
Thin, elegant evergreen leaves and a thick trunk – this is what the elephant’s foot looks like. The plant originally comes from Mexico. There in the tropical forests it reaches an enormous height of 9 m. Here the houseplant is also known under the names bottle tree, monkey tree or nolina. However, it remains relatively smaller in pot culture, 60 to 70 cm high. However, the elephant’s foot is very adaptable and can survive well in all possible light conditions. The plant is undemanding in terms of care and forgives large and small mistakes. Therefore it is ideal for beginners or people who do not have a green thumb. Since the elephant’s foot is a typical indoor plant for little light, it tolerates partially shaded locations and can also be brought outside in summer.
Thin evergreen leaves grow on a thickened trunk.
In the spring and summer you will need to water the elephant’s foot when the soil dries up. In autumn and winter it hardly needs water. Fertilize the plant once a month, but only in the warm months, not in winter! In the thickened trunk, the plant stores important nutrients and water and can get by with it for a long time. Since it is a slow grower, repotting is not a current issue with the elephant’s foot. It is important, however, that the plant cuts a fine figure in any room where there is not enough daylight.
Cycas – the exotic beauty among the easy-care indoor plants for little light.
Cycas Revolute or the Cycas cycads
The cycas is a popular indoor plant for dark rooms, but it can also thrive outside in shady to partially shaded locations. The plant originally comes from Southeast Asia and is also known to us under the name “Japanese sago palm fern”. The fern-like plants grow very slowly, especially in their early years. They feel wonderful in large pots or tubs. They prefer well drained soil and good drainage. When caring for cycads, you have to take the lighting conditions into account. If there is too much light, the plant gets yellowed leaves and looks sick. In addition, you have to ensure the sago ferns are constantly mild temperatures. For example, the temperature in winter must not fall below 7 °C. Therefore, conservatories and bright stairwells are the best places to overwinter for the cycas!
Even with little care, your Cycas will never disappoint you.
Beautiful, beautiful …Zamioculcas
How do you look after the lucky feather?
Zamiaculcas, lucky feather or also called ZZ plant, is another well adaptable plant that prefers to thrive in the shade or partial shade. Undoubtedly, it belongs to the indoor plants for little light. Avoid places that are too bright for this plant, otherwise it will develop thin shoots and light-colored foliage. Zamioculcas has a decorative value because its shoots, which grow upright side by side, are dark green and shiny. She thrives perfectly in a corner of the living room where the temperature is between 18 and 25°C. The plant is robust and adaptable and has low maintenance requirements. It tolerates drought well and the substrate must never be wet. The lucky feather needs little water and can go up to four weeks without watering. Even dry room air doesn’t bother her. The lucky feather can be placed in the home office or in the bedroom, where it purifies the air and introduces a fresh note into the ambience.
The lucky feather is always a real eye-catcher in the room.
Bow Hemp – the most popular houseplant for dark rooms
The bow hemp is a shade-loving houseplant
Upright growing, elegant, thick, leathery and also green-yellow variegated leaves are typical of the bow-tie plant. These can hardly be confused with the leaves of another houseplant. The decorative plant is also known under the name Sansevieria, but is sometimes colloquially referred to as “the immortal”. It is the perfect houseplant for dark rooms, because the Sansevieria does not like direct sunlight. It is actually suitable for every room at home, because the plant is a good air purifier because it can store a lot of carbon dioxide. In addition, you do not need to water the bow tie often, because it can go up to 3 weeks without water. When the soil is dry, it is better to water too little than too much. Room temperatures between 21 and 24 °C are ideal for the plant. Avoid direct light at the location and this beautiful, effective green room dweller will give you many years of pleasure in your home.
The bow hemp has a high decorative value.
Perfect for poorly lit rooms – the cobbler’s palm
The cobbler palm is considered extremely undemanding
Aspidistra or the butcher palm, as the cobbler’s palm is known, actually has nothing to do with the palm trees. This is an entire genus of plants that includes about 140 species and comes from the subtropical regions of East Asia. The best-known species is Aspidistra elatior, which is still known as the iron plant. It is quite easy to care for, robust and considered indestructible. Its dark green leaves grow on long, thin stalks. In pot culture, the shoemaker’s palm reaches a height of approx. 80 cm and grows very slowly. For this reason, you have to have a lot of patience with this plant. Choose a shady spot at home and place the plant there. She would also do well outside on the balcony in summer when it faces north and gets little sunlight. The plant also has no maintenance requirements. Water them regularly only when the soil is dry. You have to repot every 3-4 years in spring.
However, when watering, make sure that no waterlogging forms.
These are our 5 favorite low-light indoor plants that are easy to care for. However, if you prefer plants like Kentia palm, philodendron, ivy or spider plants, you can also get them for dark rooms. That is ultimately entirely up to you. The indoor plants must bring you joy and create a pleasant atmosphere in your home. The Freshideen editorial team wishes you lots of fun selecting and maintaining them!
Choose the plant you like the most!
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