A gloomy home does not have to be the end of your dreams to be a plant parent. There are plenty of beautiful houseplants that do not worship the sun! Indeed, they growl happily in apartments where light-loving foliage cannot survive. If you are tired of watching your plants perish because there is not enough sunlight, then you are in the right place. Let’s pick the perfect gloom-bloom for your house!
Table of Contents
What is Indirect Sunlight?
When you first hear the claim that some plants can survive without sunlight, the whole thing might seem a little hazy and unclear. What exactly does it mean? These plants do require a degree of light. “No sunlight” does not mean that they can live in a room that is pitch dark. On the contrary, it means that they require indirect sunlight. The latter is merely a shaded area in the home that still receives bright light – but not direct sunlight.
1. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
This stunning houseplant has large green leaves marbled with white patterns. The smaller plants are perfect for desks and counters and the older, larger specimens make stunning additions to coffee tables or other display areas. NASA also chose this plant, among others, as a great choice to purify the air in your home. As a bonus, the Chinese Evergreen is very forgiving, making it a perfect plant for beginners.
2. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Do you have a seriously gloomy abode? Then this tough guy will make a lovely addition to any of the rooms. Indeed, the Cast Iron plant earned its name because due to being so hardy! The plant is lush, green and flows with large leaves that provide a simplistic and yet exotic appearance. The Cast Iron plant is a good choice if you do not want a species that grows too fast. Besides being very hard to kill, the slow growth rate of this plant makes it a popular choice among homeowners who do not have a lot of space to begin with.
3. Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
A fair warning before we discuss this gorgeous gal. The Dumb Cane is a toxic plant. From the leaves to the stem and even the roots – everything is poisonous to kids, pets and uninformed persons. If you choose this lovely plant, always make sure that it stays well out of reach of children and animals.
This plant has large, green leaves that are streaked with white in the middle. This white patch expands outwards in a rough-edge way, giving a beautiful exotic look to each leaf. The bushy plant is also a favorite choice to spruce up the office.
4. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Do you love climbing plants? The English Ivy offers you a lovely plant that can be trained to grow up trellis and walls. This plant will perish in direct sunlight, so you can rest assured that your low-light home is the best place for this species. The English Ivy is also perfect if you love evergreen plants and the distinctive, maple-leaf appearance of its foliage.
5. Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)
As one of the most beautiful plants on this list, the Maidenhair Fern is capable of livening up any room in your home. From the bathroom to the kitchen, this plant is a breath of fresh air thanks to its attractive leaves and bushy shape. The fern requires a more experienced hand since it prefers bright, indirect sunlight, moist soil that is not waterlogged and distilled water to tap water.
6. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Although not a true lily, that hardly matters! The peace lily has an exotic appearance and is prized for its white “flower.” This white flower is actually a leaf that grows next to the true flower, giving it the appearance of a lily. You can grow this plant in low light conditions and even under fluorescent lights in the office.
7. Peacock Plant (Calathea makoyana)
The plant earned its name due to its showy leaves. Some say it resembles the feathers of a peacock but unfortunately, it only matches the bird’s tail in some ways (regrettably, there are no iridescent colors!).
The leaves are densely packed, oval and “fluffed” up. Indeed, this is a very perky-looking pot plant! The patterns are also amazing and it almost appears as if someone has painted a branch with foliage onto each leaf. Direct light can damage these stunning leaves, so place your new peacock plant in a low-light corner.
8. Philodendron (Philodendron)
Do you need a few hearts in the room? The Philodendron plant is popular because of its distinctive heart-shaped leaves that are also large, dark green, and often appear with attractive “Swiss cheese” holes and lines. There are different varieties, so you can shop around to find something that you love. Some are climbing plants and others have patterns on their leaves. The different types also grow to different heights, so do your research to find the best size suited to your home.
9. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
This pretty pot plant is technically a vine. The leaves range from light green to marbled yellow, sometimes on the same plant at the same time. This wonderful color play is certain to liven up your home or garden.
Easy to train up a trellis or wall, Pothos varieties are perfect for anyone who has little to no experience with plants. It’s also versatile. Besides the option to grow the vine as a large outdoor cover, you can also keep this plant in a hanging basket indoors or grow it in a pot anywhere in the home.
10. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
The Snake Plant is one of the most popular houseplants today. It is not hard to see why. The upright leaves have a snakeskin-type look and the plant itself can grow into an impressively imposing plant that demands attention the moment a visitor steps into the room. These plants can survive even when neglected for a few weeks but they do not tolerate overwatering very well (the Snake Plant is prone to root rot).
11. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Oh yes. This bushy, spiny potplant can resemble a spider if you put your phobia to work while looking at it. But the Spider Plant is far from ugly or creepy. The bushy appearance flows from lush leaves that are thin, striped and compact.
Under optimal conditions, your lovely plant will reward you with pretty white flowers as well. The Spider Plant is generally easy to care for but tends to brown when the water is not to its liking. Indeed, it prefers rainwater or distilled water to tap water.
12. Staghorn Fern (Platycerium)
Let’s be honest. This plant does not resemble your average fern! Instead, it almost looks like something that belongs in the ocean. So, if you love the idea of a pot plant that looks like seaweed, then this could be the plant for you.
Keep in mind, however, that the Staghorn Fern requires natural light. Indirect sunlight is fine but artificial light will kill this unique plant. If you really want this beautiful plant, find out more about what it needs to survive. The Staghorn Fern is not something that will flourish with incorrect care.
13. Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)
The Sago is another popular indoor plant. With its ball-shaped stem and palm fronds, this fetching potplant makes a great addition to any home. The Sago Palm is also a true cycad, which remains one of the oldest plant families still in existence. Besides the beauty and history, you can also look forward to a tough plant that is super-easy to care for.
14. Weeping Fig Tree (Ficus benjamina)
This pot plant has a lot of potential. You can keep it small via pruning and small containers or allow it to grow into an imposing, tall plant in the corner. The Weeping Fig Tree is very easy to care for, even for a completely new plant parent. It is also evergreen so you can expect that corner to look good all year round!
15. Nerve Plant (Fittonia)
In case you are looking for a small desk plant, Fittonia might be the answer. The plant happily grows in small containers and they are gorgeous enough to the point of distraction. So, maybe you should not put this plant on your work desk! But seriously, the plant is compact, perky and the leaves are adorned with a beautiful scale-like pattern.