Best Plant for Dark Room That Don’t Need Sunlight

Plants in your home can do wonders for your mental health and well-being. Studies show that being around plants reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while boosting mood and productivity. However, not all of us are blessed with bright, sun-drenched rooms perfect for raising thriving green companions. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of houseplants if your home lacks sufficient natural light. Many varieties of best plant for dark room tolerate and even prefer low-light conditions. With some research, you can find the perfect botanicals to brighten up those dim corners and shaded spaces.

Understanding Light Conditions

Before choosing plants, it’s helpful to understand the different levels of light and what conditions each type of plant prefers.

Here’s a quick overview:

• High light: Direct sun for at least 6 hours per day. South, east, and west-facing rooms.
• Medium-light: Indirect sun or north-facing rooms.
• Low light: Less than 2 feet from a north-facing window or interior rooms with little natural light.
• No light: No windows or exposure to daylight at all.

Houseplants that thrive in low to no light tolerate darker environments and lower light levels. They don’t need direct sun to survive and grow. When researching plant options, consider recommendations for “low light” or “no light” conditions.

Best Low Light Houseplants

Here are some of the best plant for dark room choices for enriching dim rooms without sacrificing greenery:

Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

The snake plant has a striking appearance with tall, rigid leaves in deep greens and yellows. It’s also one of the most durable and versatile houseplants, tolerating neglect and various light conditions. Native to Africa, it can grow in low light and even complete darkness. The leaves can reach 3 feet in height.

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra)

As its name implies, the cast iron plant is nearly indestructible. With dark green strappy leaves, it survives in darker conditions that would kill other plants, earning it a reputation as the toughest houseplant. Native to Japan and Taiwan, it tolerates low light, dry soil, temperature fluctuations, and pollution.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

An easy-care option with patterned oval leaves, the Chinese evergreen thrives in low light, and handles missed waterings. Its bushy stems can grow up to 3 feet tall with proper care. The silver, pink, and red-edged varieties add pops of color without needing sun.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

A classic indoor plant with glossy dark green leaves and white blooms, the peace lily sends a flag (drooping leaves) when it needs water. It prefers bright indirect light but can handle low light. NASA even rates it as one of the best plants for improving air quality.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

With vibrant cascading vines, pothos is a popular hanging plant. It doesn’t require much light or care and is highly adaptable. Let the vines spread or prune them back to encourage bushiness. Pothos helps remove indoor pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

The ZZ plant’s waxy, oval-shaped leaves add rich texture. Native to parts of Africa, it tolerates low light and infrequent watering, making it an easy option for beginners. Its thick tuberous stems store water like potatoes, helping it survive droughts. Proper ZZ plant care rewards you with a lush, exotic specimen.

Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

A vining philodendron with dark green heart-shaped leaves, this trailing plant can brighten up a bookshelf or tabletop. While it prefers medium light, it can readily adapt to low-light conditions indoors. Let the vines crawl along surfaces or train them on trellises and moss poles.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

This compact palm adds a tropical look with feathery fronds. It stays smaller when grown as a houseplant, reaching 1-4 feet tall. Native to Mexico and Central America, the parlor palm wants consistently moist soil and high humidity. Its delicate appearance belies its ability to grow in low light conditions.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

The rubber plant commands attention with large, thick leaves in dark green or variegated colors. It can reach 6-10 feet indoors but grows slowly in low light. Allow the soil to partly dry out between waterings and mist the leaves to boost humidity.

Dracaena (Dracaena species)

This group of plants comes in different leaf shapes, patterns, and colors, like red, green, or yellow. They’re commonly grown as compact houseplants or tall tri-pod-shaped trees. Dracaena tolerate a wide range of light levels and are easy to care for, only needing occasional watering and fertilizing.

Calathea (Calathea species)

Calathea brings color and texture without requiring much light because they are prized for their striped, patterned leaves. They prefer humid conditions and moist soil. Avoid direct sun, which can burn their leaves. There are many beautiful Calathea varieties to choose from, like the rattlesnake plant and zebra plant.

Where to Place Low-Light Plants

Now that you know which plants can thrive in dim environments, consider where to situate them in your home.

Here are some prime spots:

• Living room corners or bookshelves facing north or away from windows
• Dining rooms and kitchens with minimal natural light
• Near lightly shaded north-facing windows (bright indirect light)
• Under skylights or light-diffusing frosted windows
• Hallways and staircases without windows
• Bathrooms with small windows, basement apartments
• Offices and bedrooms in the middle of the home
• Any room with heavy curtains or blinds blocking light

Position plants within 1-4 feet of low light sources to give them sufficient ambient brightness without direct sun. Rotate plants occasionally so all sides get even growth. You can supplement with grow lights if available. Focus on filling those dim, neglected spaces that could use fresh foliage.

Caring for Low Light Plants

While these plants adapt to darker conditions, proper care optimizes their health.

Here are some top tips:

• Water when dry: Check soil moisture before watering and only when the top few inches are dry. Overwatering can lead to root rot in low light.
• Boost humidity: Mist leaves or use a humidifier to keep moisture levels at 40-50%. Dry air from heaters can damage plants.
• Keep temperatures steady: Ensure indoor temps stay between 60-80°F, which most low-light varieties prefer.
• Provide good drainage: Use containers with drainage holes and well-draining potting mix, never letting plants sit in water.
• Fertilize occasionally: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every month or two during spring and summer. Reduce feeding in fall and winter.
• Allow gradual adjustments: When bringing home new plants, immediately place them in their preferred light levels to avoid shock.
• Clean leaves: Use a damp cloth to wipe dust and dirt off leaves to maximize light absorption.
• Know signs of stress: Drooping, yellowing leaves, loss of color, and leggy growth indicate plants aren’t getting enough light or nutrients.
• Give space to grow: Repot when roots fill containers and provide room for expansion. Dividing overcrowded plants also increases air circulation.

With a bit of attentiveness and care, it’s entirely possible to cultivate lush plant oases even in the darkest corners of your home.

Top Low Light Plant Picks

Here is a summary of some of the best low-light houseplants to consider:

Snake Plant – Versatile and hardy with tall architectural leaves. Tolerates meager light and irregular watering.

Cast Iron Plant – Unkillable houseplant with broad leaves. Thrives in dark, neglected spaces.

Chinese Evergreen – Colorful patterned leaves on bushy plants. Handles low light and inconsistent watering.

Peace Lily – Glossy dark green leaves with classic white blooms. Signals wilt with drooping.

Pothos – Easy-to-grow trailing vine. Removes indoor pollutants.

ZZ Plant – Unusual waxy leaves. Stores water in rhizomes like potatoes. Infrequent watering ok.

Heartleaf Philodendron – Vining philodendron with velvety heart-shaped leaves. Trails attractively or climbs.

Parlor Palm – Compact tropical palm with graceful fronds. Consistently moist soil.

Rubber Plant – Large, thick, rubbery leaves. Reaches tall heights. Prefers moderate watering.

Dracaena – Multiple shapes and colors. Handles a wide range of light. Tolerates some neglect.

Calathea – Beautiful patterned leaves. Likes humidity and moist soil. No direct sun.

When choosing plants, consider their light and care needs, your conditions, and which types appeal to you visually. With the proper selections, even very low-light spaces can support thriving plants!

Conclusion

You don’t need bright, sunny rooms or green thumbs to enjoy the health and decorative benefits of houseplants. Many beautiful varieties prefer low-light environments and are very adaptable to the unique challenges of indoor growth. With proper plant selection, placement, and care, anyone can create lush plant displays to energize living spaces, even in the most poorly lit corners. The key is sticking with plants suited to low light, like snake plants, cast iron plants, Chinese evergreens, and philodendrons. Supplement with grow lights as needed. Give best plant for dark room a chance to become your new low-maintenance leafy companion!

Common Questions

1. How much light do low-light plants need?

Most low-light plants only need ambient brightness from a lightly shaded window or standard indoor lighting to get by. Direct sun will burn their leaves. Ideal light levels range from 50-250 foot candles. If you can comfortably read a book without extra lighting, the room likely has adequate ambient light for low-light plants.

2. Can plants live in complete darkness?

While no plant can survive permanently in 24/7 darkness, some resilient varieties, like ZZ plants and snake plants, can tolerate weeks or months without light. This lets them handle dim conditions. But for long-term health, even these plants need minimal light exposure to photosynthesize and grow. Complete darkness will eventually kill any plant.

3. Should I use grow lights for my low-light plants?

Grow lights are an excellent way to supplement natural light and help compensate for darker conditions indoors. LED grow light bulbs or panels provide whole spectrum light that mimics sunlight. Aim for 12-16 hours of exposure a day. Grow lights are handy for plants far from bathrooms or basement windows.

4. How often should I water plants in low light?

With less light exposure, plants grow slower and gradually take up water. Overwatering is a common killer of delicate plants. Check soil moisture before watering; only water when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Water less frequently in winter or when growth slows. Proper drainage is also vital to prevent rot in wet soils.

5. Should I mist or fertilize my low-light plants?

Misting provides supplemental humidity that helps low-light plants thrive in dry indoor air. Fertilizing monthly in spring through fall also gives plants a nutritional boost since they photosynthesize less. But reduce feeding in winter when growth is slower. Remember not to over-fertilize; excess salts can burn roots in low light.