Whether you’re living in a basement apartment, or a space with dim light in general, that can pose a challenge when it comes to growing indoor houseplants. Adding greenery by way of houseplants is a trending tactic to decorate your home. Bringing the outdoors in can invigorate a design, while also adding life to your humble abode.
Look no further for our top tips for growing indoor houseplants in low light conditions. Don’t let a lack of sunshine damper your design!
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Failure to thrive
Our first tip may be an obvious one, but when you are selecting houseplants for your dim dwelling, be sure to select ones that have the possibility of thriving in low lighting. Trendy options like a fiddle leaf fig tree, for example, will likely fail to thrive in a low light setting. Choose your battles wisely and try starting out your houseplant journey with plants that are satisfied in indirect sun environments.
Some plants that can thrive in lower lighting include:
- Cast iron plant
- Chinese evergreen
- Peace lily
- Philodendron
- Pothos
- Snake plant
- ZZ plant
- Staghorn fern
- Lucky bamboo
On the flip side, these plants are varieties that would require direct sunlight and would fail to thrive in a dim home:
- Aloe vera
- Jade plant
- Succulents and cacti (generally speaking)
- Money tree
- Croton
- String of pearls
- Fiddle-leaf fig
- Gardenia
Treat accordingly
It’s important when growing houseplants in low lighting that you treat them accordingly. It’s common for plant parents to try and make up for the lack of light by adding extra fertilizer. That simply isn’t the best idea for low light plants. In fact, low light plants typically require less water and fewer nutrients than their sunshine-loving counterparts. Plants that thrive in dimmer lighting actually will be happier if treated with a mid-level of neglect. Low light plants are experts at conservation!
The best way to care for these houseplants is to allow for the soil to dry between waterings. Be sure to avoid having them to get too soggy, moldy (root rot), or too dusty. If plant leaves are covered in a layer of dust, they actually are unable to absorb the little sunlight your space may be offering them. So, give them a weekly dust to ensure they can get all the sun goodness you have to offer.
Make adjustments
If you’re set on a plant that requires more light than your living space offers, try making some adjustments to your home to maximize natural light. Some ideas include:
- Adding mirrors to bounce light around the space
- Integrate LED lighting to your room (blue light for foliage, red light for flowering plants)
- Consider purchasing a solar-powered machine that will direct sunlight wherever needed
- Open blinds or drapes fully during the daytime to maximize light
- Remove exterior foliage that may be blocking light from coming inside
There are also other adjustments you can make to your living space that will increase your lighting. Try cleaning your windows and removing the screens. These small changes can significantly increase the amount of light that enters your apartment or home.
Creative displays
If you’re trying to grow a houseplant in a low light condition, try getting creative on how you display your plants. Hanging planters can add a fun boho style to your space and ensure that plants get the most light possible. Hang plants wherever you have windows to offer them more natural light. You can create an eye-catching look by hanging multiple plants in front of a light source at varying heights.
Hanging planters not your cup of tea? Think about other ways you can display plants closer to your windows. Try placing shelving on the walls next your windows. Or consider plant stands that you can place under windows and light sources. Another option is getting a window box planter.
No windows? No problem
What if your dwelling literally has no windows at all, and you want to grow houseplants? There are solutions! Artificial lighting can suffice for many plant varieties, but it’s not as simple as picking a bulb up at the hardware store. Use bulbs at specific wattages and colors to maximize lighting for your plants. It’s best to select a bulb that offers a daylight look with blue tones at the highest wattage or lumen you can find.
Embrace your space
Our final tip is to embrace the space you have. It can feel frustrating to want to have endless houseplants and lack the lighting they require. Utilize these tips the best you can, but also consider other alternatives. Try enjoying an outdoor garden instead. Also, be sure to select an appropriate number of plants for the space and lighting your home offers.
We hope you’ve found these tips and tricks for growing houseplants in low light conditions useful on your plant parent journey. Finding plants that thrive in the environment you can offer is key, while also doing everything you can to maximize lighting.
We hope you found this blog post on Tips for Growing Indoor Houseplants in Low Light Conditions useful. Be sure to check out our post on How To Grow Plants Indoors for more great tips!
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