Low Light Indoor Plants

Low light plant FAQs

• What indoor plants thrive in low light?

  

  Lots of houseplants will live quite happily in light shade or indirect light. The best plants for dim rooms include our (almost) Unkillables, such as Snake plants, Dracaenas, Devil’s ivy or Aspidistras, as well as easy-care indoor palms, Rubber plants and Chinese money plants. All of these plants will be quite happy living in a mix of light and shade, making them great options for low-light rooms. 

• What are the easiest low-light plants to look after?

  

  For easy care, you can’t beat our range of Unkillables. These are plants almost anyone can look after. Part of that is because they’re pretty relaxed about light levels, making them the perfect plants for low light spaces. For low-maintenance, don’t sleep on Snake plants, ZZ plants, Devil’s ivy and Aspidistras – they’re very happy in almost any light level, are forgiving if you forget to water them and generally require very little effort to keep alive. 

• Can flowering plants grow in low light?

  

  For indoor flowering plants, low light can be a challenge. Flowering plants generally prefer bright, indirect light – they need enough light to encourage flowering, but not so much that it scorches their leaves. But it really depends on your plant, as each one will manage differently. Orchids and Anthuriums, for example, will like a brighter spot away from a window, while peace lilies are tolerant of most light conditions, so will be happy in a mix of light and shade. Just be mindful that your plant may have fewer flowers in a shadier spot.

• How far from a window can low-light plants be placed?

  

  This is tricky to answer, as every plant and home is different! Between 3 and 5 metres would be great, but not everyone will have this much space to play with. The main thing is to keep them away from the window, as they won’t be happy in direct light. Different plants will tolerate different levels, too. Some plants, such as Monsteras or Kentia palms, like lots of light, they just don’t like direct sunshine. Other plants, such as Boston ferns, would prefer a more shadier space.

• Can low light plants still grow fast?

  

  Plants do typically grow faster in brighter light, as they use light to drive photosynthesis (which they use to make food for growth). Plants like Monsteras and Kentia palms, which prefer a brighter room, will grow faster if they receive bright, indirect light rather than shade. If you keep your plant in light shade or indirect light, it will still grow steadily over time.