Series: Low-Light
In the great words of Lil' Jon, "TURN DOWN FOR WHAT?"
Dark home? No problem... We've got you covered, no really, don't let the ellipsis fool you; we'll spill the dirt on those green things you call... houseplants.
If you didn't know, a happy plant starts with its primary food source; no, it's not the fertilizer, soil, or water... it's light. But it raises a few questions from the plant-lover with no light source in their home: "What kind of plants could survive in my dark, less than ideal apartment with only one window?"
So now we'll get to the good stuff...what you actually came to the post for...the low-light beauties, the plants with a dark side; in our expert opinion, here are the top plants that will thrive and stay alive:
(Please keep in mind we're selecting these plants for the PNW region of the US).
CHINESE EVERGREEN aka AGLAONEMIA 'STRIPES'
Look no further for the ultimate low-light dweller; this interesting specimen consists of 25 species; it can sprout foliage with various color combinations from red, pink, green, silver, and cream. (Keep in mind that any of its variegated states with colors other than green will need more light or lose their bright coloration). With some of its darker green varieties, this sturdy plant can survive in a space containing only artificial light.
CAST IRON PLANT (ASPIDISTRA ELATIOR) & PARLOR PALM (CHAMAEDOREA ELEGANS)
Hailing from opposite sides of the globe, the parlor palm from Mexico and the Cast Iron Plant, originating from Japan and Taiwan, were introduced to the working class in the early 19th century.
The parlor palm got its nickname by being the toughest broad at the bar; in other words, it could stand the darkest of parlors and found its way into most, if not all, booze-serving establishments in Victorian times.
These dynamic pairing duos love to be left alone and shunned into the dark corners of your home. However, they would prefer medium light if you allow it; if not, they will deal; these lovelies will also burn if left in their firey hot streams of lava called sunrays.
DRACAENA FAMILY
There are several Dracaena varieties to choose from; one thing to remember is that each plant from this family isn't like the other. Compact Janet Craig (Dracaena Deremensis 'Compacta') loves low light, while its brother and sisters, Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata) and Corn Plant (Dracaena Fragrans) love bright, indirect + full sun.
PEACE LILY aka (SPATHIPHYLLUM)
Making the list of many beginning plant lovers, this plant will keep the peace in any home. The Peace Lily is almost impossible to kill and almost always comes back from the dead after a healthy dose of neglect. Unlike their Lily counterparts, these "spathes" are anything but stubborn; unless you try to kill them, they might fight you on that one.
While these babies are extraordinary in the low-light field of plants, another thing to keep in mind, their contrasting white blooms often won't appear when you leave them in low-light conditions.
POTHOS "ARACEAE" FAMILY
There are wide pothos varieties to choose from; Devil's Ivy or Marble Queen (Epipremnum Aureum) and Silver Satin (Scindapsus pictus) are great low-light buddies to start out within your home.
Fun fact about the Araceae family: many plants fall under this family alone; Aglaonema, Alocasia, Anthurium, Caladium, Colocasia, Homalomena, Monstera Philodendron, Rhaphidophora, Spathiphyllum, Zamioculcas. They all have one thing in common (depending on their variety): they are all courageous and not afraid of the dark.
SNAKE PLANT aka (SANSEVIERIA)
There is no question why this plant got its nickname, Snake Plant, but did you know it has about 70 species and a good handful of Common Names? Some of those common names are; of course Snake Plant, Saint George's Sword, Mother-In-Law's Tongue, and Viper's Bowstring Hemp; as you can imagine, the list keeps going so to make it feel like you're not reading a textbook, I shall stop listing them now.
ZZ aka ZAMIOCULCAS ZAMIIFOLIA
Another common name is Zanzibar Gem; this delightful treasure is genuinely one of a kind from the Araceae family, with only one species known. This low-light bundle of fun is good for your health; it removes those chemicals that are pretty good at harming your respiratory functions. The ZZ plant effectively punches those pesky suckers right out of the air, such as; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene.
TIPS + TRICKS
1 | The darker the leaf, the better they do.
When selecting low-light plants, you should avoid variegated plants; while they are pretty and draw the eye, they will not hold their shiny luster (the reason you probably chose the plant). We're talking about anomalies that occur when a plant doesn't like to follow the trend of its peers. See said example of the peculiar anomaly below:
I love foliage with many colors like the next plant-obsessed person, such as the croton with red, orange, and yellow, or monstera with its odd-ball, half-white, half-green variegation. However, these plants suffer without a healthy dose of light, and their beautiful, loud leaves will become a solid green color as an end result.
2 | There are 5 different directions.
If you're directionally challenged, don't worry; compasses are out in the wild to aid you with this very problem. However, if you weren't aware, there are 5 different directions of natural lighting sources; North, South, East, West, and Up. (If you're confused by "Up," we mean skylights.) Each of these directions helps you determine which type of indoor buddy is best for you.
Another good tip to keep in mind; if you have enough light in your room to read a book, you'll have an environment that can sustain a low-light plant.
In addition, mirrors can be optimized for something other than admiring your appearance but can be used to help your
plant grow into a far superior specimen. (Place the mirror on the side of the plant that gets no light, and the mirror will reflect the light source toward the back of the plant, whoa, science!)
3 | Low light doesn't mean no light.
One might think purchasing a low-light plant that does well "in the dark" means they can get away with no light; this is not the case; you need some source of artificial light at the very least, especially if you are going to stick the plant somewhere, like, say...a bathroom.
We often like to encourage the species called live plants over faux or silk plants. While fake plants never die, they collect dust and make your lovely allergies into a tizzy. So to avoid that problem, check out your light source and what may be the correct solution for your light-hungry plant.
PARTING WORDS
I hate to cut it short, but if you are needy and still want to stick around and keep reading more words, sorry to break it to you; you'll have to read another one of our blog posts. Follow these words below if you've liked the rant, are hungry for more lighting tips, and want to dig into more plants and plant subjects.
SOURCES
Camilleri, Lauren, and Sophia Kaplan. Plantopedia: The Definitive Guide to House Plants. Smith Street Books, 2020.
Steinkopf, Lisa Eldred. Grow in the Dark. Cool Springs Press, 2019.
Comments